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Wentworth-Roth · May 28th, 2009, 01:19 PM

Hello,

with this thread I'd like to present my first Bottega Veneta item.

I am usually found in the Louis Vuitton Forum, as I have been a fan of the French fashion house for a few years now. Recently, however, I felt that coated canvas was no longer the stuff dreams are made of, but exotic skins are. I inquired at Louis Vuitton what that had to offer in crocodile skin but its selection is quite limited. Hermes never really appealed to me for a variety of reasons, so I decided to turn my attention to Bottega Veneta.

I went online and looked at the Sprinng/Summer catalogue in which I found a gorgeous crocodile leather belt in ash fume. So I called the Bottega Veneta boutique in Florence and spoke with a very nice sales assistant.

Sadly the ash fume belt was sold out, but I was offered another belt instead: camel crocodile leather, 30 mm wide, with a brushed palladium buckle. I decided to buy it over the phone sight unseen and have it shipped to me.

I was informed that Bottega Veneta charges 50 Euro for shipping within the same country which is excessive, as Louis Vuitton only charges 15 Euros. However, as it was my first purchase from Bottega, the shipping charge was waived.

I bought the belt on a Saturday and received the phone order form via email the same day. I sent the money on Monday (paid via bank wire transfer) and faxed the filled-out form back on Monday as well. Bottega Veneta Corporate only told the boutique the next Monday, so a week later, that the money had arrived (bank wire transfers within the same country take 2 working days) and only then the boutique was allowed to send me the belt. Also, I was asked to confirm the address etc. although the information was already on the form. Louis Vuitton on the other hand is much faster, as soon as the money arrives the boutique is informed and the item shipped out the same day. For Louis Vuitton orders I usually have to wait 4 working days until the items are shipped, for this order I had to wait 6.

When I received the belt, it was not packaged in a box. The belt was shipped in its dustbag wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap and stuffed in a plastic UPS sleeve. I am not sure if the belt had been packaged that way too had I paid for shipping, but I was taken aback when I unwrapped the bundle. Louis Vuitton usually packages its items in a box and then puts the box in a shopping bag and then puts the entire thing in a large shipping box. Should I order from Bottega again and pay 50 Euro, it better use a similar method to ship the item.

Since I purchased an item in exotic skin, I asked to get the obligatory certificate of origin and authenticity of the skin, as well as the CITES, in case I decided to travel with the belt somewhere. The rules regarding the CITES are not clear cut, sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. I did not get one, but at least I got the certificate of origin and authenticity, but only because I insited on it when the s.a. called me to tell me I would not get a CITES for the belt.

Now to the belt itself: it is very nice, the colour is perfect for late spring, summer and early fall. The s.a. called it camel, but since there are two colours: beige and dark brown, the name might be longer, like camel fume or so. Experts, please chime in. The finish of the leather is glossy.

What I really like is that the belt is quite thick and gives a sturdy impression. The inside of the belt is made of a tan, smooth leather. There is, however, no product code etc printed on the inside of the belt, unlike at Louis Vuitton.

Before today I never touched crocodile leather, I only saw pictures of it. I always imagined the scales to be bumpy, more noticeable to the touch. If if touch the belt, the texture is very flat. Is crocodile always like that? Have the scales been flattened to make a smooth surface? Or could it possibly be because of the glossy finish? Experts please chime in.

All in all, I can say I am happy with my purchase, it is not flawless, but the quality is satisfactory. I will post pictures later this evening.

blackpearl · May 28th, 2009, 01:56 PM

Would love to see a picture of your belt. It sounds very nice.

I am no expert but I do know that the texture and size of bumps on crocodile leather depends on the part of the crocodile body that the leather has been taken from. Personally I like belly leather, which is smoother and has smaller bumps but more of them. DH prefers more elevated bumps.

LV-PRADAfanatic · May 28th, 2009, 03:37 PM

congrats... show us

Wentworth-Roth · May 28th, 2009, 03:38 PM

The crocodile used for this belt is a niloticus crocodile farmed in Zimbabwe.
From the look of the scales, I think the side part of the underside has been used. What is really interesting is that the scales are very stiff, they don't bend if I bend the belt, but the wrinkly part between the scales bends.

Here are the promised pictures:

annie9999 · May 28th, 2009, 03:57 PM

welcome to bv subforum- your belt is tdf.
i am so sorry you weren't happy with the packaging of the belt for shipping. i once had something shipped and it was packaged similarly but certainly an exotic should not have been sent that way.
all that aside i hope you will be very happy with bottega. i love their skins, the comfortable under the radar styles and usually accommodating sa's.
enjoy your belt and hope to see many more reveals in your future.

Wentworth-Roth · May 28th, 2009, 04:05 PM

^ Thank you for you kind words.

Sammyjoe · May 28th, 2009, 04:23 PM

Aside from you issues you faced, your belt is stunning!! I love the colour and the way the silver hardware works with it!

kroquet · May 28th, 2009, 04:23 PM

Wow, the belt is gorgeous. So sorry about the packaging, but hope you love the belt.

Now you need the Croc Veneta!!

GTOFan · May 28th, 2009, 04:47 PM

WOW! Gorgeous!

Bichon Lover · May 28th, 2009, 04:57 PM

Beautiful belt! Congtrats

piperlu · May 28th, 2009, 05:27 PM

Your belt is beautiful. I love croc!

Congrats!

Baggiana · May 28th, 2009, 10:54 PM

Yes, I find that BV croc is flatter than any other croc or alligator that I have or have ever handled - and has a softer hand, but lizard (and croc is a lizard) is a stiff hide so I am not surprised about the movement in the intersticial spaces as opposed to the "scales" themselves. I have a BV croc wallet that has a matte finish, so I do not think that the glossy finish is what flattens it, but rather how they cut and treat the hide. If you are looking for something more traditional in terms of dimensionality to the "scales", then Nancy Gonzalez does a gorgeous job, but the bags are stiffer and more structured than BV even with all her pleats and rouching.

BTW, your belt is just gorgeous, but the manner in which it was packed is not worthy of the boutique. Not all my bags came in the brown box (only 2 to date), but all wallets have, and shoes have. I do not know about belts. And each has been sent to me carefully packed in an outer cardboard box with the gorgeous metallic BV paper for padding. In the end, I think that is the decision of the boutique how to pack and ship.

Congratulations on such a gorgeous BV exotic, and enjoy wearing it!

PS - I am a huge fan of exotics, myself!

doreenjoy · May 28th, 2009, 10:56 PM

It's a beautiful belt. I love how soft BV croc is. I

dream of a croc knot.

doloresmia · May 28th, 2009, 11:51 PM

that is GORGEOUS!

jburgh · May 28th, 2009, 11:58 PM

W-R, your belt is gorgeous. uclaboi got a Coco Lave messenger bag. It looks similar to your croc belt. See it here: Greetings from UK! Reveal to come soon... , post #28.

For the most part, I have received small items in a bag and box, with the signature BV cord tied around the box. I'm sure the shipping varies with the boutique. I never use my boxes anyway.

May 28th, 2009, 01:19 PM	#1
Wentworth-Roth OP Member Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,820	My first Bottega Veneta Purchase (long first post) Hello, with this thread I'd like to present my first Bottega Veneta item. I am usually found in the Louis Vuitton Forum, as I have been a fan of the French fashion house for a few years now. Recently, however, I felt that coated canvas was no longer the stuff dreams are made of, but exotic skins are. I inquired at Louis Vuitton what that had to offer in crocodile skin but its selection is quite limited. Hermes never really appealed to me for a variety of reasons, so I decided to turn my attention to Bottega Veneta. I went online and looked at the Sprinng/Summer catalogue in which I found a gorgeous crocodile leather belt in ash fume. So I called the Bottega Veneta boutique in Florence and spoke with a very nice sales assistant. Sadly the ash fume belt was sold out, but I was offered another belt instead: camel crocodile leather, 30 mm wide, with a brushed palladium buckle. I decided to buy it over the phone sight unseen and have it shipped to me. I was informed that Bottega Veneta charges 50 Euro for shipping within the same country which is excessive, as Louis Vuitton only charges 15 Euros. However, as it was my first purchase from Bottega, the shipping charge was waived. I bought the belt on a Saturday and received the phone order form via email the same day. I sent the money on Monday (paid via bank wire transfer) and faxed the filled-out form back on Monday as well. Bottega Veneta Corporate only told the boutique the next Monday, so a week later, that the money had arrived (bank wire transfers within the same country take 2 working days) and only then the boutique was allowed to send me the belt. Also, I was asked to confirm the address etc. although the information was already on the form. Louis Vuitton on the other hand is much faster, as soon as the money arrives the boutique is informed and the item shipped out the same day. For Louis Vuitton orders I usually have to wait 4 working days until the items are shipped, for this order I had to wait 6. When I received the belt, it was not packaged in a box. The belt was shipped in its dustbag wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap and stuffed in a plastic UPS sleeve. I am not sure if the belt had been packaged that way too had I paid for shipping, but I was taken aback when I unwrapped the bundle. Louis Vuitton usually packages its items in a box and then puts the box in a shopping bag and then puts the entire thing in a large shipping box. Should I order from Bottega again and pay 50 Euro, it better use a similar method to ship the item. Since I purchased an item in exotic skin, I asked to get the obligatory certificate of origin and authenticity of the skin, as well as the CITES, in case I decided to travel with the belt somewhere. The rules regarding the CITES are not clear cut, sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. I did not get one, but at least I got the certificate of origin and authenticity, but only because I insited on it when the s.a. called me to tell me I would not get a CITES for the belt. Now to the belt itself: it is very nice, the colour is perfect for late spring, summer and early fall. The s.a. called it camel, but since there are two colours: beige and dark brown, the name might be longer, like camel fume or so. Experts, please chime in. The finish of the leather is glossy. What I really like is that the belt is quite thick and gives a sturdy impression. The inside of the belt is made of a tan, smooth leather. There is, however, no product code etc printed on the inside of the belt, unlike at Louis Vuitton. Before today I never touched crocodile leather, I only saw pictures of it. I always imagined the scales to be bumpy, more noticeable to the touch. If if touch the belt, the texture is very flat. Is crocodile always like that? Have the scales been flattened to make a smooth surface? Or could it possibly be because of the glossy finish? Experts please chime in. All in all, I can say I am happy with my purchase, it is not flawless, but the quality is satisfactory. I will post pictures later this evening.
Wentworth-Roth OP Member Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,820

May 28th, 2009, 03:37 PM	#3
LV-PRADAfanatic Built Hot for LV Joined: Oct 2007 Location: That's ME ^_^ Posts: 14,671	congrats... show us
	__________________ All so LoVely, so little time to get them all

May 28th, 2009, 03:38 PM	#4
Wentworth-Roth OP Member Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,820	The crocodile used for this belt is a niloticus crocodile farmed in Zimbabwe. From the look of the scales, I think the side part of the underside has been used. What is really interesting is that the scales are very stiff, they don't bend if I bend the belt, but the wrinkly part between the scales bends. Here are the promised pictures:
Wentworth-Roth OP Member Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,820

May 28th, 2009, 03:57 PM	#5
annie9999 Member Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,700	welcome to bv subforum- your belt is tdf. i am so sorry you weren't happy with the packaging of the belt for shipping. i once had something shipped and it was packaged similarly but certainly an exotic should not have been sent that way. all that aside i hope you will be very happy with bottega. i love their skins, the comfortable under the radar styles and usually accommodating sa's. enjoy your belt and hope to see many more reveals in your future.
annie9999 Member Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,700

May 28th, 2009, 04:05 PM	#6
Wentworth-Roth OP Member Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,820	^ Thank you for you kind words.
Wentworth-Roth OP Member Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,820

May 28th, 2009, 01:56 PM	#2
blackpearl Member Joined: May 2008 Posts: 459	Would love to see a picture of your belt. It sounds very nice. I am no expert but I do know that the texture and size of bumps on crocodile leather depends on the part of the crocodile body that the leather has been taken from. Personally I like belly leather, which is smoother and has smaller bumps but more of them. DH prefers more elevated bumps.
blackpearl Member Joined: May 2008 Posts: 459

May 28th, 2009, 04:23 PM	#7
Sammyjoe Night and Day Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,822	Aside from you issues you faced, your belt is stunning!! I love the colour and the way the silver hardware works with it!
Sammyjoe Night and Day Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,822	__________________ 1 Cabat Noce ( Thx Doloresmia and TankerToad!)

May 28th, 2009, 04:23 PM	#8
kroquet Menopausal M. O. B. Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 9,468	Wow, the belt is gorgeous. So sorry about the packaging, but hope you love the belt. Now you need the Croc Veneta!!
	__________________ Current Wishlist - Mulberry Alexa in Oak!!! Last edited by kroquet; May 28th, 2009 at 04:30 PM.

May 28th, 2009, 04:47 PM	#9
GTOFan Member Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,061	WOW! Gorgeous!
GTOFan Member Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,061

May 28th, 2009, 04:57 PM	#10
Bichon Lover Member Joined: Jul 2008 Location: California SF Bayarea Posts: 2,460	Beautiful belt! Congtrats

May 28th, 2009, 05:27 PM	#11
piperlu ~ Peltro Heaven ~ Joined: Jun 2006 Location: At the beach Posts: 9,393	Your belt is beautiful. I love croc! Congrats!
	__________________ Debbie

May 28th, 2009, 10:54 PM	#12
Baggiana Member Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,990	Yes, I find that BV croc is flatter than any other croc or alligator that I have or have ever handled - and has a softer hand, but lizard (and croc is a lizard) is a stiff hide so I am not surprised about the movement in the intersticial spaces as opposed to the "scales" themselves. I have a BV croc wallet that has a matte finish, so I do not think that the glossy finish is what flattens it, but rather how they cut and treat the hide. If you are looking for something more traditional in terms of dimensionality to the "scales", then Nancy Gonzalez does a gorgeous job, but the bags are stiffer and more structured than BV even with all her pleats and rouching. BTW, your belt is just gorgeous, but the manner in which it was packed is not worthy of the boutique. Not all my bags came in the brown box (only 2 to date), but all wallets have, and shoes have. I do not know about belts. And each has been sent to me carefully packed in an outer cardboard box with the gorgeous metallic BV paper for padding. In the end, I think that is the decision of the boutique how to pack and ship. Congratulations on such a gorgeous BV exotic, and enjoy wearing it! PS - I am a huge fan of exotics, myself!
Baggiana Member Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,990	__________________

May 28th, 2009, 10:56 PM	#13
doreenjoy I should be writing. Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Mostly in the USA Posts: 2,484	It's a beautiful belt. I love how soft BV croc is. I dream of a croc knot.
	__________________ Before you leave the house, put on all of your accessories...then take one off.

May 28th, 2009, 11:51 PM	#14
doloresmia Member Joined: May 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 7,515	that is GORGEOUS!

May 28th, 2009, 11:58 PM	#15
jburgh BV, Choo, Ferragamo Joined: Aug 2007 Location: where the Corgis frap Posts: 7,200	W-R, your belt is gorgeous. uclaboi got a Coco Lave messenger bag. It looks similar to your croc belt. See it here: Greetings from UK! Reveal to come soon... , post #28. For the most part, I have received small items in a bag and box, with the signature BV cord tied around the box. I'm sure the shipping varies with the boutique. I never use my boxes anyway.
	__________________ Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

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