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

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Hi there great to have you over here for a visit thank you I am very well
What a great color on ostrich it’s like a strawberry love it . I see some fine cracks on the edges adjacent to the zipper I can not tell if the bag is stiff and out of shape or softened abd slouching by looking at the photos ..,, but because I did see those few cracks I’m inclined to say it has become dry enough to crack at some point in the past.
I think when you have the bag in hand and can feel it this would be super helpful for it’s a good price and the seller has a return policy I’d say pick it up and check condition with the bag in hand.
all the best doc
 
Hi there great to have you over here for a visit thank you I am very well
What a great color on ostrich it’s like a strawberry love it . I see some fine cracks on the edges adjacent to the zipper I can not tell if the bag is stiff and out of shape or softened abd slouching by looking at the photos ..,, but because I did see those few cracks I’m inclined to say it has become dry enough to crack at some point in the past.
I think when you have the bag in hand and can feel it this would be super helpful for it’s a good price and the seller has a return policy I’d say pick it up and check condition with the bag in hand.
all the best doc

Thank you for your quick response! I would never though those are cracks adjacent to the zipper. This bag is from 1984 and selling from Japan for $1700. Since seller is from Japan, no return policy. Do you think that is a good price? Thanks again!
 
Thank you for your quick response! I would never though those are cracks adjacent to the zipper. This bag is from 1984 and selling from Japan for $1700. Since seller is from Japan, no return policy. Do you think that is a good price? Thanks again!
I like it , I like the color and the price seems fair to me ... do you like the bag as is ? If so then go for it ...
All the best doc
 
Hello. I was hoping I could get some help with my Constance. I will try to succinctly explain the situation, but please do let me know if I'm being unclear. I've worn this bag for about 2 years and I noticed around the '--' part of the H (closure-clasp part) there were scratches and a red-Bordeaux color within the scratches.

1625377419411.png

I tried to use leather cleaner / conditioner to buff out the scratches and remove what I though was some color transfer. My initial theory was that the red color was from my nails (bordeaux is my go-to manicure), it made sense because it's the only part of the bag that I could scratch constantly because it's where I open/close it. Since you have to close the Constance every time, you can imagine this could happen.

The problem got worse. Do note, the first picture isn't taken in the best light, so the next 2 look worse than they are. In person it's kind of a smaller problem because dark red on black doesn't stick out, but in the right light you can definitely see the issue.

1625377635012.png

1625377668621.png

So now I'm wondering if the black leather dye has oxidized or something? Perhaps the black paint wore off (not sure if this is a thing)? I'm stranded in Europe during the pandemic still and I can't really send it anywhere for repairs. I wonder if I could do anything at home. What would the solution be? Things I'm considering:

I could try to clean it more, if it's actually just dye transfer. The reason I think it could be dye is because the cloth does get red when rubbing the area so clearly some of it is coming off. Yet if it is the black dye simply coming off, then I assume rubbing it would make it worse.

Perhaps the solution is to get this area dyed in black? I'm not sure how would that work on this finish?

I would love any advice or thoughts on this. Thanks in advance <3
 
You carefully wrote that you have been using the bag for two years - not how old it is, or where you bought it.
If you bought the bag hew from Hermes, I don't see why you should not go into a boutique for advice.
You could then choose whether you want to hand it over for the issue to be dealt with or wait until you get back home. (You wrote that you are stranded in Europej

p.s. I would have PMed you, but it was not an option.
 
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@SilkCat, you have received good advice from @WhiteBus. If you purchased it preowned, is there any possibility that it was originally a red color and was dyed black? From the photo it almost looks like the black color is wearing away and exposing red/rouge underneath, especially since you say when you rub it more of the black comes off exposing more red color.
 
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@SilkCat, you have received good advice from @WhiteBus. If you purchased it preowned, is there any possibility that it was originally a red color and was dyed black? From the photo it almost looks like the black color is wearing away and exposing red/rouge underneath, especially since you say when you rub it more of the black comes off exposing more red color.
You, more boldly, wrote what I was thinking.
 
You carefully wrote that you have been using the bag for two years - not how old it is, or where you bought it.
If you bought the bag hew from Hermes, I don't see why you should not go into a boutique for advice.
You could then choose whether you want to hand it over for the issue to be dealt with or wait until you get back home. (You wrote that you are stranded in Europej

p.s. I would have PMed you, but it was not an option.

Not sure what you're implying with "carefully" but it's not like I intentionally omitted the information. The bag was purchased by my mother from Hermes. I do not know the exact date, though I can ask her and get back to you if it's important. It sat in her closet for years and was probably only worn once or twice, as she told me when she handed it off to me before I left for Europe about two years ago. Which is why I said I have been using it for two years. I can go into a boutique when it is feasible to do so, but I was posting here for advice in the meantime. I always try to care for and repair my own bags when possible, and I was trying to see if there was anything I can do to fix it myself. If the only thing I can do is bring it to the boutique then I will do that, which unfortunately won't be very soon. I didn't realize that the age of the bag would be relevant if it wasn't really used much for a while, sorry.

@SilkCat, you have received good advice from @WhiteBus. If you purchased it preowned, is there any possibility that it was originally a red color and was dyed black? From the photo it almost looks like the black color is wearing away and exposing red/rouge underneath, especially since you say when you rub it more of the black comes off exposing more red color.

Sorry if I was unclear, the black doesn't come off, more like a red-purple color comes off. Which is why I thought it could be color transfer or something along those lines. Really no chance it was recolored though.
 
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Not sure what you're implying with "carefully" but it's not like I intentionally omitted the information. The bag was purchased by my mother from Hermes. I do not know the exact date, though I can ask her and get back to you if it's important. It sat in her closet for years and was probably only worn once or twice, as she told me when she handed it off to me before I left for Europe about two years ago. Which is why I said I have been using it for two years. I can go into a boutique when it is feasible to do so, but I was posting here for advice in the meantime. I always try to care for and repair my own bags when possible, and I was trying to see if there was anything I can do to fix it myself. If the only thing I can do is bring it to the boutique then I will do that, which unfortunately won't be very soon. I didn't realize that the age of the bag would be relevant if it wasn't really used much for a while, sorry.



Sorry if I was unclear, the black doesn't come off, more like a red-purple color comes off. Which is why I thought it could be color transfer or something along those lines. Really no chance it was recolored though.
I hope that Doc or another expert can help you. Personally, I am cautious and would not attempt to rub it any more for the time being until you are able to have it evaluated by Hermes.
 
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I hope that Doc or another expert can help you. Personally, I am cautious and would not attempt to rub it any more for the time being until you are able to have it evaluated by Hermes.

Thanks! I've definitely stopped messing with with it, as I don't want to make the problem worse. Honestly at first I thought it was just some scratches and I could buff it out like Chanel lambskin.
 
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The provenance of a bag is always relevant when advice is sort, because it it part of the full picture.
Hermes is always going to be the best place to seek advice when possible.
However if there is any suspicion that a bag might not be right, or has been previously worked on by non-Hermes artisans, the Hermes route would not be the way to go.
I, obviously, was not the only reader to suspect that the bag had been coloured and that the colour was being worn through.
 
Hello. I was hoping I could get some help with my Constance. I will try to succinctly explain the situation, but please do let me know if I'm being unclear. I've worn this bag for about 2 years and I noticed around the '--' part of the H (closure-clasp part) there were scratches and a red-Bordeaux color within the scratches.

View attachment 5127632

I tried to use leather cleaner / conditioner to buff out the scratches and remove what I though was some color transfer. My initial theory was that the red color was from my nails (bordeaux is my go-to manicure), it made sense because it's the only part of the bag that I could scratch constantly because it's where I open/close it. Since you have to close the Constance every time, you can imagine this could happen.

The problem got worse. Do note, the first picture isn't taken in the best light, so the next 2 look worse than they are. In person it's kind of a smaller problem because dark red on black doesn't stick out, but in the right light you can definitely see the issue.

View attachment 5127634

View attachment 5127635

So now I'm wondering if the black leather dye has oxidized or something? Perhaps the black paint wore off (not sure if this is a thing)? I'm stranded in Europe during the pandemic still and I can't really send it anywhere for repairs. I wonder if I could do anything at home. What would the solution be? Things I'm considering:

I could try to clean it more, if it's actually just dye transfer. The reason I think it could be dye is because the cloth does get red when rubbing the area so clearly some of it is coming off. Yet if it is the black dye simply coming off, then I assume rubbing it would make it worse.

Perhaps the solution is to get this area dyed in black? I'm not sure how would that work on this finish?

I would love any advice or thoughts on this. Thanks in advance :heart:
Hi there , please excuse my late response. The finish appears to be lost on the areas . But do please post me some additional photos . If it’s been colored over a different color I’d need some additional photos to make that kind of call. ...
if it is finish loss then , This can be replaced with some color touch up done by a trusted professional. the surface condition appears as though the leather has gotten dry in the past and shrunk a bit , which will cause the surface of the finish to bunch up on itself a bit which looks like fine ripples...in any case this is not unusual. So, stop trying to clean it off , you will just remove more of the black finish. A trusted professional can make this look much better. Take heart. All will be well.
all the best,doc
 
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Hi there , please excuse my late response. The finish appears to be lost on the areas . But do please post me some additional photos . If it’s been colored over a different color I’d need some additional photos to make that kind of call. ...
if it is finish loss then , This can be replaced with some color touch up done by a trusted professional. the surface condition appears as though the leather has gotten dry in the past and shrunk a bit , which will cause the surface of the finish to bunch up on itself a bit which looks like fine ripples...in any case this is not unusual. So, stop trying to clean it off , you will just remove more of the black finish. A trusted professional can make this look much better. Take heart. All will be well.
all the best,doc

Thank you so much for the reply. I will definitely leave it to the professionals. Happy to hear that it can be fixed :)
 
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