Everything About The Hermès Lindy

Brief History of the Hermès Lindy

The Hermès Lindy was designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier in 2006 and first released during the Hermès's Spring-Summer 2007 collection. The original design idea came from Frederic Vidal when he noticed the handles of a handbag are often in a less comfortable parallel configuration. The popularity of this bag increased significantly with the Fall-Winter 2019 introduction of the smallest Mini Lindy 20 that was also designed with a longer strap. The Lindy has two handles and a strap so it can be carried as a top handle or shoulder bag or crossbody (Mini Lindy). The Hermès Lindy's unique design makes this a standout among Hermès non quota bags.

Hermès Lindy Sizes and Features

The Hermès Lindy comes in many sizes including the 26 cm, 30 cm, 34 cm, and 45 cm. The newest and most popular size is the Hermès Mini Lindy in 20 cm. The smaller sizes are the most sought after and hardest to come across on the secondary market. The Hermès Mini Lindy has a longer strap making it a crossbody versus a shoulder bag. The Hermès Lindy includes a removable shoulder strap and two exterior pockets; highlighting comfort and function in the design of this Hermès bag. The Hermès Lindy can be carried like a top or shoulder bag and has a roomy interior.

Hermès Lindy Colors and Materials

The Hermès Lindy comes in the typical leathers such as Clemence and Swift and come in all a plethora of Hermès color options. However, there are many particularly special variations to keep an eye out for. Starting with specialty materials like crocodile and ostrich, and ending up in special collections such as the Verso, Éclat, Tressage de Cuir, and Himalayan variations.

Limited Edition Hermès Lindy

The Verso Hermès Lindy follows the others in the 2016 Verso collection with a contrasting interior, giving a pop of unexpected color. Éclat, meaning Flash in French, aims to generate thrilling flashes of color while out on the town. The Éclat variation of the Lindy features bright colors on small, otherwise forgotten, parts of the handbag such as, the reverse side of the shoulder strap, the handles, and even the bottom of the bag in some cases! While the Tressage de Cuir Lindy was inspired by the look and craft of woven leather which can be seen featured in the shoulder strap. Under the creative direction of Nedège Vanhee-Cybulski, the Hermès Lindy was produced in the Touch collection. In place of a traditional leather, the Touch Lindy features a matte alligator strap that connects the two perpendicular handles.

Hermès Lindy Price

The Hermès Lindy bag price ranges from $7,30 for the Hermès Mini Lindy to $8,700 for the Hermès Lindy 34 in Clemence leather when purchased from Hermès. Exotic versions retail for more depending on the material. The Hermès Lindy price on secondary marketplaces like Sotheby's can range depending the condition, size and material. At the high end, a store fresh Hermès Mini Lindy in leather can sell for almost double the original retail price. The premium above retail for the Hermès Lindy declines for older bags, larger sizes and exotic materials. The most popular Mini Lindy bags are either in classic neutral colors or the newest pastels.

Advantages to Collecting Hermès Bags on the Secondary Market

There are many advantages to buying Hermès bags at Sotheby's. As one of the largest and most established global luxury secondary markets, Sotheby's offers clients many unique advantages when growing an Hermès collection.

1. Access

Sotheby's is able to provide access to some of the most exceptional Hermès bags through its long established global network of sellers. Sotheby's is one of the few global luxury marketplaces that sells rare and impressive Hermès bags exceeding $100,000 in addition to classic leather Birkin and Kelly bags in store fresh condition. Our Handbag specialists are always sourcing the best Hermès bags. Sotheby's global presence also means we are sourcing a wide range of Hermès bags including timeless classics, special vintage finds and rare limited edition bags. Sotheby's also regularly sells incredible private collections that can include custom designed Hermès bags. If you are looking to build a collection of Hermès bags, Sotheby's provides access to contemporary, vintage and one of a kind rare Hermès bags.

2. Flexibility

Sotheby's provides multiple ways to purchase Hermès bags. While Sotheby's is most known for its global auctions, Sotheby's also sells Hermès online and also in salons in New York and Hong Kong. Sotheby's also offers a concierge service if you need assistance sourcing a specific Hermès bag that isn't available at auction or marketplace. Another advantage to Sotheby's is access to desirable Hermès bags that are special order and limited edition.

3. Value

While Hermès bags in pristine condition sell at a premium to retail, Sotheby's has bags for purchase at auction and marketplace in a range of the most desirable colors and materials. Secondary marketplaces like Sotheby's allow a buyer to purchase a store fresh pristine Hermès bag with the original box and all plastic still on the hardware without waiting for a call from an Hermès sales associate. While it is possible to purchase a bag at an Hermès boutique, it is hard to predict how long it will take. Additionally if you don't have an existing relationship at the store, it is even harder to pick the exact bag including size, color and hardware. In many cases you may be offered an Hermès bag that may not be your desired color or size. Buyers also come to Sotheby's since they want to purchase more than two Hermès quota bags in a year. While we encourage you to build a relationship with an Hermès Sales Associate, Sotheby's can save you time when purchasing an Hermès bag.

4. Discovery

One of the best parts of a global luxury secondary market is discovering unique pieces from decades earlier and custom designed one of a kind items. Sotheby's curated selection is always changing since Hermès is one of the top brands at Sotheby's. Each auction has a unique selection of Hermès bags that may be familiar but a slight variation, never before seen design or a vintage treasure that has been on your wishlist for some time. Browse our latest auction or curated selection to get inspiration when building a collection of both contemporary and vintage Hermès bags. You are likely to discover something new to you from Hermès.

Buying and Selling an Hermès bags at Sotheby's

Sotheby's has a curated selection of Hermès bags available to purchase online or in person in one of our global Salons. Sotheby's also sells rare and collectible Hermès bags at auction in New York, Paris, Zurich and Hong Kong. Shop the newest colors with 2024 date stamps, classic neutrals in all sizes and rare limited edition bags. Expect to find pristine Hermès bags in leather and exotic materials in a range of sizes priced between $5,000 to $100,000 plus. Shop rare and limited edition Birkin and Kelly bags, the newest Constance Elan and leather Hermès Lindy bags in the most popular colors. New bags arrive weekly, so you can also check back regularly for the latest selection.

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