A little girl's name and a clasp that changed the whole design.
Some bags are remembered for their shape. The Constance is remembered for one striking detail: the H-shaped clasp at the center of its flap. It is not simply decoration. It is the mechanism that opens the bag.
Behind that clean, modern look is a more personal story. Hermès says the designer was expecting a baby when she created the Constance and named the finished bag after her daughter. It is a lovely part of the house's history, though some of the dates attached to it remain uncertain.
A few things worth knowing
Hermès dates the Constance to 1967; Sotheby's has also published 1959.
The bag takes its name from the daughter of its designer, identified in auction-house accounts as Catherine Chaillet.
Its H-shaped clasp has a concealed spring mechanism and its sliding strap makes hands-free wear easy.
The best-known formats are the Mini Constance 18, Constance 24 and elongated Constance Elan, alongside rarer sizes.
Prices today
Updated October 18, 2026, from public resale listings read every day.
What is a Constance actually listed for on the resale market? Choose a size and a condition: the figures and the chart follow.
Size
Condition
Median asking priceUS$13,500
Middle halfUS$10,500 to US$16,700
Listingsabout 460
Estimated sale priceUS$10,800 to US$12,200MyQuotaBag estimate: 10 to 20% below the median asking price
These are asking prices. They are what sellers ask on public listings, mostly in the United States, Europe and Asia, converted to US dollars. They include each seller's margin. Buyers often pay less: recent auction and resale reports put many bags between retail and about 30% below the asking prices seen here. The estimated sale price is a MyQuotaBag estimate, not a valuation of any bag.
Constance 18 (Mini)
Classic leather. The chart follows the size and condition chosen; each column is a US$2,000 step, tap a column for its figures. Condition levels follow each seller's own grading, grouped by MyQuotaBag; All counts every listing, including those marked only « used ». Snapshot of 2026-10-18.
Arriving November 16, 2026
Asking prices over time. A second chart here will show how Constance asking prices move week by week, for the size and condition chosen above.
Time on the market. How long a Constance listing stays online before it is withdrawn. A withdrawn listing does not necessarily mean the bag sold.
According to Hermès, a designer was asked to create a new bag while she was pregnant. When her daughter was born, she gave the new design the same name: Constance. Auction-house accounts identify the designer as Catherine Chaillet and sometimes tell the story as though the birth and the finished bag arrived together.
That final detail is best enjoyed as house lore, not a precise historical record. The dates also differ. Hermès places the creation in 1967, while Sotheby's has used 1959. Until a definitive primary record emerges, it is more accurate to acknowledge both than to choose one with false certainty.
A familiar face in the 1960s
Jacqueline Kennedy was photographed carrying a Constance during the 1960s. Its slim body and long shoulder strap suited an era drawn to elegant, uncomplicated lines. Her public appearances helped bring the bag to a wider audience.
The Constance became a different kind of Hermès icon from the Birkin or Kelly: smaller, more graphic and designed to be worn rather than held by a top handle.
Where the sources disagree
The year: Hermès dates the Constance to 1967; Sotheby's has published 1959.
The designer: auction-house accounts name Catherine Chaillet; Hermès tells the story without a name.
Why collectors love it
A clasp that does the talking
The H is part of the bag's function. A spring mechanism is hidden in the metal bar and releases the flap when opened. That combination of form and purpose is the Constance's central idea.
Easy to wear
The sliding leather strap lets the bag sit at different lengths, on the shoulder or across the body. Its flat silhouette stays close to the wearer, which makes a structured bag feel surprisingly practical.
Published accounts estimate around 14 to 18 hours of work for a Constance. As with other Hermès leather goods, the details are made and finished by an artisan.
The H clasp
It all comes back to that letter.
Hermès introduces the clasp with a single word: "A first!"
The H on the flap isn't just a logo. Hermès describes it as "a clever and functional clasp," opened and closed by a spring mechanism concealed on each side of the metal bar attached to the flap.
Lift the bar and the flap releases. Press it back and you'll hear the bag close with a satisfying click.
The design proved so successful that the H clasp now appears on a whole family of Constance wallets.
The design
A compact rectangular body, a broad flap and a slim profile create the Constance's unmistakable shape. The clasp draws the eye, but the bag remains otherwise restrained. That is why it can look equally at home with casual clothes or something more polished.
The hardware finish changes the mood considerably. A black Constance with gold hardware feels warmer than the same bag with palladium. Neither needs additional decoration.
Sizes and versions
The Constance 18, often called the Mini, is among the most sought-after current formats. At roughly 18 × 14 × 4 cm, it is suited to daily essentials. The Constance 24 offers more room at approximately 24 × 18 × 5 cm. The smaller Constance 14 is relatively uncommon.
The Constance Elan takes the familiar details into a longer east-west silhouette, approximately 25 × 13 × 4 cm. Introduced in 2010 and brought back in 2024, the updated version is described with a single compartment and a removable mirror.
Older sizes including 23, 25 and 29 appear on the secondary market. Hermès has also used different naming conventions, such as Constance I and Constance III, so measurements and version details matter when comparing listings.
Beyond the handbag
The Constance clasp appears on wallets and smaller accessories too. The Constance To Go, introduced in 2020, is a wallet with a removable strap; the Constance Slim, Long and Compact Passant offer other interpretations.
Limited editions have explored silk, mirrors, print and unusual finishes. The Marble Silk, On a Summer Day and Au Bout du Monde editions show how a simple shape can make room for expressive materials.
Finding the right Constance
Constance sizes, like those of the Birkin and Kelly, are named after the approximate width of the bag in centimeters.
The sizes currently in production are:
Constance 14, sometimes called the Micro Constance, about 14 × 11 × 3 cm
Constance 18, the Mini Constance, about 18 × 14 × 4 cm
Constance 24, about 24 × 18 × 5 cm
Constance Elan, about 25 × 13 × 4 cm
The Constance 18 is described as the most in-demand size. The Constance 14 is the smallest and few are available.
Hermès product names also distinguish versions such as the "Constance I 24" and the "Constance III mini."
Discontinued sizes
Some Constance sizes are no longer made.
The Constance 23 (about 23 × 18 × 5 cm), the Constance 25 (about 25 × 20 × 6 cm) and the Constance 29 (about 29 × 22 × 7 cm) are listed as discontinued. You may still spot them from time to time on the secondary market.
Leathers and hardware
Epsom gives the bag a crisp, structured outline. Chèvre has a fine grain and gentle sheen, while Swift offers a smooth feel and vivid color. Evercolor, Madame and the traditional glossy Box calf also appear. Rare examples have been made in crocodile, alligator and lizard.
Classic shades such as Noir, Gold, Étoupe and Nata share the collection with changing seasonal colors. The prominent clasp is usually finished in gold or palladium, with rose gold and more exceptional treatments seen less often.
How do you buy a Constance?
The Constance handbag is generally offered through Hermès boutiques. Collectors often describe it as more attainable than a Birkin or Kelly, but desirable sizes and colors can still be difficult to find. Hermès does not publish an official formula or waiting list.
Some collectors mention purchase history or boutique relationships. These are individual experiences, not requirements or guarantees. Constance wallets, by contrast, may appear on the Hermès website depending on the country and availability.
What does a Constance cost at retail?
Published 2026 US reference prices from Sotheby's include:
Model
Approximate US retail price
Constance 18, leather
US$9,700
Constance 24, leather
US$14,000
Constance Slim Wallet, lizard
US$10,700
These are reference prices rather than live boutique quotations.
The resale market offers another perspective on the Constance. Some collectors turn to it for a particular color or size; others to find pieces no longer offered in boutiques. Prices vary widely, which is why a single price rarely tells the whole story.
Classic leather, by size
Median asking prices, October 18, 2026. US dollars, asking prices from public listings, not confirmed sale prices.
Size
Pristine, asking
Pre-owned, asking
Listings
Constance 18
US$16,700
US$12,000
about 460
Constance 24
US$19,400
US$11,000
about 200
Versions and special editions
All sizes and conditions together. A version with fewer than 20 listings says less about the market than one with several thousand.
VersionMedian asking priceListings
Exotic skinsUS$22,600about 110
A Constance in crocodile, alligator, ostrich or lizard. These skins are made in far smaller numbers and cost much more at the boutique. Crossing a border with one can require CITES paperwork and some countries restrict them.
ShoulderUS$15,600about 80
The Birkin Shoulder has longer handles so it can be carried on the shoulder rather than in the hand. It is made in larger formats and in small numbers.
Special order (HSS)US$13,500fewer than 20
HSS stands for Horseshoe Stamp. A special order lets a client choose the leather, a second contrasting color, the stitching and the hardware. A small horseshoe stamp near the Hermès stamp marks every one. They are offered by the boutique, not requested freely.
Toile and canvasUS$12,500fewer than 20
Canvas, often Toile H or Toile Goéland, paired with leather trim. Lighter and more casual than an all-leather Constance, it is often chosen for travel and summer.
Classic leatherUS$11,700about 1,160
The reference: a Constance in one of the house's standard leathers, such as Togo, Epsom, Clemence or Swift, in a single color. Most listings fall here, which is why this median is the most reliable on the page.
VersoUS$10,600fewer than 20
A two-color Constance: one color outside and a contrasting color inside, on the lining and the inner side of the flap or straps. The surprise only shows when the bag is open.
Tap a version to see what it is.
Think of these figures as a snapshot of the market rather than a valuation of any particular bag.
Hermès says 1967; Sotheby's has published 1959. The source material does not resolve the difference.
Where does the name come from?
Hermès says the designer named the bag after her newborn daughter, Constance.
Who helped make it famous?
Jacqueline Kennedy was photographed carrying one during the 1960s.
Does the H clasp really open the bag?
Yes. It conceals the closure mechanism rather than serving only as a logo.
Which sizes are best known?
The Mini 18, Constance 24 and elongated Elan are the main reference points. The 14 and older sizes are less common.
Constance Elan or classic Constance?
The Elan is longer and shallower, with an east-west profile. The classic bag is more compact and upright.
Can I purchase one online?
Constance wallets may appear online. The classic handbag is offered through boutiques.
Is there a guaranteed way to be offered one?
No. Hermès does not publish allocation criteria.
References
Hermès, “All about the Hermès Constance bag collection”.
Sotheby's, “All About the Hermès Constance”.
Sotheby's, “The Timeless Versatility of the Hermès Constance”.
Sotheby's, “Learn More About Our Favorite Rare and Collectible Hermès Constance 18”.
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About this guide
An independent reference for curious collectors.
MyQuotaBag brings together the stories, craftsmanship and market information behind some of the world's most recognizable handbags, to make them easier to explore and understand.
Resale figures come from publicly available asking prices. They represent listings, not confirmed sales or guaranteed future values. MyQuotaBag is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hermès.
How to cite: MyQuotaBag, « The Hermès Constance », Hermès Bag Profiles, resale snapshot of 2026-10-18. https://myquotabag.com/bags/constance/
