Maybe this will help. I started a thread about caring for patent leather in the general "handbags and purses" subforum.
http://forum.purseblog.com/handbags-and-purses/opinions-insight-on-patent-leather-36499.html?highlight=patent
Wickedassin had some excellent tips. (We both just bought the new Jimmy Choo Ramona & Riki in Bordeaux patent leather.) These were her tips:
"I did talk to a high-end/expert shoe/leather repair service (
Nordstrom and other high-end department stores send shoes and bags to these people for repairs). Anyways, this is what I was told:
1) When buying patent leather, especially expensive items, go for the dark colored items, i.e. black, dark brown, dark burgundy, etc. The lighter colors such as white, cream, pink will often yellow with exposure to the sun. I guess it's something in the "coating" that changes color with sun exposure.
2) Use patent leather cleaner to clean patent leather--my local Nordy's carries it in the shoe department.
3) Do NOT use regular leather moisturizer on patent leather.
4) Also be careful with what you put the patent leather up against. It can pick up things. Such as if you stick a magazine page on patent leather, the print can transfer on to the leather--which would be PERMANENT!"