Box Calf / Veau Box through the years #boxcalfnerds

[ladysarah]

Sarah! I was thinking of you the whole time I was thinking about this!

This is such a fascinating thread. When you get a chance please post a family shot of your box Kellys. They are all box aren't they? I think yourself and silkpathdiary have beautiful sets.

 

[juliet827]

Confirmed.
And it's such a lovely bag !

Thank you!

This is such a fascinating thread. When you get a chance please post a family shot of your box Kellys. They are all box aren't they? I think yourself and silkpathdiary have beautiful sets.

Thank you, Sarah. I'm away for another week, but when I get home I'll post a little family photo.

 

[solouloulou]

This is such a useful thread.
I am looking to buy a 1996 or 2007 black box.

Which would you say is better? I read through all the posts here....one say those from 1990s
are good while 1 say not the best.

Would love to hear your valuable advice

 

[Jadeite]

This is such a useful thread.

I am looking to buy a 1996 or 2007 black box.



Which would you say is better? I read through all the posts here....one say those from 1990s

are good while 1 say not the best.



Would love to hear your valuable advice

Hard to say, it would depend on the style of the bag and how the leather has aged. Personally I prefer older box calf.

 

[solouloulou]

Hard to say, it would depend on the style of the bag and how the leather has aged. Personally I prefer older box calf.

Thanks for your quick reply. I am looking at Kelly 28.
I want the year 1996, 2001 or 2007 to remember special milestones of my life. I know it sounds weird. I felt like I have done all my duties-- save up and buy a house. Raised kids. Save up for retirement .... You know ... The right things.
Now I want some 'nicer' things for myself..... To celebrate life abit .

 

[Jadeite]

Thanks for your quick reply. I am looking at Kelly 28.

I want the year 1996, 2001 or 2007 to remember special milestones of my life. I know it sounds weird. I felt like I have done all my duties-- save up and buy a house. Raised kids. Save up for retirement .... You know ... The right things.

Now I want some 'nicer' things for myself..... To celebrate life abit .

This strikes a chord and I'm sure many here feel that way - some of our bags are milestone markers. I hope you find a lovely one in either year - 2007 while not really a vintage still represents a good memory for you.

 

[QuelleFromage]

This is such a useful thread.
I am looking to buy a 1996 or 2007 black box.

Which would you say is better? I read through all the posts here....one say those from 1990s
are good while 1 say not the best.

Would love to hear your valuable advice

There aren't any posts on this thread that say 90's box calf is the best, just BTW.

Of the years you cite, I have a close one.... 2000 Kelly 28 and it's a lovely soft sheeny leather although very different to vintage box calf.

 

[elliesaurus]

Hi ladies,

Box calf newbie here, looking for some advice from people who are more experienced than myself. I bought a brand new Constance in box calf and now I'm having second thoughts because 1) I'm seeing vintage ones on Malleries for less than half the price and 2) I'm worried that box calf scratches easily. I'm not hard on my bags by any means but because the bag does have a strap, there will be a certain level of contact with "the thighs," whether I'm wearing pants/jeans/skirts/dresses.

What would you do if you were in my position - would you stick with the brand new one or return it and go vintage?

 

[ladysarah]

Hi ladies,

Box calf newbie here, looking for some advice from people who are more experienced than myself. I bought a brand new Constance in box calf and now I'm having second thoughts because 1) I'm seeing vintage ones on Malleries for less than half the price and 2) I'm worried that box calf scratches easily. I'm not hard on my bags by any means but because the bag does have a strap, there will be a certain level of contact with "the thighs," whether I'm wearing pants/jeans/skirts/dresses.

What would you do if you were in my position - would you stick with the brand new one or return it and go vintage?

Any good photos?

 

[elliesaurus]

Any good photos?

No, I haven't taken any photos yet and my smart phone is being not so smart at the moment.

 

[QuelleFromage]

Hi ladies,

Box calf newbie here, looking for some advice from people who are more experienced than myself. I bought a brand new Constance in box calf and now I'm having second thoughts because 1) I'm seeing vintage ones on Malleries for less than half the price and 2) I'm worried that box calf scratches easily. I'm not hard on my bags by any means but because the bag does have a strap, there will be a certain level of contact with "the thighs," whether I'm wearing pants/jeans/skirts/dresses.

What would you do if you were in my position - would you stick with the brand new one or return it and go vintage?

First of all congratulations as both Constance and box calf are very hard to get from a boutique today! So that should assuage some concern as you have a real prize. What colour is your Constance?
There are lots of threads on box calf care - it is certainly not a leather that stays pristine and untouched with use, rather it develops a patina - and you must accept some scratches or keep your bag in the box most days of the year. But for a Constance, to me, it is a classic choice.

 

[juliet827]

I could talk about this all day- I am such a box nerd. I never tire of thinking and talking about this leather.
I returned for holiday and am comparing my box Kellys from various years. The ones from 1977 and from 1992 are creamy, buttery, a bit more lightweight, and baby soft. Beautiful patinas but that could also be attributed to age and meticulous care.

My 2002 black Sellier is thick, almost tough, with a very smooth mirror-like patina. It was my first Kelly and had been my workhorse bag for years. It has been through the ringer. My puppy chewed three corners and it was sent to Paris for 9 months to fix. It was redyed (black, the original color) by the marvelous Docride because it had color loss. It has a few water blisters but still is beautiful with the shiniest patina of all.

The other two Kellys, 2003 and 2008, both have a sheen to the box leather, almost a bit of shimmer/sparkle in the right light. They are very smooth but not at all soft or buttery, and neither has much of a patina yet.

Comparison pics to come!

 

[juliet827]

Here are some comparisons - all are K 28's:

1977 Rouge H and 1992 Natural box or chamonix (buttery, no pores):


Black 2002 Sellier (tough and thick but basically indestructible and very smooth mirror-like shine):


2003 Raisin and 2008 BBK retourne - smooth but not soft, sheen and shimmer to the leather, no patina yet:


Close up of the sheen/shimmer of the Raisin:

Comparison btw the 1992 and the 2003:

Sorry for the long post but I just find this so interesting!

 

[QuelleFromage]

Here are some comparisons - all are K 28's:

1977 Rouge H and 1992 Natural box or chamonix (buttery, no pores):
View attachment 2714680

Black 2002 Sellier (tough and thick but basically indestructible and very smooth mirror-like shine):
View attachment 2714681

2003 Raisin and 2008 BBK retourne - smooth but not soft, sheen and shimmer to the leather, no patina yet:
View attachment 2714687

Close up of the sheen/shimmer of the Raisin:View attachment 2714688

Comparison btw the 1992 and the 2003:View attachment 2714689

Sorry for the long post but I just find this so interesting!

juliet827, I'm right there with you on the box nerd thing (well, clearly!). Your 2003 raisin and 2008 black bags look like my 2000 K28 retourné....that almost sparkly sheen is really beautiful and interesting (the raisin is also completely to die for.....I hope I have a Raisin box bag one day!).

It's so much fun to look at these leathers close up

 

[elliesaurus]

First of all congratulations as both Constance and box calf are very hard to get from a boutique today! So that should assuage some concern as you have a real prize. What colour is your Constance?
There are lots of threads on box calf care - it is certainly not a leather that stays pristine and untouched with use, rather it develops a patina - and you must accept some scratches or keep your bag in the box most days of the year. But for a Constance, to me, it is a classic choice.

Thank you for your input, QF! My Constance is black so it is definitely very classic and it was a very unexpected buy. It's funny you mention developing the patina or keeping it in a box; I have a Cartier Love bangle and a lot of people say the same thing about it but I have never worried about the bangle scratching. I always thought of it as getting battle scars that were unique to me. For some reason, scratches on the Constance just make me so nervous! My DH talked me into keeping it ("What are you going to do with that much credit anyway? What if you don't get offered another bag for awhile - time value of money!") so I'm just going to brave any potential scratches and hope it doesn't hurt too much when the first one lands.

I could talk about this all day- I am such a box nerd. I never tire of thinking and talking about this leather.
I returned for holiday and am comparing my box Kellys from various years. The ones from 1977 and from 1992 are creamy, buttery, a bit more lightweight, and baby soft. Beautiful patinas but that could also be attributed to age and meticulous care.

My 2002 black Sellier is thick, almost tough, with a very smooth mirror-like patina. It was my first Kelly and had been my workhorse bag for years. It has been through the ringer. My puppy chewed three corners and it was sent to Paris for 9 months to fix. It was redyed (black, the original color) by the marvelous Docride because it had color loss. It has a few water blisters but still is beautiful with the shiniest patina of all.

The other two Kellys, 2003 and 2008, both have a sheen to the box leather, almost a bit of shimmer/sparkle in the right light. They are very smooth but not at all soft or buttery, and neither has much of a patina yet.

Comparison pics to come!

Juliet, thank you for posting those comparison pics! It's definitely exciting to know that that's what my bag could become in the future. Also, that Raisin box is to die for! I love purple so that Kelly definitely drew me in the most.

I've looked through some of Docride's posts on box calf care; would you ladies recommend waterproofing the bag to prevent potential water blisters? The thought of doing something to my bag by myself versus going to a professional makes me nervous (do you sense a pattern here? ) but I definitely want to take necessary precautions to prolong the longevity of my bag.