Moynat vs. Hermès: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Hermès represents the absolute peak of classic luxury, known for its iconic, investment-grade handbags like the Birkin and Kelly that serve as global status symbols. Moynat, on the other hand, offers a more understated and contemporary form of high-end craftsmanship, appealing to connoisseurs who prioritize modern, minimalist design and artisanal quality over overt branding.

Let's compare everything you need to know to decide which of these legendary French Maisons is right for you.

Moynat: The Discerning Connoisseur's Choice

Founded in 1849, Moynat is a historic French luxury brand built on artisanal trunk-making heritage and a reputation for quiet elegance. It appeals to a customer who values exceptional craftsmanship, innovative design, and exclusivity without the loud branding of its competitors. With a history that is as rich as any top-tier luxury house, Moynat enjoys an "if you know, you know" status among luxury purists.

• Product mix: Primarily focuses on exquisite handbags, small leather goods, and travel trunks. Their collections are curated and often released in limited quantities, enhancing their exclusive appeal.
• Price point: Moynat handbags generally range from $3,000 to $10,000. While firmly in the ultra-luxury category, this provides a more accessible entry point compared to Hermès' most sought-after models.
• Quality: Craftsmanship is central to Moynat's identity. They use high-quality leathers and time-honored techniques, often combined with innovative details and construction that set their pieces apart.
• Style & Aesthetic: The brand's aesthetic is sleek, minimalist, and modern. Designs are characterized by clean lines, architectural shapes, and subtle details, creating a sophisticated and timeless look.
• Shopping Experience: Moynat offers a more intimate and personalized boutique experience. There is an emphasis on storytelling and craftsmanship, and acquiring a bag is typically a more straightforward process than at Hermès.

Moynat is the choice for someone seeking impeccable handmade quality and a modern, understated aesthetic from a heritage brand, without the frenzy associated with more prominent names.

Shop Moynat: moynat.com

Hermès: The Pinnacle of Classic Luxury

Established in 1837, Hermès is arguably the most prestigious luxury brand in the world. It is the gold standard for craftsmanship, exclusivity, and timeless style. Owning an Hermès handbag, especially a Birkin or Kelly, is a definitive statement of status and is often viewed as a tangible investment due to its extraordinary resale value and extreme rarity.

• Product mix: While famous for leather goods, Hermès has a vast product range including iconic silk scarves, ready-to-wear fashion, jewelry, home goods, and fragrances. The Birkin and Kelly bags are its most legendary offerings.
• Price point: Prices are at the very top of the luxury market. A standard leather Birkin or Kelly starts around $10,000 and can easily exceed $50,000 for rare editions or exotic skins.
• Quality: Unparalleled. Hermès utilizes only the finest leathers and materials on earth, and its artisans train for years to master the brand's signature hand-stitching and finishing techniques. Hermès bags are built to become family heirlooms.
• Style & Aesthetic: The brand defines classic, timeless elegance. Its designs are iconic, recognizable, and versatile, transcending fleeting trends to remain desirable for decades.
• Shopping Experience: Infamously exclusive. Building a relationship with a sales associate is often necessary to even be offered the opportunity to purchase a top handbag, with multi-year waitlists being the norm.

Hermès offers the ultimate in luxury, status, and investment-worthy craftsmanship, remaining the benchmark against which all other luxury brands are measured.

Shop Hermès: hermes.com

Moynat vs. Hermès Comparison

Price Comparison

There is a significant price difference between the two Maisons. A handbag from Moynat typically costs between $3,000 and $10,000. This places it in the high-luxury segment but makes it considerably more attainable than its main competitor.

Hermès occupies the absolute highest tier of pricing. Its most coveted handbags, the Birkin and Kelly, begin at around $10,000 for a basic model and can reach six figures. The price reflects not just the materials and labor but also the brand's immense heritage, status, and remarkable investment value.

Quality & Materials

Both brands offer exceptional, artisan-level quality. For many, Hermès is the definitive gold standard. Its leathers (like Togo, Epsom, and Barenia) are legendary, and every stitch is placed by hand with meticulous precision. An Hermès bag is constructed to withstand a lifetime of use and be passed down through generations.

Moynat’s quality is just as impressive, built from its roots as a premier trunk-maker. The brand uses equally luxurious leathers and materials, focusing on innovative construction techniques and flawless finishing. While Hermès sets the industry benchmark, Moynat stands beside it in terms of pure craftsmanship and build quality.

Style & Aesthetic

Their design philosophies are the most significant difference. Hermès champions a look of classic, timeless luxury. The silhouettes of the Birkin, Kelly, and Constance are refined, instantly recognizable, and serve as undisputed symbols of wealth and taste.

Moynat focuses on a modern, minimalist aesthetic. Its designs are often more subtle, with clean architectural lines and discreet branding. It's the definition of "quiet luxury" - a sophisticated choice for someone who doesn't need a logo to communicate the quality of their accessories.

Investment Value and Exclusivity

In terms of investment, Hermès is in a class of its own. Birkin and Kelly bags are famous for holding and often appreciating in value, with a thriving secondary market where bags can sell for well above their original retail price. This is driven by an infamous scarcity model that makes them incredibly difficult to acquire new.

Moynat bags also hold their value well for a luxury product due to their quality and relative rarity. However, they do not possess the same meteoric investment reputation or frenzied resale demand as Hermès. This makes them exclusively for a discerning clientele who buys for personal enjoyment over potential financial return. The brand's exclusivity comes from its smaller production scale, not an intentional scarcity strategy.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands are icons of French luxury, but they cater to very different sensibilities.

Choose Moynat if:

• You prefer modern, minimalist designs and "quiet luxury" over recognizable status symbols.
• You value artisanal craftsmanship and heritage in a more contemporary form.
• You appreciate the prestige of a high-luxury item without the extreme price premium and waitlists of Hermès.
• You want an exclusive, high-quality bag that is not seen everywhere.

Choose Hermès if:

• You are looking for an investment-grade handbag that is likely to hold or increase its value.
• You want to own one of the most iconic and recognizable luxury pieces in the world.
• You appreciate timeless, classic designs that will remain stylish for decades to come.
• The exclusivity, heritage, and unique experience of 'the hunt' are part of the allure for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hermès or Moynat more expensive?

Hermès is significantly more expensive. While Moynat bags are priced from approximately $3,000 to $10,000, Hermès' flagship handbags start at $10,000 and can easily cost many times more.

Which brand holds its value better?

Hermès has a proven and unparalleled track record for holding and appreciating in value. A well-maintained Birkin or Kelly bag can often be resold for more than its original retail price due to high demand and extreme scarcity.

What are the most famous bags from each brand?

For Hermès, the most famous bags are the Birkin and the Kelly. For Moynat, its signature design is the Réjane, named after a famous French actress from the Belle Époque.

Is it difficult to buy a bag from these brands?

Acquiring a Birkin or Kelly from Hermès is notoriously difficult, often requiring a significant purchase history with the brand and a bit of luck. Buying a bag from Moynat is a far more straightforward and intimate experience at one of their exclusive boutiques.

Which brand makes better quality products?

Both brands represent the peak of leather craftsmanship. Hermès is widely considered the absolute benchmark in the industry for materials and hand-finishing, but Moynat's quality is on a comparable elite level.

Which brand is older?

Hermès is slightly older, founded in 1837 as a harness workshop. Moynat was founded twelve years later in 1849 as a trunk-maker.

Why is an Hermès Birkin so expensive?

The price of a Birkin bag is a result of several factors: the use of the world's most expensive and flawless leathers, the approximately 20 hours of hand labor by a single artisan, the brand's immense heritage and prestige, and an artificially limited supply that creates extreme demand.

What style is each brand best for?

Hermès is best for a timeless, classic, and elegant style. Moynat is better suited for a modern, minimalist, and understated aesthetic often associated with "quiet luxury."