I'm assuming you have an epi one? There is a monogram one as well--this is NOT my picture, but you can see it uses a dark brown leather that LV simply doesn't have.
Apologies to OP--didn't mean to hijack your post!
“Authentic” 30 year old Speedy rejected for repair because of being fake!
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Apologies to OP--didn't mean to hijack your post!
I'm assuming you have an epi one? There is a monogram one as well--this is NOT my picture, but you can see it uses a dark brown leather that LV simply doesn't have.
Apologies to OP--didn't mean to hijack your post!
No, I have the exact one. Mine was manufactured directly by Louis Vuitton in France and not the licensed French Company made in USA. It makes sense that they refuse to repair this bag because they no longer stock the dark leather, but I was just confused when you said "French Co. Monceau" because I don't think they made a French Company Monceau. The dark leather doesn't automatically make it a French Company bag
Sorry too OP, back on topic!
No, I have the exact one. Mine was manufactured directly by Louis Vuitton and not the licensed French Company. It makes sense that they refuse to repair this bag because they no longer stock the dark leather, but I was just confused when you said "French Co. Monceau" because I don't think they made a French Company Monceau. The dark leather doesn't automatically make it a French Company bag
French Company did indeed manufacture these. It was part of a collaboration between the two brands. French Company made its own items as well, but they received canvas directly from LV to manufacture a line of bags for them.
Interesting. Mine was made in France and has a date code, so not a French Company bag.
Edit: the French Company bags should have a patch that says made in USA , are you sure your Monceau is French Company? http://sassyme.org/2011/05/vintage-louis-vuitton-the-french-company-101/
Edit 2: OK, Now I'm confident I've never seen a French Company Monogram Monceau. French Company = licensed to manufacture in the US before US got its own factory. If your Monceau is made in France (as are all the ones currently available on eBay), then it's not French Company. As I mentioned in a previous post, just because it has that treated leather doesn't make it French company. Other "vintage" LV bags like the Papillon, Sac Weekend, Sac Vendome, Dauphine (old version), all have the treated leather but not made by French Company.
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Yes, and the very very early Papillon with its pochette (mine) have a medium tone leather with matching full leather interior. This was a different shade and texture than what was used on my French Co 30. They used different leathers for the Papillon over the years. Mine even had a little rivet on each strap attached to the body. It was around 1979/80 or 81, and had a cute doubled leather pull on the Talon zipper. The leather may or may not have darkened because it's old!! I really don't remember, because this bag got hardly any use. I bought it when it was new, wore it a few times, and then pretty much tucked it away thereafter, so it is in magnificent shape. My FC speedy had no lining and was just the bare brown canvas.
Happy to hear that you are moving forward to give your bag a chance at an upgrade in leather
Like others have mentioned, if you can, maybe visit a different boutique, even one inside another department store (like Neiman Marcus or Bloomingdale's), or go the mailing-it-in route. I would still try to get the leather replaced via LV first before taking it to another company or getting the bag altered into those boho style bags.
As for the canvas, looking for something that has little creasing and isn't super faded is good. I have definitely used leather conditioner to wipe down my canvas (Apple brand) and it did not dry it out at all. Even just a gentle baby wipe I think helps to reduce dullness.
I hope you get results with LV and I can't wait to see the finished product!
Hi just to comment, I have had many vintage LV bags, Tarrago cleaner ( also labelled TRG brand) works well to clean up and condition LV canvas / it’s a blue colour in a plastic bottle.. with regards to your repair I had similar with a vintage Chantilly where all the leather had bad dry rot. I took it into the London store years ago and they came back to me saying it was uneconomical to replace all the vachetta ( though the canvas was fine). As i paid like $50 for the bag from Japan it didn’t bother me, but I think it’s up to the discretion of the store if they will accept certain repairs even putting the auth issue to one side... I know this isn’t ideal.. the other thing I’d consider before splurging the money to get the vachetta changed is if you ever decide to sell the bag IMHO it’s more sellable in original state than after the leather had been changed., if you are buying a vintage bag that’s one thing but vintage with all the canvas replaced is neither a vintage bag or a new bag so unless you love it to death just make sure you think it through, as a new bag with store provenance will almost certainly hold its value better.. good luck with whatever you decide!
Hey ladies! I just received my authentication letter from Melissa Knape at Meme’s Treasures. She concluded the bag is authentic! I chose her authentication service based on reviews I read and also I’ve seen her letters and certificates displayed on vintage bag listings on ebay.
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You have a very valuable point! I plan on keeping the bag and currently have no plans to sell it. That is why I wanted to get the vachetta changed. After reading all the other ladies’ replies and yours I realize I do have a lot to consider. So far I’m at ease with the results I got from the authenticator. Thank you so much for your input!
Thanks a lot! I’d definitely go the mailing route to avoid being turned down in person again! I wasn’t aware the canvas faded with time! Is this really a thing? As in the monogram might disappear? The canvas on this bag is darker with green undertones in the monogram. I notice the monogram on more recent models has more of a honey undertone. I thought this had to do with different batches of canvas production based on year or production or supplier? Do you think it is more of an aging issue?Happy to hear that you are moving forward to give your bag a chance at an upgrade in leather
Like others have mentioned, if you can, maybe visit a different boutique, even one inside another department store (like Neiman Marcus or Bloomingdale's), or go the mailing-it-in route. I would still try to get the leather replaced via LV first before taking it to another company or getting the bag altered into those boho style bags.
As for the canvas, looking for something that has little creasing and isn't super faded is good. I have definitely used leather conditioner to wipe down my canvas (Apple brand) and it did not dry it out at all. Even just a gentle baby wipe I think helps to reduce dullness.
I hope you get results with LV and I can't wait to see the finished product!
I think it looks fine! I bought a 1987 speedy 35 and had the leather redone too; it was $600 and they replaced the zipper as well. I picked up last week. Yours looks about the same as mine, imho. I think it looks great, and agree that passing on a 60-year-old LV would be awesome Take it to another boutique and get it done!
Keep us posted!This looks like the leather in my Papillon, which I bought around 1980. It is a smooth leather.I'm assuming you have an epi one? There is a monogram one as well--this is NOT my picture, but you can see it uses a dark brown leather that LV simply doesn't have.
Apologies to OP--didn't mean to hijack your post!