Today, the Shebag company acquired a pre-owned Hermès Garden Party and a Lindy 26. We are conducting a comprehensive comparison against Shebag’s top-tier, fully handmade replicas—covering every detail from hardware and stitching to leather—to demonstrate Shebag’s replication capabilities.

In this comparison, “ZP” stands for the authentic product (Zhengpin), shown in the images on the right. The authentic bags are pre-owned. On the left are Shebag’s top-tier handmade replicas; being brand new, their shape is more structured and rigid, but they will soften naturally with use.

Today, we will focus on Hermès silver hardware—how it achieves its premium look, durability, and wear resistance, as well as the immense difficulty involved in replicating it.

Hermès silver hardware is not “silver plating” in the traditional sense. Instead, it represents a comprehensive system of metal manufacturing and surface treatment centered on long-term durability and structural stability. The overall philosophy is to first ensure the strength and lifespan of the hardware as mechanical structural components, and then utilize precious metal plating to achieve a stable, restrained visual effect that does not discolor over time.

Regarding material selection, the base material for Hermès silver hardware is typically a high-strength copper-based alloy, such as brass or zinc-copper alloy. Pure silver is not used because it is too soft; it lacks the wear resistance and structural stability required for components like locks, pins, and spindles that undergo long-term, repeated use. Hardware is primarily viewed as a functional component for load-bearing and durability, with its decorative attributes ranking second.

Once the base material is formed, the hardware undergoes a precision machining process, including die casting or CNC machining, deburring, dimensional calibration, and structural testing. This stage determines the hardware’s heft, the tactile feel of its closure, and its stability during long-term use. Subsequently, it enters multiple rounds of polishing: mechanical polishing first removes microscopic flaws, followed by manual fine polishing to create a uniform, flat surface. This step aims not for blinding brightness, but to achieve a deep, stable metal reflection, providing an excellent foundation for the subsequent precious metal plating.

What truly defines the “silver” appearance is the surface palladium plating. Hermès silver hardware typically uses palladium as the final visual layer, rather than silver or chrome. Palladium is a precious metal with extremely high chemical stability; it does not oxidize easily and will not tarnish or turn black from contact with air or skin like silver does. It also possesses high hardness and strong scratch resistance, maintaining consistent tone over long-term use. The plating process is not a one-step finish but is divided into a base bonding layer and the palladium layer, with multiple cleaning and inspection cycles in between to ensure the coating is uniform, dense, and secure.

Regarding plating thickness control, Hermès standards are significantly higher than the industry average. A thicker palladium layer effectively delays the exposure of the base material due to corner wear, allowing the hardware to maintain a cool, clean silver-gray tone even after years of use, without exhibiting obvious yellowing or mottling. This is one of the key reasons why Hermès silver hardware incurs higher costs but offers durability significantly superior to that of ordinary luxury brand hardware.

Only after plating is complete does the hardware undergo laser engraving, including the brand name, origin mark, and date stamps. Following engraving, it requires ultrasonic cleaning and an ultra-thin anti-fingerprint and anti-oxidation sealing treatment to ensure cleanliness upon delivery and long-term stability. Performing the engraving after plating ensures the lettering remains crisp and is not obscured by the electroplating.

Visually, Hermès silver hardware does not strive for a high-gloss, blinding mirror effect, but rather presents a cooler, steadier metallic luster. This sheen is not ostentatious at first glance, but it undergoes almost no color change during long-term use. Instead, friction gradually makes it mellower. These naturally formed traces of use are viewed by Hermès as a normal and positive “texture of time” (patina).