Everything You Need to Know About the Hermès Kelly Doll

Beloved by collectors worldwide, the Hermès Kelly Doll, also known as the Quelle Idole, was born from whimsy and designed by Jean-Louis Dumas. First released in 2000, these playful mini bags originally retailed for around $2,500. During their initial run, Hermès produced eight colorways, including Orange H, Rouge H, Black, Noisette, Blue Saphir, Vert Olive, Vert Cru, and Rouge Vif. Orange H is the most common, appearing in over 20% of auction sales, followed closely by Black.

In 2008, Hermès began producing limited runs of the Hermès Kelly Doll again, mostly to mark the opening of new boutiques around the world. Through 2010 a number of new colors came out of the Pantin ateliers including Blue Jean, and Vermillion, but most notably 5P pink, which was selected for the 2010 opening of the Sogo boutique in Hong Kong. After 2010 the Hermès Kelly Doll was retired again, which truly spurred collectors to pay attention whenever they came to the secondary market.

In 2015, Hermès unveiled five exceptional Quelle Idole bags at the Leather Forever exhibition in Singapore. Featuring embroidery, exotic skins, and intricate embellishments, these one-of-a-kind Kelly Dolls went viral among collectors and were later auctioned for charity. The buzz reignited interest in the style, and by 2017, the first HSS Kelly Dolls began emerging from Hermès workshops. A new era of Quelle Idole had begun—defined by personalized color and material combinations. Since then, numerous versions have surfaced on the secondary market, with Matte Alligator editions among the rarest and most coveted. Production remains extremely limited, and it’s unclear if we’ll ever see versions in shiny alligator, ostrich, lizard, or suede. Recent highlights include a Blue Zellige edition without the Horse Shoe Stamp and new ‘Touch’ Kelly Dolls featuring shiny alligator details paired with a Swift leather body.

The Hermès Kelly Doll in Matte Alligator is one of the most sought after Hermès bags by collectors. Sotheby’s has sold several Alligator Kelly Dolls at auction, with prices ranging from $76,000 to over $100,000. The second most expensive Kelly Doll ever sold is this Malachite Matte Alligator, which sold for 825,500 HKD in 2023. In March 2024, a Matte Gold Alligator Kelly Doll achieved 88,900 USD, now ranking as the third most expensive Kelly Doll sold at auction. Hermès collectors consider an Alligator Kelly Doll among the rarest and most desirable along with the Birkin Faubourg, a Himalayan bag, the Kelly Wood or Kelly Feather.

Hermès introduced the newest Kelly Doll as part of its Spring/Summer 2022 collection. The new Hermès Kelly Doll Picto is a completely redesigned and re-imagined take on the Hermès Kelly Doll. The new design comes with a shoulder strap and has a pixel art style complete with a little backpack. The new Hermès Kelly Doll comes in Epsom leather in multiple colors include Mauve Sylvestre, Nata, Vert Fizz, Bleu Royal and Bleu Saphir with more colors expected. The Kelly Doll Picto retailed for $17,600 in 2024 but the price could increase in 2025.

Hermès also makes a tiny Hermès Kelly Doll bag charm. Only about 6.5cm across, these leather charms are designed to adorn a bag, though fully function as their full-sized counterparts. These bag charms generally sell for around $6,000 to $7,000 on the secondary market and are available in a range of colors.

Appearing at auction with some regularity, the Hermès Kelly Doll has been an iconic presence on the market for over a decade now. Prior to 2015 only 1st edition Hermès Kelly Dolls had sold at auction and none topped $20,000. Today, over 50% of Hermès Kelly Dolls sold at auction have been from their first production run, with less than 20% coming from the 2008–2010 group which have averaged almost $45,000 since their first appearance at auction in 2015. These Kelly Dolls made for boutique openings have always been valued higher than the original versions. The most popular leather Kelly Dolls in pink have sold for over $100,000. The newest Kelly Doll Picto has sold for as high as $74,000 in 2023 but prices have settled closer to $50,000 to $60,000.

This Limited Edition Gold, Bleu Zanzibar, Rose Texas and Jaune Milton Epsom Quelle Idole Kelly Doll Picto recently sold for $54,000 at Sotheby’s Origins auction in February 2025. As new colors of the Kelly Doll Picto are produced by Hermès, we anticipate an initial price peak that can exceed $60,000 and then as the color becomes more readily available, prices tend to come down quickly.

The Limited Edition Rose Sakura and Chocolat Gulliver Quelle Idole Kelly Doll achieved 95,250 CHF at Sotheby’s in May 2025, marking a record price for the model. This rare example is crafted from supple Rose Sakura and Chocolat Gulliver leather, with a tonal leather interior. Measuring 15 x 12 x 6 cm and finished with palladium hardware, its exceptional price can be attributed in part to Rose Sakura, one of Hermès’ most coveted and collectible pinks—especially prized by collectors for its delicate, feminine tone and limited availability.

Tied for the second-most expensive Kelly Dolls ever sold at auction are two very different, but equally remarkable examples. The Limited Edition 5P Bubblegum Pink and Prune Swift Marina Bay Sands Quelle Idole Kelly Doll realized 825,500 HKD in September 2025. Created in 2010 as an exclusive release for the opening of Hermès’ Marina Bay Sands boutique in Singapore, this playful yet highly collectible piece is crafted from rare 5P Bubblegum Pink and Prune Swift leather, finished with palladium hardware. Measuring 15 x 12 x 6 cm and lined in tonal leather, the doll was accompanied by its original care booklet, dust bag, and box. Its rarity, tied to the boutique opening, combined with the enduring desirability of 5P Bubblegum Pink—a cult-favorite Hermès shade—drove competitive bidding and confirmed the Kelly Doll’s status as one of the most coveted novelties in the Hermès universe.

Sharing the same price of 825,500 HKD, the Malachite Matte Alligator and Black Swift HSS Quelle Idole Kelly Doll also secured a place among the top results when it sold at Sotheby’s in 2023. Produced in 2019 as a custom-order piece, it bears Hermès’ coveted horseshoe stamp and combines richly hued Malachite Matte Alligator with Black Swift leather, accented by gold hardware. Its rarity, exotic material, and bespoke status made it one of the most desirable Kelly Dolls ever offered at auction, tying it with the 5P Bubblegum Pink edition as a joint record holder.

Notably, while one of these tied results was achieved by an exotic alligator example, the very highest prices in Kelly Doll history have been realized by all-leather versions in rare shades of pink, underscoring the extraordinary demand for Hermès’ most collectible colors.

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