Box Calf / Veau Box through the years #boxcalfnerds

[jyyanks]

I can only drool and admire all your Rouge H treasures, haven't been able to get my hands on any of the older Rouge H box leather as the newer ones all have brown undertones. And your Dalvy has been permanently ingrained in my mind. Honestly, every so often I would see one that comes up on eBay or Heritage, I immediately think of your raisin beauty.

So sweet!!! Thank you for the compliment. Older Rouge H is my weakness as its the perfect red. Even though my dalvy is my least used bag, I can't part with her.

You have a beautiful collection!
Shows your love & care for these treasures!!

Thank you! I love vintage bags and am so happy that I could breathe some new life into them!

Thanks dear! Unfortunately I have problem getting to that link. Received a pop up msg that the post can't be found. It pains me!

Oh no. I can pm you the instructions.

 

[Purrsey]

Oh this would be such a kind gesture. Yes I would love to learn from your experience and shall await your PM. TIA @jyyanks

This is the rouge h 2004 I'm targeting to get. Is this a piece of cake for self restoration?

 

[lamsis]

Hihi. Yes it was a major restoration (bill is also major). Hardware all changed except feet and inside zip. Took a year.

I'm hoping to seek docrides method to further condition my 1962.

Any pic of your 1972 that you're eyeing on? I like to see

I saw it on collector square. Pls give me some advice,

https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/...-handbag-in-navy-blue-box-leather-328011.html

Then, I realised it doesn't have a shoulder strap. The price is ok, but no strap is a concern. I read on this blog saying That it will take long time to order one.... So, I am not sure if I should get it... Any thoughts?

 

[Rouge H]

I saw it on collector square. Pls give me some advice,

https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/...-handbag-in-navy-blue-box-leather-328011.html

Then, I realised it doesn't have a shoulder strap. The price is ok, but no strap is a concern. I read on this blog saying That it will take long time to order one.... So, I am not sure if I should get it... Any thoughts?

If you like the bag a strap shouldn't be an issue there's many different straps you could use with the Kelly. Canvas, Fendi strap, and a few for sale on eBay. Hope this helps.

 

[Purrsey]

I saw it on collector square. Pls give me some advice,



https://www.collectorsquare.com/en/...-handbag-in-navy-blue-box-leather-328011.html



Then, I realised it doesn't have a shoulder strap. The price is ok, but no strap is a concern. I read on this blog saying That it will take long time to order one.... So, I am not sure if I should get it... Any thoughts?

With no strap or non hermes strap, usually a Kelly will cost usd800-1,000 lesser than one which comes with Hermes strap. That's just my observation here in my country reseller market.

If you're comfy with the price, getting an original strap is a piece of cake. Just bring the bag to H and it should take 3-4months, if you're ok with the wait too.

Personally I don't fancy non Hermes strap so this is the way to go for me if I were you.

I'm not sure about the full truth on this but I was told by a reseller friend here that Hermes now will not do boxcalf strap. Only swift leather. I don't like the sound of it but neither did I validate that with Hermes.

 

[maplemoose]

Just to chime in, I waited for a year to get one shoulder strap made back in 2012 and the one I ordered in 2014 hasn't shown up yet. I think 3-4months wait is too optimistic base on my experience.

 

[thyme]

I'm not sure about the full truth on this but I was told by a reseller friend here that Hermes now will not do boxcalf strap. Only swift leather. I don't like the sound of it but neither did I validate that with Hermes.

I ordered two boxcalf and one swift canvas straps from fsh a few weeks ago when i went to pick up my clemence canvas strap. My clemence strap took 7 months. Still waiting for another one!
I also saw an actual black boxcalf strap they made for someone else.

 

[Purrsey]

Thanks for clearing that ladies. So I was given untrue info *duh*.

 

[lamsis]

Do you have a chance to have a look of the weblink for the bag I am considering at collector square? Any thought to share? Please....

 

[calexandre]

Hopefully this works. It is from 1982 and as I look closely at the grain, I am starting to wonder whether H embossed this. That may account for the slightly strange feel too. There is no evidence of a coating, seams are clean and there is no over-spray or masking.The texture is smooth and very consistent and running horizontally across the bag. K is left HAC is right

From left to right, first photo is box from 1982, which is the same year and it shows similar uniform "grain lines" as your Kelly. There is no sign of dryness or cracking, and the overall feel of it is smooth. The lines aren't really true grain, rather visible than actually felt. Middle photo is 2001 box, overall smooth, if you look closely, there is faint lines, but barely there and nothing compared to the 1982 box. Last photo on the right, current box from wallet, smoothest of them all, but thinner in comparison, has a very very slight iridescent-like sheen.

My '81 BBK is the same. Must have been the tannery H was using back then! Personally I love this particular variety of 80s box. It isn't as plush and pillowy as box from some of the other decades, but it wears like iron, barely showing any scratches and taking the most beautiful shine when it's buffed. I think we're very lucky to own examples of it!

 

[lamsis]

I decided to get the 1972 navy blue box Kelly 28 finally. I got a few more pics and happily knew that it indeed comes with a strap. Hopefully, it will arrive next week. Pretty excited and pray i don't make a wrong decision. It is my first Kelly (my dream bag) and first vintage bag.

Any tips for me to maintain it? The bag is older than me.... Haha...

 

[luxi_max]

I decided to get the 1972 navy blue box Kelly 28 finally. I got a few more pics and happily knew that it indeed comes with a strap. Hopefully, it will arrive next week. Pretty excited and pray i don't make a wrong decision. It is my first Kelly (my dream bag) and first vintage bag.

Any tips for me to maintain it? The bag is older than me.... Haha...

Congrats on the new Kelly! I am not an expert here. Just wanted to share my experience and hope that would help.

I got a 1998 marine box Kelly and appeared to be in excellent condition (like new) at the first glance but leather was actually a bit dry underneath due to its age. I noticed a few tiny tiny cracks in stitch areas. I contacted Docride. She is amazing and very knowledgeable. With her help/instructions, I used crack stabilizer/conditioned/polished the bag and now my bag feels so soft and I can't be any happier.

 

[lamsis]

Thanks for sharing @luxi_max. Hope @docride can give me some advice too. Any brand of the crack stabiliser recommend? I will also Google to see how I can get one in HK. I know there are some slight scratch in the bottom and in the back, according to the shop and pics, the leather looks pretty shinny and in good conditions, still plan to polish it a bit....

 

[luxi_max]

Thanks for sharing @luxi_max. Hope @docride can give me some advice too. Any brand of the crack stabiliser recommend? I will also Google to see how I can get one in HK. I know there are some slight scratch in the bottom and in the back, according to the shop and pics, the leather looks pretty shinny and in good conditions, still plan to polish it a bit....

I got the luxury-again restoration kit for box leather which includes everything (crack stabilizer, weather shield, ect...). I also got blackrock to use on the sides where leather folds.

 

[lamsis]

Hi there, the 1972 navy blue box Kelly just arrived my place today. So excited. I love it. Don't know how to post the pic here though... I will find a way to post. The condition is pretty good. I love the 28cm size. It is smaller and cuter that I had expected. It's lovely. May I ask u about the lock? The lock has no Hermes stamp or serial no. I read some pages, it said that some age ones's lock doesn't have Hermes stamp in the bottom of the lock. Collector square indeed told me that the gold lock comes with a silver key. But the authentic it, saying that the lock is genuine Hermes stuff, just at that time, the gold lock didn't come with gold keys. I can only trust them...

Is it the same case for your 60s or 70s Kelly bag?