Let's talk wear on Ignes leathers

[No Cute]

I am VERY happy with how my bags are wearing but would like to share any wear issues, to see if there are specific leathers that are more delicate.

My only wear issue is my sand (55) vanilla wristlet which is wearing on the corners. But it's in and out of my bag, whatever I carry, every day, several times a day, which could explain the fast wear in four months. My Virginia is fine, but I don't carry her a lot and am now, seeing the wristlet, a bit more careful with Miss V.

Gunmetal's surface scratches more easily than the other Ignes metallics I have seen, which don't scratch at all.

Other leathers I have that have no issues: patent (which is my work bag and has a couple mars here or there, but that is a teacher's workbag and to be expected), raspberry, tinted chocolate, pewter, silver, soft gold (which shows some variations and lighter spots, but has from day 1), ostrich (love it), royal purple, and bordeaux (which seems hearty like the tinted leathers).

[greenpixie]

I personally am thrilled with my Ignes leather wear as well. The tinted leathers seem practically indestructible in terms of water resistance and not showing scratches. The purple on my mini O has softened just a bit with use, but still looks new otherwise. Also, these are the only leathers in my closet that I have not had to condition or spray with protectant to keep them looking amazing. Two s for these Ignes leathers.

[momo43]

i have two crinkled patent leather bags and one glossy ink blue leather bag.

regarding the patent leather, it's a very hardy leather. it's soften quite a bit with use. however, normal use has not lead to any scratches or wear on the leather. i just wipe it clean!

regarding the glossy ink blue, the leather has a glossy metallic finish. because of this finish, it doesn't absorb liquids/oils...so no stains. i haven't treated the leather or anything. i haven't worn it very much yet, so i don't know if the corners will show wear yet.

[starkfan]

Ooh, thanks for posting this, No Cute!

I have just the one bag so far, the Gabrielle in Tinted Wine, but this problem (on the front of the bag) cropped up after almost exactly a week's worth of use:

Without flash:


With flash:


It appears that my bag somehow bumped against something hard enough to scrape off the top layer of the leather in that small spot (about 2-3mm or less than 1/8" across), exposing the raw leather underneath. I've no idea what it may have been, as there weren't any bumps or knocks hard enough to give me concern at the time. One possibility is that one of my keys (kept in a fabric pouch) may have stuck out, poking the leather out (especially since it's so thin) and leaving it more susceptible from a regular bump. I don't know that this is the reason for sure, though.

Otherwise, the Tinted Wine leather doesn't seem to scratch or scuff! No water marks or anything either.

I also have a dark purple wristlet (not sure of the exact colour) that arrived with a bit of wear. Haven't started using this, but will post updates when I do.

[Mentha]

Starkfan,
I just checked a wristlet I have in tinted wine, had it for about 8-9 months now and use it maybe twice a week.
It has a small scrape like yours does at the corner, I am not sure when it happened.
I usually put in my keys, lip balm , couple of cards/cash and my phone when using it.

[duranie70]

My Virginia in light whiskey got a scrape like starkfans... buy mine has been used a lot and over a year old..

[tlloveshim]

How does raspberry do? I have suddenly fallen for the Virginia and if it can still be ordered I'm thinking of these leathers:

1) Raspberry
2) sand 55 (but I read it can scratch easily)
3) black (like Euridice's Virginia or LL's Ormala if available)
4) dark grey 52

I know, all very different but I love them all! LOL! I would need the most durable leather of the 4 above though.

[No Cute]

Sand will scratch, TL. It's gorgeous and mine is the MOST beautiful bag I own of ALL of them, but I am careful with it. I've not used my raspberry bag, but it seems really hearty.

My pewter pouch finally got a dig in it. I use it daily, so does MM, it gets REALLY beat on, and something/someone got a dig in it (small), but I'm pretty sure nothing but steel could have withstood the abuse. I'm not unhappy at all. But in the name of all honesty and fairness, the pewter finish is white underneath.

[tlloveshim]

Originally Posted by No Cute

Sand will scratch, TL. It's gorgeous and mine is the MOST beautiful bag I own of ALL of them, but I am careful with it. I've not used my raspberry bag, but it seems really hearty. My pewter pouch finally got a dig in it. I use it daily, so does MM, it gets REALLY beat on, and something/someone got a dig in it (small), but I'm pretty sure nothing but steel could have withstood the abuse. I'm not unhappy at all. But in the name of all honesty and fairness, the pewter finish is white underneath.

Thanks, NC! I'm leaning toward raspberry now honestly so that's good to hear!

[foul temptress]

I have a whiskey Cecelia that I use a lot.
So far it's wearing like iron.

Duranie, mine looks a little different in texture than your Virginia, but I can't remember which whiskey mine is.
Got it in fall of '08.
Was there just a plain ole whiskey?

[Euridice]

I am certain you have plain ol' whiskey! I have it too. Haven't used that bag yet. I think whiskey does scratch...at any rate, I know duranie's lighter whiskey is not the same as my plain ol' whiskey.

[duranie70]

Yes, there were 2 whiskeys- I wanted a color close to Kate Spades whiskey w/ kelly green lining. Mine is light whiskey.

[newbaglover]

My experience:
- tinted leathers( I have tinted chocolate, blue, sunflower, wine): the strongest! they are thin, but they resist scracthes, rain, they show a little of rugosity after a week of use ( not even, but it is just like very small wrinkles and you can see they give the leather more depth). then your bag is just the same if you use it a month or a year. I love those ones. no fading on the brivrant colours.
- raspberry: more structures than the tinted ones. I have a Francis that use for work, so it has been worked hard. this leather does scratch ( I abuse my bag), but after 4 months of use I have 4 scratches and they are the almost the same colour of the leather underneath, so it only shows a ligther raspberry colour.
-silver in blue ( limited leather, all sold out) : very hard wearing, also very minor scratchings ( almost not noticeables) it stand well rain also.
- ostrich: no fading ( i have all dark colours, chocolate, black and purple), it doesnt scratch easily.
-gunmetal, this leather is beautiful but does scratch quite easily, I would use it for clutches and going out bags, not for everyday wear.
-silver. the top coating is more mettallic, so less prone to scratches.
- mr pudlles white: beautiful leather, it stands very well the use( been using it 4 weeks non stop, only changing between my new BVs) rigth now i have a little stain, but it is a white bag, so I was prepared to have this ( I think only white that doesnt get stains is the patent.).

[siouxie]

what about cobalt - it looks like it'd be pretty hardy and resilient - I ordered a Francis in this and wonder if I should have gone with a patent or tinted leather?

[Soccer Mom]

My 2 cents - I've used my raspberry sofia a lot! Alomst exclusively for months and it has doesn't show any signs of wear. I think the raspberry leather is fantastic!