Where can you buy an Hermes HAC — the Haut a Courroies — in London today? Realistically, not from a boutique window: the HAC is produced in small numbers, offered even more rarely than a Birkin, and most examples in the UK change hands on the secondary market. JULL, a London specialist in authenticated new, unworn and pre-owned Hermes, holds HAC pieces in our Birkin and HAC gallery that can be viewed in London and bought the same day.
Here is what the HAC actually is, how it differs from a Birkin, what it costs in London in 2026, and how to buy one properly.
The bag that started everything
The Haut a Courroies — literally high on straps — is the oldest bag shape in the house. It was designed in the late 1800s to carry a rider's saddle and boots, and every travel and handbag Hermes has made since descends from it; when the Birkin was created in 1984, it was drafted on the HAC's frame. The HAC is taller than a Birkin, its handles shorter, its presence more upright and architectural. For collectors it is the connoisseur's Birkin — the origin, not the imitation — and it has become one of the most requested Hermes bags among men. Our deeper history of the model is in the HAC guide.
HAC sizes
The HAC 40 is the classic: a commanding daily and light-travel size, and the sweet spot for most buyers. The 50 and 55 are true travel pieces — weekenders of extraordinary presence — and smaller HACs surface occasionally and are seized quickly. Leathers run from Togo and Clemence to Epsom and, in exceptional pieces, exotics; hardware is typically palladium or gold-plated. Related silhouettes such as the HAC a Dos backpack appear in our gallery when we hold them.
What an HAC costs in London in 2026
Because so few are made, the HAC trades on scarcity. On London's authenticated secondary market we currently see HAC 40s in standard leathers typically offered from the mid teens of thousands upwards, with travel sizes, rare colours and exotics substantially above. Treat these as observations of the current market rather than promises — every piece in our gallery carries its exact price, and where a piece was sourced below boutique retail the listing says so.
Boutique or specialist
There is no realistic boutique route for an HAC: allocation is rarer than for a Birkin, and waiting is open-ended. The secondary market is simply where HACs live — which makes the choice of seller the whole decision. The five questions that protect you with any seller are set out in our guide to choosing a Hermes reseller in London.
Our standard at JULL: every HAC is authenticated by hand in our London workroom — blind stamp read and dated, hardware stamping, saddle stitching and leather grain checked against production records — then sold with an itemised invoice recording the blind stamp, sealed with a tamper-evident tag and covered by our published Refund Policy. Given the sums involved, we would rather you view the bag in person before deciding anything.
Checking an HAC is genuine
The HAC shares its anatomy with the Birkin, so the same discipline applies: touret and turn-lock stamping, sangles of even width, saddle stitching at the correct angle, a blind stamp consistent with hardware and lining — plus the HAC's own tells, the taller body proportion and shorter handle drop that copies so often get wrong. The full method is in How to Authenticate an Hermes Bag, with terms decoded in the Hermes Glossary.
Buying an HAC from JULL
Current HAC and Birkin stock is live in the gallery with full specifications and exact prices. Reserve online — payment by instant bank transfer against a unique order reference — or speak to a specialist on WhatsApp. Insured next-day UK delivery, or private collection in London after a viewing.
Frequently asked questions
What does HAC stand for? Haut a Courroies — high on straps — after the tall belted profile of the original saddle-carrying design.
HAC or Birkin — which should I buy? The Birkin is the icon; the HAC is the origin. Taller, rarer, and especially suited to men or anyone who wants presence without the obvious signal. Many collectors end up wanting both.
How much is an HAC in London in 2026? On the authenticated secondary market, standard-leather 40s typically start in the mid teens of thousands, with travel sizes and exotics well above. Exact prices are on each listing.
Is the HAC a good men's bag? It is arguably the men's Hermes bag: the 40 works as a daily carryall and the 50 as hand luggage. See also our For Men gallery.
Can I see an HAC in London before buying? Yes — book a private viewing and handle the sizes side by side.
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JULL is a London specialist in authenticated new, unworn and pre-owned Hermes. Browse Birkin and HAC or tell us what to find.