Docride's Hermes Lazarus Thread (can this Hermes be Saved? )

[docride]

Hi, Doc! Hope all is well! I don’t know if you can answer this one, as it’s a protection question for an item that is not solely leather, so no expectations and here goes:

I recently purchased a cavale bag strap, so we have the cavale material (canvas??), leather and hardware. It matches this belt.

I’d like to treat it before I start using it because I have concerns that it will get dirty. Considering the different materials involved here, what would you suggest?

View attachment 4103013

Well, because I'm not a fabrics person... I don't have any advice for you on the care of the fabric you might ask a dry cleaner? As for barenia, yes it will get a patina, it will darken with use . You can use cleansing cloths or any of the products I recommend in the leather care tread also in this Hermes section . There are various products and brands recommended for barenia care to keep it a clean as possible and well conditioned. You are not going to be able to keep barenia looking clean and new if you are goiing to be using it...just the facts. Some folks fancy coating their barenia in acrylic spray on coatings which is like sealing it in plastic ( I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS!).
I hope this was helpful have a look at my leather care recommendations thread.
All the best,doc

 

[Notorious Pink]

Well, because I'm not a fabrics person... I don't have any advice for you on the care of the fabric you might ask a dry cleaner? As for barenia, yes it will get a patina, it will darken with use . You can use cleansing cloths or any of the products I recommend in the leather care tread also in this Hermes section . There are various products and brands recommended for barenia care to keep it a clean as possible and well conditioned. You are not going to be able to keep barenia looking clean and new if you are goiing to be using it...just the facts. Some folks fancy coating their barenia in acrylic spray on coatings which is like sealing it in plastic ( I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS!).
I hope this was helpful have a look at my leather care recommendations thread.
All the best,doc

Thanks so much, Doc! I genuinely appreciate it. [emoji254][emoji8][emoji254]

 

[bobolo]

Hello Doc ,
Hope you can give me some advise
I purchased a vintage Eveleyne Dark green ( love the colour ) and I love the fact its vintage
The bag is 23 years old and it has some marks and wear on the pipeing corners .

Should i use something to remove the marks and soften the corners edges ?
Should I send it to the Hermes spa ?
Is it worth keeping or should i return ?
Photos attached .

 

[unoma]

Hello there,
You have color loss, therefore you will not fix the problem using conditioners. An Hermes spa will fix those corners for you. Or
The color restoration can be handled with a little leather dye.
I have a care thread with lists of products in the Hermes reference section, you can find some color restoration products to choose from there. You can also just pop down to your local cobbler and see if they have a some color restoration product on the shelf.
All the best,doc

Thank you Doc
Did it myself

 

[docride]

Hello Doc ,
Hope you can give me some advise
I purchased a vintage Eveleyne Dark green ( love the colour ) and I love the fact its vintage
The bag is 23 years old and it has some marks and wear on the pipeing corners .

Should i use something to remove the marks and soften the corners edges ?
Should I send it to the Hermes spa ?
Is it worth keeping or should i return ?
Photos attached .

Hi there looks like it could use some re-coloration That would help. If its otherwise something you likeit was inexpenssive and does not have major issues I'd say keep it and get it restored. You are not going to replace missing top skin, but you can make this bag look quite presentable IMO.
All the best,doc

 

[Mijia]

Hello Docride,
Thank you for directing me to this thread.
Could you please give any advice on if this kelly is worth buying.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com...leather-kelly-28-hermes-handbag-5936977.shtml

it is a 1959 kelly, and from the pictures, it seems it is indeed very nice condition.

 

[docride]

Hello Docride,
Thank you for directing me to this thread.
Could you please give any advice on if this kelly is worth buying.
https://www.vestiairecollective.com...leather-kelly-28-hermes-handbag-5936977.shtml

it is a 1959 kelly, and from the pictures, it seems it is indeed very nice condition.

Hi there,
To you in seems like its in nice condition to the seller they thinks so too....Are you asking me to agree? But, I can not. I see cracking handle and fine surface cracks.
Also a no return policy is present and there is no strap and a cracking handle? Hmm ....Still sounding like a great deal? Lets say you'll need to do work on this Kelly in future maybe replace the handle? Then you have a new handle on an old Kelly? and lets say by a shoulder strap for say $1500? Easily racking up another $2-3K.? With this in mind maybe find a better condition Kelly with a strap? So up your Anti a 1000-2000 bucks and you'll still come out ahead! And buy from sellers that have a return policy, that's a lot of money to risk on a sellers opinion I think... How about you?
Just saying unless you dream of owning this exact Kelly for some sentimental reason, I'd keep looking ... after all its not like a vintage black box calf Kelly with gold hardware is that hard to find... right? Wishing you lots of luck, and you are welcome to post other bags you are looking at so I can check them out for you before you jump
All the best,doc

 

[Mijia]

Hi there,
To you in seems like its in nice condition to the seller they thinks so too....Are you asking me to agree? But, I can not. I see cracking handle and fine surface cracks.
Also a no return policy is present and there is no strap and a cracking handle? Hmm ....Still sounding like a great deal? Lets say you'll need to do work on this Kelly in future maybe replace the handle? Then you have a new handle on an old Kelly? and lets say by a shoulder strap for say $1500? Easily racking up another $2-3K.? With this in mind maybe find a better condition Kelly with a strap? So up your Anti a 1000-2000 bucks and you'll still come out ahead! And buy from sellers that have a return policy, that's a lot of money to risk on a sellers opinion I think... How about you?
Just saying unless you dream of owning this exact Kelly for some sentimental reason, I'd keep looking ... after all its not like a vintage black box calf Kelly with gold hardware is that hard to find... right? Wishing you lots of luck, and you are welcome to post other bags you are looking at so I can check them out for you before you jump
All the best,doc

Dear Docride,
Thank you so much for taking the time! you are awesome!
I never had a vintage bag before and did not even know which details to check. Thank you again for the detailed explanation.
Best wishes,
J

 

[docride]

Dear Docride,
Thank you so much for taking the time! you are awesome!
I never had a vintage bag before and did not even know which details to check. Thank you again for the detailed explanation.
Best wishes,
J

Good Luck J !

 

[Hellogoodbye21]

Hi Docride,

Hope all is well!(: I recently purchased a vintage Kelly 28 and wanted to get your advise on how to care for the cracks on the leather. Would also love to hear your advise on whether it is worth keeping, taking into account the cracked leather. I paid US$6.25k for it. Many thanks!

 

[Hellogoodbye21]

Hi Docride,

Hope all is well!(: I recently purchased a vintage Kelly 28 and wanted to get your advise on how to care for the cracks on the leather. Would also love to hear your advise on whether it is worth keeping, taking into account the cracked leather. I paid US$6.25k for it. Many thanks!

Sorry I forgot to include another picture of the leather crack on the handle tab. Thanks!

 

[docride]

Sorry I forgot to include another picture of the leather crack on the handle tab. Thanks!

Hello
I think if the cracks aren’t too deep and the bag was a bargain and you won’t be hard on the bag using it heavily it’s ok
However if the bag is not a bargain and you don’t fancy replacing the handle eventually for added cost then maybe pass?
Sometimes just conditioning can help however conditioning isn’t going to repair the cracks .... my thoughts are
1) if a bargain buy it use it for awhile and sell it before it needs repairs and then buy another
2) return it and buy a Kelly without cracks
In the price range of this one you should be able to.
3) buy a similar condition bag for much less money and save the extra to pay for future repairs ?
4) my advice is this Kelly is quite vintage and not particularly rare I do feel you can get a similar condition Kelly for less than 6K or a better condition Kelly without cracks for around 6K. It might take a little more hunting but that’s my advice.

All the best doc
Ps> I’m sorry for the late reply I thought I had answered this prior !

 

[allywchu1]

Hi Docride, I recently come across this vache bag with very worn corners. I am quite amazed by the individuality vache letter develops. Please could you advise if the bag can be restored?

 

[docride]

Hi Docride, I recently come across this vache bag with very worn corners. I am quite amazed by the individuality vache letter develops. Please could you advise if the bag can be restored?

Hi there,
I wish I could see the rest of the bag ... but perhaps you are asking specifically about making the corners look like they aren’t worn?
If this is the case I’ll answer as per that question .

When an unfinished leather loses its top skin then that’s the way it stays. IMO it’s never advisable to try and color touch up a leather which has no colored finish to begin with.

It’s not like as with a finished leather that can be “touched-up” with some color restoration which in a sense is replacing the worn away colored finish with additional colored finish.

I hope I haven’t made this difficult to follow?
Suffice to say I do not recommend using color touch up on unfinished leathers for an number of reasons. As you know as the leather ages it changes color and if you’ve got a colored finish/leather paint on the corners they aren’t going to look like the rest of the bag’s color.... makes sense?

If you conditioned the bag those worn areas might look darker afterward. So you can have lighter worn corners or darker worn corners your choice.

If you can enjoy the organic quality of the unfinished leathers and you aren’t trying to dress them up formally then a full Monty patina Hermes Birkin will be a joy!

As the bags patina continues on towards full Monty status the corners will look less stand out from the rest of the bag and you may even come to relax about them? After all, your bag will be uniquely special.

If however this is not a look you are going for by all means pass and find the bag that will make your heart sing!

All the best, doc

 

[allywchu1]

Hi there,
I wish I could see the rest of the bag ... but perhaps you are asking specifically about making the corners look like they aren’t worn?
If this is the case I’ll answer as per that question .

When an unfinished leather loses its top skin then that’s the way it stays. IMO it’s never advisable to try and color touch up a leather which has no colored finish to begin with.

It’s not like as with a finished leather that can be “touched-up” with some color restoration which in a sense is replacing the worn away colored finish with additional colored finish.

I hope I haven’t made this difficult to follow?
Suffice to say I do not recommend using color touch up on unfinished leathers for an number of reasons. As you know as the leather ages it changes color and if you’ve got a colored finish/leather paint on the corners they aren’t going to look like the rest of the bag’s color.... makes sense?

If you conditioned the bag those worn areas might look darker afterward. So you can have lighter worn corners or darker worn corners your choice.

If you can enjoy the organic quality of the unfinished leathers and you aren’t trying to dress them up formally then a full Monty patina Hermes Birkin will be a joy!

As the bags patina continues on towards full Monty status the corners will look less stand out from the rest of the bag and you may even come to relax about them? After all, your bag will be uniquely special.

If however this is not a look you are going for by all means pass and find the bag that will make your heart sing!

All the best, doc

Thanks a lot doc! Attached are pictures of the rest of the bag. I’m thinking putting heavy conditioning to the bag may help revitalize it’s appearance. I’m also inspired by your tricks, very artistic and interesting maneuver of the leather’s characteristics.