This Hermès Constance guide begins where my entire Hermès collection began: with a Constance 18 in Etoupe Epsom, my first ever Hermès bag in 2019. At the time it was considered a quota bag; it no longer is (in UK & US), and I would argue it deserves the title more than ever.
That Etoupe 18 became one of my most worn bags, and years later it still is. Two more Constances have joined it since, so everything below comes from actually living with this bag: the mechanism, the leathers, what fits, and the full price history from 2019 to 2026.
Why Trust SurgeOfStyle on the Constance
When reading Benita’s Hermès insights, you are drawing on ownership of three Constance bags across two sizes and three leathers, years of buying at Hermès boutiques and trusted resellers, and deep research across the Hermès collector community. Every recommendation is rooted in genuine ownership, not press samples or brand briefings.Hermès Constance 18 in Etoupe: The Details
I own two Hermès Constance 18 bags, one in Etoupe and one in 5P pink, and I reach for the Etoupe more often because it genuinely works for every season, especially summer and winter. Etoupe also happens to be one of the most highly sought-after neutrals Hermès makes, which means resale value on this colour is consistently strong.
My 5P pink comes out mostly in summer, because it brightens up an outfit the second I put it on. 5P is known among collectors as the perfect “Barbie pink,” and it’s highly sought after ‘pink’ Hermès makes. However, Hermès no longer produces this colour, so if you want one, you’re looking at a reseller rather than the boutique.
How To Open Hermès Constance Bag
You grip the middle bar of the H clasp, pull it toward you, and the spring releases so you can lift the flap. It takes a beat to learn, and I still watch people fumble it at dinner.
Hermès Constance 18 Measurements
The Constance 18 measures roughly 18cm wide by 13cm tall by 4.5cm deep. What most people don’t realise is that the standard Constance 18 has a double gusset, meaning two separate interior compartments, which makes this small bag hold far more than it looks capable of. The interior is lined in lambskin, with a slip pocket at the front and a leather tab pocket mirror tucked inside.
What Fits in a Hermès Constance 18 Bag?
The Constance 18 holds more than you think because the double gusset is doing real work here, which holds almost as much as the Constance 24. On a normal day I pack my iPhone 17 Pro, my DJI Osmo Pocket vlogging camera, my card holder, my keys, a lipstick, and hand cream, and it fits everything comfortably, whilst remaining lightweight enough to carry on the holder, or crossbody.
Hermès Constance 18 Etoupe — $11,995
The colour and size I own, and my most worn Hermès bag.
SHOP: Fashionphile
Hermès Constance 24 Details
There are 2 main versions of the Constance 24:
- The Constance 24 Classic
- The Constance 1-24
The Classic Constance 24 has a double gusset, which gives it that accordion-style base, while the Constance 1-24 has a single gusset, which is the one I have. Mine lays flatter, has a slightly longer strap, and includes an internal pocket mirror. The Constance 24 is a true everyday bag: it fits far more for daily essentials, and works just as well as a light work bag or a travel companion.
Hermès Constance 24 Measurements
It measures 24cm W x 18cm H x 8cm D. The Classic Constance 24 was introduced in 1959, while the updated Constance 1-24 arrived in late 2022 to 2023.
Why is it called Constance 1-24?
The “1” in the name points to the main design change: moving from the classic double-gusset layout to a single, wide, undivided internal compartment, making the bag lighter and more spacious.
My own Constance is the newer 1-24, in box leather with palladium hardware. I love its smooth, shiny finish, and because I like to live a little dangerously with my bags, I chose the most delicate leather Hermès offers. I’m careful with it, but it does develop scratches over time given how soft box leather is. I’ve made peace with that. I’m looking forward to the beautiful vintage patina it will build over the years.
Hermès Constance 18 Box PHW — $11,870
The original classic Constance leather, in the size I wear crossbody every day.
SHOP: Fashionphile (US)
Hermès Constance 1-24 Box GHW — $13,295
The single-gusset update, and the one I own for everyday wear.
SHOP: Fashionphile (US)
What Fits in a Hermès Constance 24 Bag?
It fits all of my daily essentials: phone, wallet, keys, lipstick, and hand cream. Where it struggles is my vlogging camera, since the extra bulk can stretch the leather, so I generally avoid overpacking this bag. If that’s a concern for you, the Constance 24 in Epsom leather is the better choice, since it withstands far more day to day.
Hermès Constance 24 Box Leather — $13,295
The leather and size I own, in its classic form.
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Hermès Constance 18 vs 24: Which One Is For You?
The Constance 18 measures 18cm W x 13cm H x 4.5cm D versus 24cm W x 18cm H x 8cm D for the Constance 24, and the difference shows up most in the strap: the 18’s longer strap makes it genuinely comfortable to wear crossbody, while the 24’s shorter strap makes crossbody wear a bit awkward, though it’s thicker and holds up better on the shoulder when the bag is fully loaded.
Choose the 18 if you want an easy crossbody bag and are happy sticking to the essentials, and choose the 24 if you want a true everyday bag with room to overpack, worn on the shoulder rather than crossbody.
Hermès Constance 18 Gold PHW — $13,060
Highly sought after, and the resale numbers show it.
SHOP: Fashionphile
The History of the Hermès Constance
Hermès launched the Constance in 1969, designed by Catherine Chaillet, who named it after her daughter. The signature H clasp is not decoration: it is the bag’s entire closing mechanism, a spring-loaded H that releases the flap, and it turned a monogram into an icon without printing a single logo on leather.
Why is it so coveted? Production is limited, the H clasp requires serious hand-finishing, and for decades boutiques treated it like a quota bag even when it officially was not one. It is the Hermès bag that says the quiet part quietly.
Hermès Constance Leathers
The Constance comes in four core leathers:
- Epsom (scratch-resistant and structured)
- Swift (soft with a subtle sheen)
- Box Calf (the original classic leather)
- Chevre (goat leather).
I own Epsom leather and can vouch for its durability: hardly any scratches, and when London rain lands on the bag I do not worry, I wipe it off and it is good as new. Box leather is a different relationship. My Noir 24 in box leather is beautiful in a way Epsom is not, but I have to be far more careful with it, because box scratches if you look at it wrong. If you want my advice? Buy an Hermès constance in box for the patina story, and buy Constance in Epsom for real life.
Hermès Constance 18 Box Leather — $11,870
The original classic leather, handle with respect.
SHOP: Fashionphile
Hermès Constance 18 Black Epsom — $10,685
The most practical Constance you can buy.
SHOP: Fashionphile
Hermes Constance in Exotic Leathers
Then there are the exotics: Alligator and Crocodile, Lizard, and Ostrich. These command serious premiums because the skins are rarer, the ateliers that can work them are fewer, and the H clasp against an exotic scale pattern is about as far as quiet luxury goes before it stops being quiet.
The Constance Long To Go
The Long To Go is the Constance stretched into an east-west wallet-on-strap: a slim, elongated silhouette that carries a phone, cards and lipstick, and doubles as a clutch when you drop the strap. It is the Constance for evenings and for women who have already edited their carry down to essentials.
Hermès Constance Prices: 2019 to 2026
When I bought my first Constance 18 in 2019 it cost meaningfully less than half of some resale prices today. After the 2026 Hermès increase, a Constance 18 in Epsom retails around $9,700 in the US, with the Constance 24 around $14,000 and box calf versions higher still.
| Year (Constance 18) | USD | EUR | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 (my first) ★ | ~$6,600 | ~€5,700 | ~£5,000 |
| 2024 | ~$8,400 | ~€7,300 | ~£6,400 |
| 2025 | ~$8,750 | ~€7,600 | ~£6,700 |
| 2026 (after increase) | ~$9,700 | ~€8,400 | ~£7,300 |
★ My first Constance. Figures are boutique prices for Epsom leather and are approximate; Hermès pricing varies by region and leather, so confirm with your SA before purchasing.
How I Store My Hermès Constance Bags
After a day of wearing, I wrap the long straps of my constance by wrapping it in a neat circle & tucking it underneath, as shown in the picture below, then place it neatly in my closet.
Is the Hermès Constance Worth It?
Yes, and I say that with three of them in my wardrobe and years of wear behind the first. It was my first Hermès bag, it survived being my most used bag, and it taught me that the smartest luxury purchases are the ones you stop thinking about because you are too busy wearing them.
If you want one Constance: the 18, in Epsom, in a neutral you already wear. That combination is the closest thing to a guaranteed decision Hermès sells.
FAQ: Hermès Constance Guide
Is the Hermès Constance a quota bag?
Not officially anymore, though it once was and boutiques still treat it with quota-level scarcity. Expect limited availability and some purchase history at most stores.
Which Hermès Constance leather is most durable?
Epsom, by a clear margin. It resists scratching and rain far better than box calf or Swift, which is exactly why both of my Constance 18s are Epsom.
What fits inside a Constance 18?
Phone, card holder, lipstick, keys and a hand cream. It is an essentials bag, and it is honest about that.
How much is a Hermès Constance in 2026?
After the 2026 increase, roughly $9,700 for a Constance 18 in Epsom and around $14,000 for a Constance 24 at US boutiques, with box calf and exotics priced higher.
Can you wear the Constance 24 crossbody?
You can, but it sits wide and slightly awkward against the hip. The 24 is happiest on the shoulder; the 18 is the true crossbody of the two.
More Hermès Stories
- The Complete Hermès Bag Guide: All 10 Bags Worth Knowing
- The Hermès Birkin Guide: Every Size, Leather and Price
- Hermès Birkin Cargo 25 Review
- How I Got My Hermès Birkin in Paris
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