The Many Shades of Hermès Pink
Learn more about the most popular Hermès pink hues.
The Economics of Hermès Colors
Throughout its history, Hermès has developed over 250 unique colors. Each color is tied to a specific year and season and reflects the trends at the time of its inception. The first Hermès bags were produced in five shades: Noir, Rouge H, Etoupe, Gold, and Orange H. Soon, Blanc, Etain, Rouge Casaque, Craie, and Blue Nuit, were added to the classic core shades, and are consistently manufactured year after year.
Specific colors are selected to complement certain Hermès bag styles and material combinations. Some of these combinations are more coveted by collectors than others and therefore hold more value on the secondary market. Production for certain colors can be halted (“rested”) for an allotted amount of time or discontinued (“retired”) altogether.
Hermès Pink
Among the coveted neutrals and iconic Hermès orange, the color that consistently proves to be a standout on the secondary market is pink, and its many shade variations. The lightest shades are most desired and are regularly top performers at auction. Relative to retail, the secondary market value of the most popular light pink shades sell at a faster velocity and for a higher premium. In 2022, Sotheby's sold a store fresh with all of the plastic intact L4 Bubblegum Ostrich Mini Kelly for $85,000. The most sought-after Hermès pinks are Rose Sakura, Mauve Sylvestre, 5P, Rose Azalee, and Rose Confetti. A special mention is Rose d’Ete. An extremely rare cool-toned elegant shade proves to hold its value year after year. The newest pastel pinks include Mauve Pale and Rose Darling, both expected to be among the most sought after Hermès pinks.
Take a closer look at the most popular Hermès pink hues.
Rose Sakura
Rose Sakura is a soft, natural baby pink inspired by the cherry blossoms of Japan’s Sakura tree. It is one of the most popular and frequently requested Hermès pink hues. A Rose Sakura Birkin 25 in Swift leather with a 2021 date stamp sold for just over $65,000 or 504,000 HKD in April 2022.
5P
Similar to the iconic Hermès Orange, “5P” is considered to be the Hermès standard true pink and is also known as "perfect pink". It is one of the most sought-after pinks and usually made in Epsom leather, occasionally Chevre leather but more often seen on exotic skins. A 5P Birkin 30 in Epsom leather with a 2010 date stamp sold for $47,500 in 2020.
L4 Bubblegum Pink
The new Ostrich-exclusive shade, L4 Bubblegum Pink, is a near match to 5P and is one of the most sought-after shades of Ostrich on the secondary market. L4 Bubblegum Pink is also referred to has Barbie Pink. Fuschia Ostrich was popular for some time but examples in excellent condition are very hard to come by. Some recent Ostrich bags have been produced in Fuschia and display the shade brilliantly. Terre Cuite has held its popularity quite well since its release and continues to be one of the most valuable shades for Ostrich bags.
Mauve Sylvestre
Mauve Sylvestre, a cool pastel pink with a hint of lilac, was developed to resemble a woodland wildflower of the same name. Mauve Sylvestre first appeared in 2019 and is a soft, muted pink with lavender undertones.
Rose Confetti
Rose Confetti was introduced in 2014 and is one of the best-performing shades on the secondary market. The question of whether this color is a true pink or leans on the peachy side is highly debated among Hermès enthusiasts.
Rose Azalee
Rose Azalee, inspired by the Azalea flower, is a warm pink with coral undertones and known to be one of the rarest pinks.
Rose D'Eté
Hermès Rose D'Eté translates to “Summer Rose,”. Rose d’Ete is a light, sunny pink with coral undertones.
Mauve Pale
Mauve Pale is the newest addition to the Hermès pink collection and is lighter than Mauve Sylvestre. Mauve Pale is a revival shade from the early 2000s that was originally produced for a limited edition of pastel bags in a unique leather called Box Nepal. Extremely rare today, the bags produced in this leather included Sellier Birkin 25, Kelly 25, several clutches, and the Constance 18. Mauve Pale is a very light, almost pastel pink with a slight hint of lavender released in 2022.
Rose Darling M7
Rose Darling is a brand new pale pink introduced in 2024 that has the potential to be another top Hermès pink. This pastel pink is light like Mauve Pale but has a more true pink tone with no lavender undertone.
Vibrant Hermès Pinks
Hermès also has a number of vibrant pink hues including framboise, magnolia, rose pourpre, rose shocking, rose mexico and rose extreme. In general the bright pink colors are less popular with Hermès collectors. The newest bright pink, Rose Pop, closely resembles Pantone's 2023 color of the year, Viva Magenta.
The most popular bright pink from Hermès is exclusively available for alligator and crocodile bags. Rose Scheherazade is deep jewel tone pink with fuchsia undertones.
Advantages to Collecting Hermès 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 including the most popular Hermès pink hues. 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 aspects of a global luxury secondary market is discovering unique Hermès bags from decades earlier, custom HSS bags and finding bags with provenance. 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 other popular Hermès bags in the most popular pink hues. New bags arrive weekly, so you can also check back regularly for the latest selection.
- Browse Hermès bags available for immediate delivery.
- Explore upcoming handbag auctions across the globe.
- Speak to a Salon Associate in New York, Zurich, London, Paris, or Hong Kong to schedule an appointment.
- Contact a Handbag & Fashion Specialist about selling an Hermès bag.
Trust our worldwide network of leading handbag specialists from a globally renowned auction house established in 1744.
