How to Spot a Fake Hermès Bracelet (Clic H, Clic Clac H, & More)

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Plus, shopping tips for buying authentic jewelry (and avoiding fakes)

Co-authored by Devin McSween

Last Updated: January 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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Real vs. Fake Bracelets

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Avoiding Fake Jewelry

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Hermès is a French luxury brand that’s known for its chic and beautiful bracelets. If you’re interested in getting a popular design, like the Clic H or Collier de Chien, but worried about accidentally buying a fake, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll explain how to tell the difference between real and fake Hermès bracelets and provide tips on how to avoid fakes. Keep reading to learn more!

How to Tell if a Hermès Bracelet Is Real

An illustration showing the differences between a real and fake Hermès bracelet.

Check the bracelet’s engravings, shape, and clasp. Real bracelets are precisely engraved with “HERMÈS” and “MADE IN FRANCE,” while the engravings on fakes might look too big or hard to read. Real bracelets are oval, while fakes may be rounder. The clasp is smooth and easy to open on real bracelets, but tough on fakes.

Section 1 of 2:

Real vs. Fake Hermès Bracelets

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Engravings The inside of a real Hermès bracelet, like the Clic H, Clic Clac H, and Collier de Chien, is engraved with Hermès’ hallmarks. The engravings typically consist of “HERMÈS,” a serial number, and “MADE IN FRANCE.” The font is sharp and consistent, and easy to read.^{[1]
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- Hinged bracelets, like the Clic H, are usually engraved above and below one of the bracelet’s hinges.
- Signs the bracelet is fake: Fakes often forget to add the grave accent over the second “e” in Hermès. The font is often too large, less precise, and hard to read. Some fakes might even forget to include the engravings at all.
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Shape and size Most Hermès bracelets, like the Clic H and Mini Clic, have an oval shape. This matches the natural shape of the wrist, which helps the bracelets fit comfortably and snugly on the arm. The bracelets also come in consistent widths and sizes, usually including a small and a large size.
- Signs the bracelet is fake: Fake bracelets often have a rounder, more circular shape instead of an oval shape. The bracelet might appear noticeably wider and bigger than the real bracelet of the same size.^{[2]
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Clasp Hermès’ most popular bracelets, including the Clic H and Mini Clic, have a unique clasp design that you twist to lock the bracelet in place. With most designs, you push the ends of the bracelet together and rotate the clasp until it’s straight. The clasp twists smoothly and easily, and the bracelet has a bit of tension when you pull it apart.^{[3]
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- Signs the bracelet is fake: The clasps on fake bracelets might be difficult to twist and not rotate smoothly. Additionally, the hinges of the bracelet might be too loose, so there’s no tension when you pull the bracelet apart.
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Embellishments Most Hermès bracelets have some sort of embellishment on them, like the “H” clasp of the Clic H bracelet, the studs and ring on the Collier de Chien bracelet, and the chaine d'ancre motif on the Chaine d'Ancre bracelet. These embellishments are perfectly crafted and consistent across the bracelets.
- Signs the bracelet is fake: The embellishments on fakes often look “off” compared to the real thing. For instance, the “H” clasp on the Clic H often looks too wide and curved (rather than straight). The ring on the Collier de Chien “H” might have visible gaps where it separates, unlike the continuous ring on the real thing.
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Materials Hermès uses fine, high-quality materials to make its bracelets. This includes gold (yellow and rose), silver, palladium, enamel, and full-grain leather (calfskin, alligator, etc.). Each of the materials feels luxurious and looks well-crafted, and most are made to be scratch-resistant, too.
- Signs the bracelet is fake: The bracelet looks and feels low-quality. In some cases, the material may obviously look and feel like plastic. The bracelet might get scratched very easily, too.
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Weight Because Hermès bracelets are made out of high-quality materials, they have a noticeable weight to them. Even the thinner and more delicate designs, like the Mini Clic and bangles, feel substantial on the wrist.
- Signs the bracelet is fake: Fakes often feel very light and insubstantial on the wrist (as if they’re made out of plastic, rather than metal or enamel).
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Color Hermès’ enamel and leather bracelets come in a wide range of colors, from bold reds and purples to soft pinks and creams. The colors are always rich and consistent between bracelet variations. Bracelets that have gold, silver, or palladium plating have a smooth and shiny finish.^{[4]
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- Signs the bracelet is fake: The colors used on fake bracelets might be off compared to the real ones. For instance, the colors might appear too deep, too light, too vibrant, or too dull. Any metallic finishes might look overly shiny or very dull.
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Craftsmanship Hermès is a luxury designer, so their bracelets match the high quality and fine craftsmanship their clothes and handbags are known for. The edges of the bracelets are straight and smooth, with no rough or bumpy areas.^{[5]
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- Signs the bracelet is fake: The edges of the bracelet might appear rough and uneven. If the bracelet has a clasp or hinges, they might not line up well. If the bracelet has stitching, it may look sloppy and uneven, and there might be torn or loose threads.
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Box Simply getting a Hermès bracelet is a luxury experience. Most bracelets come in a small box in Hermès’ signature orange color that’s wrapped in black ribbon that has “HERMÈS” and the horse and carriage logo on it. The center of the box is printed with “HERMÈS PARIS” and the horse and carriage logo. Most bracelets come wrapped in a jewelry pouch and include a small booklet detailing how to put on and take off the bracelet.^{[6]
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- Signs the bracelet is fake: The color of the box may appear off (too bright, dark, saturated, or dull). The font and logo in the center might appear too large or small, and the font and logo on the ribbon might look off, too. Additionally, the box itself may feel low-quality or poorly made.
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Price Because Hermès is a luxury brand, its bracelets have a high price tag. For instance, the Clic H costs around $800, the Clic Clac H costs around $960, and the Collier de Chien costs around $1,600. Hermès doesn’t run many deals, so its prices are usually consistent.
- Hermès bracelets are still pretty expensive on the secondhand market. Most bracelets are only reduced by a couple of hundred dollars.
- Signs the bracelet is fake: The bracelet costs much less than the retail price and seems too good to be true. For instance, if a Hermès bracelet is selling for $200 or less, it’s most likely fake.^{[7]
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Section 2 of 2:

Avoiding Fake Hermès Bracelets & Other Jewelry

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Buy bracelets directly from Hermès. To ensure your Hermès Clic Clac H, Clic H, Collier de Chien, or other bracelet is real, get it from Hermès instead of a third-party seller. There are lots of Hermès boutiques that you can shop at in person. Or, get a bracelet on the Hermès website.^{[8]
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- Additionally, some department stores, like Saks Fifth Avenue, carry Hermès bracelets.
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Compare the seller’s images of the bracelet to real pictures. If you’re shopping from a third-party or buying a bracelet secondhand, look over the pictures the seller provides carefully. Check for any obvious signs that the bracelet is fake, like missing the accent over the “e” in Hermès. Then, pull up a picture of a real bracelet and compare it to the seller’s photos.^{[9]
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- Look closely at the clasps, embellishments, and engraving placements, as these vary depending on the style of the bracelet.
- If the seller doesn’t provide quality pictures of the bracelet or only uses stock images of the bracelet, avoid them. These are red flags that the bracelet they’re selling is fake.
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Choose a reputable seller to buy a bracelet from. When shopping on online marketplaces like eBay or Depop, ensure the seller is trustworthy and highly reviewed. Read through the seller’s reviews to see if people are happy with their purchases, or if they report receiving fake items.^{[10]
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- Check the description of the bracelet, too. If the seller says the bracelet is Hermès-inspired or Hermès-like, that’s likely a sign that it’s fake.
- Ensure the seller answers questions promptly and offers a decent returns policy. If they’re hard to get in touch with or don’t allow returns, shop from a different seller.
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Be wary of suspiciously low prices. Sellers who own real Hermès bracelets know how expensive they are, so they’ll price them close to retail value (even if they’re secondhand). On the other hand, people selling fake bracelets typically sell them at a great deal to entice others to buy them. If the price of the bracelet seems too good to be true, it likely is.
- If possible, make your purchase with a credit card. If it turns out your Hermès bracelet is fake, and the seller won’t refund you, it’s easy to file a dispute with your credit card company.^{[11]
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Get the bracelet authenticated by an expert. If you’re still not sure whether your Hermès bracelet is real or fake, take it to an expert to get it authenticated. While Hermès does not authenticate items, a local jewelry store near you likely will. Additionally, there are several online authentication services you can use, like LegitGrails and LegitCheck.