Bleu de Prusse · Mirror 1-24
Epsom · gold hardware · catalogued 2023
A darker blue in the 24 format, with a mirror recorded in the source listing. Compare its proportions with the two 18s.
Photo & reference: Sotheby’s ↗Hermès / 1967
Constance
A compact shoulder bag built around an H clasp and a sliding strap. The third perspective in the Hermès trio.
Look closer ↓The details, in colour
Notable Constance examples
Three documented examples, chosen for the differences in proportion, surface and detail.
Bleu Izmir · Mini Constance 18
Epsom · palladium hardware · catalogued 2015
A brighter blue and contrasting metal H give the smaller 18 format a different balance from the dark 24.
Photo & reference: Sotheby’s ↗
Deep Bleu · Mini Constance 18
Epsom · blue-enamel palladium hardware · catalogued 2020
The clasp brings the blue onto the hardware itself. Keeping the 18 format and Epsom material constant makes that detail easier to compare.
Photo & reference: Sotheby’s ↗Documented examples, not availability listings. Manufacturer and auction-house descriptions identify each configuration; photographs remain credited to their sources.
Family and pictured example
Understanding the Hermès Constance
The Constance is a shoulder-bag family whose working H clasp and sliding strap are more useful identifiers than colour alone. Keep the generation with the size: Hermès names Constance I 24 and Constance III mini separately. The blue example is catalogued as a Constance Mirror 1-24 in Epsom.
Constance history and naming
Hermès dates the Constance’s origin to 1967 and recounts how its designer named it after her daughter. Its identity rests on a practical shoulder silhouette and the prominent clasp. [1]
Proportions and variants
Constance generation and format comparison
Family labels and generation numbers matter. Check the measurements and interior of the specific reference.
| Version | What is documented | What to compare | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constance I 24 | Named on the Hermès collection page. | Ask for width, depth and an open interior photograph; the family page provides no full measurement set. | [1] |
| Constance III mini | A separate format and generation named by Hermès. | Do not infer its interior layout from a 24 or from the word Mini alone. | [1] |
| Pictured Mirror 1-24 | The existing Sotheby’s attribution names Bleu de Prusse Epsom and gold hardware. | Confirm included mirror, layout and measurements against the seller’s current record. | [2] |
Measurements are published exterior specifications unless stated otherwise. A size name is not a measured capacity or a guarantee of fit.
Look closer
Constance construction and surface treatments
| Feature | Sourced description | Inspection implication | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| H clasp | Hermès describes spring mechanisms concealed at the sides of the bar on the flap. | Ask for a short opening-and-closing demonstration; inspect alignment without forcing the mechanism. | [1] |
| Sliding strap | The house describes shoulder and hip carrying positions. | Check both strap configurations and inspect the sections passing through the fittings. | [1] |
| Epsom / Marble Silk | Epsom is embossed calfskin; the house also presents a silk-marbling treatment in the family. | These surfaces need different condition descriptions; do not assume the photographed Epsom identifies all Constances. | [3] [1] |
Inspection prompts are editorial suggestions. A construction feature, stamp or accessory alone cannot establish authenticity; this guide does not authenticate individual bags.
Before buying and carrying
Constance buying and ownership questions
Does 24 identify the whole bag?
No. Record the generation, material, dimensions and interior configuration together. The house lists I 24 and III mini; that naming alone does not establish every historical variation. Ask a seller to show the full listing description alongside the bag. [1]
Can I wear it crossbody?
Hermès describes a sliding strap for shoulder and hip positions. That is not a promise of a crossbody fit for every wearer. Ask for the actual strap drop in each configuration and compare it with a bag you already use over similar clothing. [1]
What should I inspect around the clasp?
Request close images of the H face, its edges, attachment points and the leather behind the flap. Ask whether the mechanism has been repaired and whether it latches consistently. A shiny face plate does not establish the condition of the spring mechanism.
What should the interior record include?
Request an unfilled view showing compartments, pockets, lining corners and any included mirror. List each accessory separately in the sale description. Check your rigid items against each compartment rather than treating outside width as one uninterrupted storage space.
What this guide can establish
Constance evidence, condition and price context
Pictured colour: Bleu de Prusse
Sotheby’s catalogues this specific 2023 Epsom Constance Mirror 1-24 in Bleu de Prusse with gold hardware. The original listing links the same photo asset used here. The evidence is an auction-house attribution, not manufacturer confirmation or a physical authentication. [2]
Colour evidence checked 2026-09-20. This establishes a documented reference or sale example, not current stock availability, an independently verified original finish, or an exact screen-to-object colour match.
Hermès supports the clasp, strap, historical origin and current family labels. It does not provide a full historical generation map. The original pictured Sotheby’s listing was recovered at its current short URL and its image asset matched. No new physical inspection or authenticity determination is claimed.
Retail quotes, dealer asking prices and completed auction results measure different things. For a useful comparison, record the date, currency, taxes or buyer’s premium, exact configuration, condition, restoration and accessories. This page does not provide a current market price or forecast future value.
This is a desk-researched independent guide. No firsthand carrying test or external expert review is claimed. Photo credit identifies the linked source; it does not establish a reuse licence. Read our editorial method and corrections policy.
References and provenance
Sources for the Constance guide
House pages support specifications and brand history. Auction-house articles supply specialist descriptions; individual sale listings describe particular examples. The tables link each factual comparison to the numbered sources below. Reviewed .
The blue image remains linked to its original attribution in the photo caption. Availability of historical sale pages can change.
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