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

[docride]

Hey!! I am thinking of buying a vintage lizard Kelly and am wondering if the handle plates which is cracking and tearing a little can be fixed! Also one of the straps at the closure section

Hi , Those straps and handle bases will need to be replaced eventually , factor those costs into the price of the bag... OK ?
All the best,doc

 

[docride]

Hi Docride,
I'd appreciate if you could comment on how this lovely barenia Evelyn would clean up. I don't see any serious staining, and I am hoping the scratches would fade in to the patina, after a good cleaning/oiling etc. But you know best!!
2. Random question- Does ebene barenia tend to patina more evenly in appearance ( or because of the darker coloring, it just appears to?)
PS- LOVE all your threads! I have learned SO much ( but obviously not enough!!)
Thanks in advance
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254237637501

Hi,
1) Should clean up fairly well, but keep in mind most marks (oil spots deeper scratches,sugary drip marks from wine,coffee or soda) on barenia are permanent once they have set.
2) Its the darker color that may contribute to the idea patin is more eveen looking on ebene barenia
3) You are so sweet. Thank you
All the best,doc

 

[docride]

Hello,

I purchased three Birkins 12 years ago. I used 1 a few times, but the other two remained unused in their boxes.

The rouge garance that I used a few times seems to have a layer of dust ingrained as well as fried leather.

The etoupe seems ok, but when I first took it out, the handles were stuck together.

The blue Jean completely lost its shape. Please see pics.

I have a friend interested in buying, and didn’t want to present it to her in this condition. How can I safely clean it?

Also, does anyone remember how much late 2007 prices were for them?

Thanks so much in advance.

I would just use a damp clean cloth ... and gently wipe them down and then fluffy dry towel to dry them.
Loss of shape is cosmetically helped by using a stiff bag insert and keeping the bag stuffed and belted up and laying on its back when no in use.
All the best,doc

 

[meeeeeeeesh]

A good conditioner can help, but thsse fine cracks are not going to be healed or disappear with any kind of magic potion ... the best you can do it try to help it from getting worse...
All the best,doc

thanks so much for your feedback and help!! i was able to secure a return. thank you!

 

[CaraBursae]

Dear docride!
Could you please give me advice how to clean lizard?
I have a vintage Lizard Kelly and the handle has darkened a lot.
I would also like to clean up the whole bag a little bit.
Any recommendations on a product that I could use?
Your help is really appreciated! Thanks a lot!

 

[Miss.M]

Hi Doc,
I would really appreciate it if you could give me advice on this Kelly from 1995. The bag has some scratches in front that looks quite deep. Almost looks more like cuts to me? Can this be fix either at home or by Hermes? The seller also got foundation on the bag when she was taking the photos, is this easy to remove?
Could you also please comment on the general state of the bag? I mostly worry about the leather being or the handle being frail. This will be my first Hermes, so I don't really know if this bag is a good buy. Thanks in advance

 

[cucomelon5]

Hi docride,
I have a general question about applying conditioners like Blackrocks or Obenauf's by hand. Is it okay to rub these onto a bag's stitching? If so, is it also okay to use a soft towel to remove the excess from the stitches (by lightly rubbing or buffing), or will this cause the stitches to fray? Do you have any advice on how best to handle the stitching areas? I saw that Obenauf's claims to help protect stitches, so I'd like to apply it on the stitches too if possible, but I don't want to damage the stitches or cause fraying. Thanks for your help!

 

[idluxe]

Hello Docride,

I hope everything is well with you. I need an advice from you regarding the corner of my bag (pictures attached), what should I do to restore it? Do you think Hermes spa will be able to fix/retouch those corners?

 

[lovely2008]

Hi Docride, how are you doing? Can you tell if this birkin's leather is barenia or vache natural? can color loss and worn corners be less noticeable or there permanent? Thanks!

 

[Lalalalala]

Hi Docride! I hope all is well with you. I have just bought a vintage Hermès Birkin which is in the need of some tlc. I have read your thread about leather care recommendations, but I'm unable to tell exactly which leather my bag is. Would you be able to help me figure out which leather it is? Is it a leather I can use leather dye on? Any recommendations you can think of would be greatly appreciated. I have tried using Cadillac Boot & Shoe Care Conditioner which made it instantly better, only to dry back to the same again. I understand it will never be "as new", it just seems very dry. Thank you.

 

[docride]

Dear docride!
Could you please give me advice how to clean lizard?
I have a vintage Lizard Kelly and the handle has darkened a lot.
I would also like to clean up the whole bag a little bit.
Any recommendations on a product that I could use?
Your help is really appreciated! Thanks a lot!

View attachment 4471930 View attachment 4471931

Hi there that looks discolored or stained I don’t think that that will clean off
But you can try using a lizard cleaning product.
Still beautiful though
Lizard gets this sort of color changes quite regularly.
All the best doc

 

[docride]

Hi Docride! I hope all is well with you. I have just bought a vintage Hermès Birkin which is in the need of some tlc. I have read your thread about leather care recommendations, but I'm unable to tell exactly which leather my bag is. Would you be able to help me figure out which leather it is? Is it a leather I can use leather dye on? Any recommendations you can think of would be greatly appreciated. I have tried using Cadillac Boot & Shoe Care Conditioner which made it instantly better, only to dry back to the same again. I understand it will never be "as new", it just seems very dry. Thank you.View attachment 4519440 View attachment 4519439View attachment 4519441 View attachment 4519442 View attachment 4519443

Hello there
This looks like natural color veau Charmonix
The surface color has been scratched and worn away in areas so even though you conditioned it very well the areas with color-loss will still remain.
This bag could be color restored in the right hands
And it could be dyed in the right hands also.
I would however make sure the folks doing the job are conservative and in keeping with the beauty of the bag and not give you a plastic looking result.
Have I answered your questions?
All the best
Doc

 

[docride]

Hi Docride, how are you doing? Can you tell if this birkin's leather is barenia or vache natural? can color loss and worn corners be less noticeable or there permanent? Thanks!

Hello there
This appears to be vache natural
Typically color touch up is not performed on this leather because it’s an unfinished .semi finished or naked leather
The corners once worn are usually just cleaned so as not to be too much darker than the body of the bag and then left as is
I hope this helps ?
Doc

 

[docride]

Hi docride,
I have a general question about applying conditioners like Blackrocks or Obenauf's by hand. Is it okay to rub these onto a bag's stitching? If so, is it also okay to use a soft towel to remove the excess from the stitches (by lightly rubbing or buffing), or will this cause the stitches to fray? Do you have any advice on how best to handle the stitching areas? I saw that Obenauf's claims to help protect stitches, so I'd like to apply it on the stitches too if possible, but I don't want to damage the stitches or cause fraying. Thanks for your help!

Hello
I don’t recommend these products now as folks get into too many problems using them incorrectly and on the wrong leathers in my opinion they tend to get layers and layers of sticky excess product into the stitches and seams ..,
I like those products for riding boots in which case I don’t mind additional wax on my stitches or in my boot’s seams.
I’m not so keen On these products for fine luxury leather hand bags.
All the best doc

 

[docride]

Hi Doc,
I would really appreciate it if you could give me advice on this Kelly from 1995. The bag has some scratches in front that looks quite deep. Almost looks more like cuts to me? Can this be fix either at home or by Hermes? The seller also got foundation on the bag when she was taking the photos, is this easy to remove?
Could you also please comment on the general state of the bag? I mostly worry about the leather being or the handle being frail. This will be my first Hermes, so I don't really know if this bag is a good buy. Thanks in advance

Hi looks sturdy enough I don’t see cracks or tears on the handle or handle bases in the photos did I miss some?
The scratches will remain but tend to blend in to the patina and be less noticeable with conditioning and polishing
Foundation spill on leather is usually relative easy to remove.
It looks like a very nice preowned Kelly
All the best doc