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scottmel · Oct 4th, 2009, 09:11 PM

Hello I am new to the forum. Two weeks ago I purchased the Galleria Bag in monogram (the smaller of the two bags, I think PM?). At any rate, I have a totally beat up speedy 30 from 20 years ago that has just had it. So I thought this shoulder type bag would be a nice change. I have yet to use the bag - I am a little nervous. There is this small smudge on the leather near the brass. Upon research, seems it is a commong problem with this bag. My question is I want a bag that I can use for MANY years to come - DAILY. Is this too fragile to fit the bill? Hard to keep the brass tarnish off the leather? Anyone have words of wisdom? I can return it or exchange it before using. So any regrets out there or does the patina turn nice and you don't notice the dirt anymore? If you returned your GAlleria, what did you get in place of it? THANK YOU! Melissa

charmanda · Oct 5th, 2009, 07:03 AM

Congrats on your new bag!

I have the exact same staining problem on my Galliera. I have the PM as well. I don't use this bag everyday tho.. My mini lin speedy is more my everyday bag.

I don't use the Galliera everyday, not because I think it's too fragile.. but I just get really annoyed when I come home and the vachetta is dark near the brass... then I start cleaning it.. and it happens again tmr.

My bag has some patina, but it's no where close to a honey colour yet.

scottmel · Oct 5th, 2009, 08:41 AM

THank you Charmanda for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it! Do you regret the purchase - if you knew it would turn/get dirty - would you still have purchased it? thanks..

19flowers · Oct 5th, 2009, 08:49 AM

I bought the Mono Galliera PM when it was first released and had the same problems with the brass rings leaving dark marks on the vachetta. You can remove it with a white eraser and it helps to keep the rings polished to reduce the tarnish. I sold the bag after a while because I was tried of having to erase and polish each time I used it.
I've been told that LV corrected this problem....

I really love the shape and slouch of the Galliera. I did an SO for the Damier Ebene Galliera PM and can't wait to get it.

DesigningStyle · Oct 5th, 2009, 09:39 AM

scottmel, for an everyday bag I don't think this is the one especially if you are looking for a suitable replacement for a Speedy. The dirt around the rings will drive you crazy. I would suggest the Tivoli GM or Trevi GM.

scottmel · Oct 5th, 2009, 12:30 PM

Thanks guys! You were most helpful. I just got home from LV and after 90 minute debate with some of the nicest SA I have ever met..it came down to Thames, Speedy and tivoli. I loved the tivoli but could feel the straps wanting to slide down my arms...I feel like I really wanted a shoulder bag. I ended up with the Thames b/c I LOVE the brass plate, the rings won't be an issue and it reminds me of the GAlliera. I need a reliable everyday bag and as much as I LOVED the Galliera - I felt the rings would drive me nuts..I hope I did the right thing..So hard, you know?

luvmy3girls · Oct 5th, 2009, 01:43 PM

I had the galliera gm, i loved the style of it, but hated how the leather got black marks from the rings...so I sold it.

DesigningStyle · Oct 5th, 2009, 02:01 PM

scottmel, You made the right choice. Congratulations on your new gorgeous bag!

scottmel · Oct 5th, 2009, 02:25 PM

Never in my life have I been so undecided on a bag. I tried the Thames bag here at home, it doesn't hold much but i don't carry much. But I don't like how the zipper doesn't glide b/c of the curve. I might find it annoying to have to open the zipper...Starting a nEW post on my next issue but the GAlliera did go back....Thanks!

solai · Oct 5th, 2009, 11:14 PM

scottmel: just want to chime in to say that I still love my galliera after more than one year of using it (also, I hope it helps others who is also torn whether to keep the galliera or not). I have to admit the black marks are annoying, but it cleans up really easy with baby wipes. My galliera is honey color now and it is less noticeable. I do not regret buying it at all.

I think that there is a tpfer here who bought a galliera about a year ago and returned it, bought a thames and then returned that, and ended up buying the galliera again.

scottmel · Oct 6th, 2009, 05:33 PM

Thank you solai..This is killing me...REALLY it wipes up with baby wipes? Do you use the purse every day? I need a daily purse..(same one every day for many years to come!)...Do you have a picture of your year old Galliera you would be willing to share? I would love to see what it looks like a year old...THANKYOU! Melissa

camommyof3 · Oct 6th, 2009, 09:56 PM

Here is my one year old Galliera PM. I do not wear her everyday, I will admit. But her strap has just softened up and is amazingly comfortable to wear. I won't take a baby wipe to it during this light stage in the leather. I will occasionally go over it w/ a white Pentel eraser but that is all. No Appleguard or anything on mine, either.

solai · Oct 6th, 2009, 11:08 PM

I usually alternate between the galliera and my damier ebene speedy. So out of the one year it probably equals to about 6 solid months of use (does that make sense?). It is quite a bit darker than camommyof3 and a lot more slouchier. I will try and post a pic on another day... She is boxed up in the closet as it has been raining/snowing the last few days and I just finished a long hard day at work and just winding down before bed. If you don't want to wait for my pics, I know I saw a lot of honey colored gallieras in the "Club Galliera forum" to give you a looksey. I know it is so hard to decide what you want. If it helps any, I feel that there's some sort of little flaw with almost every bag (i.e. the tivioli GM's strap curls up), others have stiff zippers, etc) so you have to choose what little flaw you can live with. For me, a little dark mark that I have to clean every once in a while is worth it for the galliera as it is a fantastic bag (IMHO anyway).

Good luck deciding.

camommyof3 · Oct 6th, 2009, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by solai

I usually alternate between the galliera and my damier ebene speedy. So out of the one year it probably equals to about 6 solid months of use (does that make sense?). It is quite a bit darker than camommyof3 and a lot more slouchier. I will try and post a pic on another day... She is boxed up in the closet as it has been raining/snowing the last few days and I just finished a long hard day at work and just winding down before bed. If you don't want to wait for my pics, I know I saw a lot of honey colored gallieras in the "Club Galliera forum" to give you a looksey. I know it is so hard to decide what you want. If it helps any, I feel that there's some sort of little flaw with almost every bag (i.e. the tivioli GM's strap curls up), others have stiff zippers, etc) so you have to choose what little flaw you can live with. For me, a little dark mark that I have to clean every once in a while is worth it for the galliera as it is a fantastic bag (IMHO anyway).

Good luck deciding.

I couldn't agree more, Solai.

solai · Oct 7th, 2009, 10:50 AM

Photo 4.jpg

Photo 3.jpg

Photo 5.jpg

As requested, here are some very unprofessional pics taken with photobooth (I don't have a proper camera to upload at the moment).

The black marks are not very noticeable in the pics. I cleaned it with an eraser about 2 weeks ago. It takes a little longer now to reappear. I did however, polish the brass rings about a month or two ago with a "sliver jewelry polishing cloth" (because I don't have a "brass" cloth). Of note for everyone, be careful with the inventeur plate... don't wipe that with anything other than a soft cloth. My SA told me it will scratch it so don't use anything to clean it.

Oct 4th, 2009, 09:11 PM	#1
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25	Any regrets on the Galleria? Dirty? Hello I am new to the forum. Two weeks ago I purchased the Galleria Bag in monogram (the smaller of the two bags, I think PM?). At any rate, I have a totally beat up speedy 30 from 20 years ago that has just had it. So I thought this shoulder type bag would be a nice change. I have yet to use the bag - I am a little nervous. There is this small smudge on the leather near the brass. Upon research, seems it is a commong problem with this bag. My question is I want a bag that I can use for MANY years to come - DAILY. Is this too fragile to fit the bill? Hard to keep the brass tarnish off the leather? Anyone have words of wisdom? I can return it or exchange it before using. So any regrets out there or does the patina turn nice and you don't notice the dirt anymore? If you returned your GAlleria, what did you get in place of it? THANK YOU! Melissa
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25

Oct 5th, 2009, 08:41 AM	#3
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25	THank you Charmanda for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it! Do you regret the purchase - if you knew it would turn/get dirty - would you still have purchased it? thanks..
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25

Oct 5th, 2009, 08:49 AM	#4
19flowers Member Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,856	I bought the Mono Galliera PM when it was first released and had the same problems with the brass rings leaving dark marks on the vachetta. You can remove it with a white eraser and it helps to keep the rings polished to reduce the tarnish. I sold the bag after a while because I was tried of having to erase and polish each time I used it. I've been told that LV corrected this problem.... I really love the shape and slouch of the Galliera. I did an SO for the Damier Ebene Galliera PM and can't wait to get it.
19flowers Member Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,856

Oct 5th, 2009, 09:39 AM	#5
DesigningStyle Carrying Dentelle BH Joined: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 8,301	scottmel, for an everyday bag I don't think this is the one especially if you are looking for a suitable replacement for a Speedy. The dirt around the rings will drive you crazy. I would suggest the Tivoli GM or Trevi GM.
	__________________

Oct 5th, 2009, 12:30 PM	#6
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25	Thanks guys! You were most helpful. I just got home from LV and after 90 minute debate with some of the nicest SA I have ever met..it came down to Thames, Speedy and tivoli. I loved the tivoli but could feel the straps wanting to slide down my arms...I feel like I really wanted a shoulder bag. I ended up with the Thames b/c I LOVE the brass plate, the rings won't be an issue and it reminds me of the GAlliera. I need a reliable everyday bag and as much as I LOVED the Galliera - I felt the rings would drive me nuts..I hope I did the right thing..So hard, you know?
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25

Oct 5th, 2009, 07:03 AM	#2
charmanda Member Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 158	Congrats on your new bag! I have the exact same staining problem on my Galliera. I have the PM as well. I don't use this bag everyday tho.. My mini lin speedy is more my everyday bag. I don't use the Galliera everyday, not because I think it's too fragile.. but I just get really annoyed when I come home and the vachetta is dark near the brass... then I start cleaning it.. and it happens again tmr. My bag has some patina, but it's no where close to a honey colour yet.

Oct 5th, 2009, 01:43 PM	#7
luvmy3girls Member Joined: Nov 2006 Location: so cali Posts: 2,473	I had the galliera gm, i loved the style of it, but hated how the leather got black marks from the rings...so I sold it.
	__________________

Oct 5th, 2009, 02:01 PM	#8
DesigningStyle Carrying Dentelle BH Joined: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 8,301	scottmel, You made the right choice. Congratulations on your new gorgeous bag!
	__________________

Oct 5th, 2009, 02:25 PM	#9
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25	Never in my life have I been so undecided on a bag. I tried the Thames bag here at home, it doesn't hold much but i don't carry much. But I don't like how the zipper doesn't glide b/c of the curve. I might find it annoying to have to open the zipper...Starting a nEW post on my next issue but the GAlliera did go back....Thanks!
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25

Oct 5th, 2009, 11:14 PM	#10
solai Member Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 268	scottmel: just want to chime in to say that I still love my galliera after more than one year of using it (also, I hope it helps others who is also torn whether to keep the galliera or not). I have to admit the black marks are annoying, but it cleans up really easy with baby wipes. My galliera is honey color now and it is less noticeable. I do not regret buying it at all. I think that there is a tpfer here who bought a galliera about a year ago and returned it, bought a thames and then returned that, and ended up buying the galliera again.

Oct 6th, 2009, 05:33 PM	#11
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25	Thank you solai..This is killing me...REALLY it wipes up with baby wipes? Do you use the purse every day? I need a daily purse..(same one every day for many years to come!)...Do you have a picture of your year old Galliera you would be willing to share? I would love to see what it looks like a year old...THANKYOU! Melissa
scottmel OP Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 25

Oct 6th, 2009, 09:56 PM	#12
camommyof3 Member Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,989	Here is my one year old Galliera PM. I do not wear her everyday, I will admit. But her strap has just softened up and is amazingly comfortable to wear. I won't take a baby wipe to it during this light stage in the leather. I will occasionally go over it w/ a white Pentel eraser but that is all. No Appleguard or anything on mine, either.
camommyof3 Member Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,989

Oct 6th, 2009, 11:08 PM	#13
solai Member Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 268	I usually alternate between the galliera and my damier ebene speedy. So out of the one year it probably equals to about 6 solid months of use (does that make sense?). It is quite a bit darker than camommyof3 and a lot more slouchier. I will try and post a pic on another day... She is boxed up in the closet as it has been raining/snowing the last few days and I just finished a long hard day at work and just winding down before bed. If you don't want to wait for my pics, I know I saw a lot of honey colored gallieras in the "Club Galliera forum" to give you a looksey. I know it is so hard to decide what you want. If it helps any, I feel that there's some sort of little flaw with almost every bag (i.e. the tivioli GM's strap curls up), others have stiff zippers, etc) so you have to choose what little flaw you can live with. For me, a little dark mark that I have to clean every once in a while is worth it for the galliera as it is a fantastic bag (IMHO anyway). Good luck deciding.

Oct 7th, 2009, 10:50 AM	#15
solai Member Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 268	Photo 4.jpg Photo 3.jpg Photo 5.jpg As requested, here are some very unprofessional pics taken with photobooth (I don't have a proper camera to upload at the moment). The black marks are not very noticeable in the pics. I cleaned it with an eraser about 2 weeks ago. It takes a little longer now to reappear. I did however, polish the brass rings about a month or two ago with a "sliver jewelry polishing cloth" (because I don't have a "brass" cloth). Of note for everyone, be careful with the inventeur plate... don't wipe that with anything other than a soft cloth. My SA told me it will scratch it so don't use anything to clean it.

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