Comparing leather by Year and Season (best, worst, characteristics)

What is THE Best Overall Year for Balenciaga Bags?

  • 2001

  • 2002

  • 2003

  • 2004

  • 2005

  • 2006

  • 2007

Results are only viewable after voting.

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#841
^^^ YES. There is even a difference in leather within the same season. My sister and I have S/S 2005 black City bags...I think hers was made with leftover 2004 leather and mine was made with 2005 leather. Hers is thicker and has this great texture that you can feel. Mine has thick leather, but it lacks the chewiness of her bag...and mine definitely doesn't have the texture.
 
#842
I have recently been converted back into the fold( you make it really hard to save around here!) and am now searching for my HG Balenciaga again, a black RH Part-time:yahoo:. Now, my main concern is choosing the right leather (which I can see is quite different year to year). I live in a place where many, many people carry fakes (I love my city but the madness needs to stop), so I am looking for something that will not easily be lumped in with everyone else's. In particular, I am looking for strong and supple leather and not anything too "veined". Can anyone recommend somewhere to start? Before I abandoned Bal for Chloe, I remember hearing that 05's were hot but without the search function, I cannot retrieve the posts relating to this topic.

I am aware that any items from previous years may be impossible to track down now but as a researcher by profession, I am willing to devote serious hours to my search and remain patient;) Thanks in advance for your help!
 
Last edited:
#843
This is a tricky one but with patience I know it can be done! I agree that leather makes a HUGE difference and that not all bags of the same style/color/season are the same. Since the RH PT is produced in black currently, you can either hunt it down from previous seasons or search various stores for current season. The latter option is preferable if you want to be able to see and assess it IRL, which I personally think is ideal. However, if you've decided that a particular past season leather is what you want, you'll have to find it on eB*y or online consignment stores. That obviously will just take patience and being in the right place at the right time! If buying online, just make sure to ask lots of questions and get lots of pics. I know RDC can set up a wishlist for you, too. Good luck!
 
#844
Hi, girls,

I just bought my first B-bag, a black GGH city from Balenciaga LA store. Since I am new to B-bag, can someone tell me the difference between the leather of different years? cause mine looks very distressed, looks like easy to torn.... is it normal? or I just worry too much..

Thanks!
 
#846
so i've been trying to read up on bbags and understand them since i'm dying to purchase one...but i keep getting confused about leather. all i've heard about bbags is that the leather isn't what it used to be. so should i just forgo trying to buy a 2008 bag and find an authentic 2005 (most popular year in this poll) bag? i don't want to get a bag with leather that is like paper and not worth the money.

i don't want to buy a bbag just because it's a bbag...you know? i want a nice one!
 
#847
sara999 said:
so i've been trying to read up on bbags and understand them since i'm dying to purchase one...but i keep getting confused about leather. all i've heard about bbags is that the leather isn't what it used to be. so should i just forgo trying to buy a 2008 bag and find an authentic 2005 (most popular year in this poll) bag? i don't want to get a bag with leather that is like paper and not worth the money.

i don't want to buy a bbag just because it's a bbag...you know? i want a nice one!
Click to expand...

The leather really can vary from bag to bag. I have bags from 2005, 2006, and 2007, and they are all great leather! In fact, my 2006 bags are some of the best leather of all! I personally do not like the 2008 leather as much. All of the 2008 bags I've seen are agneau, and I prefer the chevre (which are what all my bags are, except for my Whistle).
 
#848
BagLuver said:
The leather really can vary from bag to bag. I have bags from 2005, 2006, and 2007, and they are all great leather! In fact, my 2006 bags are some of the best leather of all! I personally do not like the 2008 leather as much. All of the 2008 bags I've seen are agneau, and I prefer the chevre (which are what all my bags are, except for my Whistle).
Click to expand...
i'm sorry, i'm still learning...i don't understand what these two words mean!
 
#850
hautecouture15 said:
All the 06s I've seen have had great leather esp blueberry, lilac, cognac and cornflower. Most of my HGs are from 2006 IMO this year had the best leather and colour selection available!
Click to expand...

thats interesting to hear hautecouture. I am currently in the process of trying to find my perfect blue for my next bal bag purchase ... and of course, this entails not only finding the right colour, but also texture and leather quality too. cornflower was one of the blues i that has been sparking my interest!
 
#851
I have an opportunity to buy a Cognac Bbag but know that some BAL 2006 leather is know to be dry, thin and veiny. What are peoples' experiences with 2006 Cognac leather? The owner is not very experienced with Bbags/BAL leather, and I cannot return it once I purchase it.

Thanks!!!
 
#852
I have this bag in a work and the leather is getting better the more I use it. The color is veiny but I haven't seen an 06 cognac that wasn't. Normally I prefer smooth leather but like I mentioned it's getting better with use.

Here are some photos brand new:

P1080742.jpg
 
#855
From all the bags that I have, here is what I sum up about the leathers on them:
2002 FBF - thin but really sturdy and strong
2004 Seafoam, Pistachio and Lilac - Medium thickness, fairly distressed, soft and buttery
2005 Magenta and Turquoise - Thick, juicy, chewy and distressed
2007 Tomato and Jaune - Thick, wrinkly, glazed, and distressed
2008 EB and BG - thin, soft and minimal distressed
2008 Sapphire - Thick and distressed
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top