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

[phisigbb]

Hi,
Fillers can help make the cut less noticeable if the area bends and flexes often it might not stay and pop out
Glued might help but again if the area bends and flexes and you can’t get the sides of the cut to touch during the cure process it probably won’t hold really well
It this is all guessing
I can not say if it’s going to get worse as I don’t have the leather in hand to make a better guess
I think you should talk with your seller
I’m only privy to one side of the situation here
Perhaps it’s just an simple over-site by the seller it seems like most sellers want to work things out to keep customers happy and protect their reputations? Perhaps ?
I’d address the seller and see if they can help?
All the best doc

Hi Doc,

Thanks so much. I am going to go back to the seller and ask to return the bag. I love it but if I had known there was a cut in the leather I would never have bought it, especially for the price I paid. I can deal with scratches and even rubbed corners but not a cut. Ah, the hunt for a K32 in ardennes leather continues! Thank you again.

 

[azukitea]

Hello sorry I dont understand “will The wipes buff them out? “

Hey there, Those scratches are going to stay
Conditioning might help them look less noticeable but they will not disappear or heal
That’s a really nice leather I like it very much but it does have an organic campy vibe and it will get a distressed look over time
I hope this helped?
Best doc

oh thanks for the tips. I was wondering if i use conditioning cream and/or lexol wipes will help lesson the scratch appearence. I actually dont mind the scratches that much ! Not sure if you can help answer this, in your opinion as a wild guess, it is sombero leather or is it swift (i personally think it looks more sombero than swift)

 

[docride]

oh thanks for the tips. I was wondering if i use conditioning cream and/or lexol wipes will help lesson the scratch appearence. I actually dont mind the scratches that much ! Not sure if you can help answer this, in your opinion as a wild guess, it is sombero leather or is it swift (i personally think it looks more sombero than swift)

Yes you simply stated wipes and I didn’t know what brand you were referring to
I would not recommend using Lexol ph wipes as that’s basically saddle soap cleaner type product
Anyhow a conditioner may or may not help and could possibly make the scratches look darker
Not better
It’s important to test any product in a small hidden area to make sure you are happy with the results before moving on to the whole bag
Do not spot treat
Use caution ...

All the best doc

 

[azukitea]

Yes you simply stated wipes and I didn’t know what brand you were referring to
I would not recommend using Lexol ph wipes as that’s basically saddle soap cleaner type product
Anyhow a conditioner may or may not help and could possibly make the scratches look darker
Not better
It’s important to test any product in a small hidden area to make sure you are happy with the results before moving on to the whole bag
Do not spot treat
Use caution ...

All the best doc

thank you very much for your advice

 

[docride]

Hi Doc,

Thanks so much. I am going to go back to the seller and ask to return the bag. I love it but if I had known there was a cut in the leather I would never have bought it, especially for the price I paid. I can deal with scratches and even rubbed corners but not a cut. Ah, the hunt for a K32 in ardennes leather continues! Thank you again.

Best of luck and happy hunting
P.S. If you want me to look at your next possible purchase before you pull the trigger come on back and I’ll do my best to help you
Sincerely,doc

 

[phisigbb]

Best of luck and happy hunting
P.S. If you want me to look at your next possible purchase before you pull the trigger come on back and I’ll do my best to help you
Sincerely,doc

Thanks Doc. You are the BEST!

 

[docride]

Thanks Doc. You are the BEST!

 

[docride]

 

[Hauteessentials]

Hi Doc, I’m looking to acquire my first Hermes bag and I’m considering 2 preloved options.

Both has scratches so I was wondering if you could give me insight into whether I can improve on their appearances before I decide.

The first is an Epsom Kelly in Sellier. There is a scratch on the front, although it doesn’t seem too obvious. Also I noticed a lighter shade at the base of the bag, and I’m not quite sure what it is. I’ve attaxhed a photo of the bag as well as a closeup of the scratch.

The second bag I’m considering is a Constance in a Vache Natural. It has scratches which kind of seem like pen marks to me, although on the site it states that these are scratches. I love the colour of the bag but I’ve read that Vache Natural is quite hard to maintain.

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated and I’ve been reading up on your posts. I’m learning so much and thank you for taking the time out to help with my queries.

 

[phisigbb]

Hi Doc!

I just pulled my Box K32 out of the closet. I must admit its been at least 3 years since I've used her or conditioned her. Anyways, she has a ton of wrinkles that she never had before!! And they are only at the top front of the bag. Why the heck did this happen? I don't think its particularly dry in my home, it may be a bit dry in winter from the heat (but not out of the ordinary), and very humid in the summer. She was stored closed and on her side.

Should I try to condition her or spa her? I have Saphir Universal Creme, will that be enough? Can she be saved?

 

[Hauteessentials]

Hi doc,

There’s another bag in my radar. If it’s not too much trouble, is there any way to improve the appearance of a box calf corner scruff?

And after treating it, what can I do to protect the corners?

Thanks for taking the time to help

 

[docride]

Hi doc,

There’s another bag in my radar. If it’s not too much trouble, is there any way to improve the appearance of a box calf corner scruff?

And after treating it, what can I do to protect the corners?

Thanks for taking the time to help

Hey there,
The corner scuff? yes that can be fixed with spa a bit to color touch up and some burnishing if the edge seam.

No way to apply something to protect corners unless you wanted some bumpers (smiles) corners get bumped and rubbed that’s how they get wear. So just use your bag with normal care and when the corners get scuffed get them touched up with spa .

All the best, doc

 

[docride]

View attachment 3994505 View attachment 3994506 Hi Doc, I’m looking to acquire my first Hermes bag and I’m considering 2 preloved options.

Both has scratches so I was wondering if you could give me insight into whether I can improve on their appearances before I decide.

The first is an Epsom Kelly in Sellier. There is a scratch on the front, although it doesn’t seem too obvious. Also I noticed a lighter shade at the base of the bag, and I’m not quite sure what it is. I’ve attaxhed a photo of the bag as well as a closeup of the scratch.

The second bag I’m considering is a Constance in a Vache Natural. It has scratches which kind of seem like pen marks to me, although on the site it states that these are scratches. I love the colour of the bag but I’ve read that Vache Natural is quite hard to maintain.

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated and I’ve been reading up on your posts. I’m learning so much and thank you for taking the time out to help with my queries.

Hello there,
Well you are choosing from two very different bags and to radically different leathers that’s for sure.
Epsom and courchevel leathers have a small embossed grain which gives it both a uniform appearance and added stiffness or body to the leather. Although somewhat scratch resistant it is not scratch proof and when a scratch moves across the grains and pushes them down or disrupts the pattern it can look quite glaring in certain light or angle. So while some color work may improve the look of a scratch if it has had missing color , it will not make the bag look as though it is as original condition. Eventually with more scratches and time perhaps the scratches will seem less glaring to you but if you baby your bags and don’t tend to scratch them then this may be too distracting to the over all beauty of the bag. ? It’s how you feel about it after all.

Vache natural is beautiful yes but it’s organic quality means its color and presentation will not stay as pristine as original
It will spot a d darken with weather and use unless treated against water marks
Scratches will eventually blend into the bags patina and look less noticeable. So if you want a bag that will gain color marks and patina then this is for you it will take some upkeep to keep this leather from gaining water marks.
In truth most people whom are sensitive to signs of use type flaws and marks or live in a society that is critical of such would not find much pleasure in owning and using this leather unless they had a game plan of upkeep so it could develop beautifully and fairly evenly .

I hope this helped you in some way? Have a think about it .
If you are looking for a bag in tan color in a stiff leather that will refurbish well and not get too banged up try these in a relatively small sized bag as they do tend to beget less bashing and banging in accident.

Smooth finished leather like Box calf or veau Charmonix or veau tadelak > because these are smooth finished leathers they can be touched up with color and buffed out to help mask scratches and add to a patina. A bit of upkeep is needed to protect these leathers from water damage but it’s not difficult.

In a smaller bags such as a 28cm sellier Kelly or a Constance chèvre or fjord or courchevel or Epsom even Togo with tens to hold the bags shape nicely all leathers scratch and dent and wrinkle with use and it abuse or improper storage.


Personally if these marks do bother you to begin with wait fir a bag which has its marks on the edges rather than out in the middle of the panels ? Or purchase a bag in new or mint condition without such flaws if the marks bother you ... oddly enough buying a bag in the hopes and flaws will be fixed is kinda a crap shoot. Realistically, one should hope for improvement and not like new appearance after spa or restoration.

I hope this helped?
All the best, doc

 

[docride]

Hi Doc!

I just pulled my Box K32 out of the closet. I must admit its been at least 3 years since I've used her or conditioned her. Anyways, she has a ton of wrinkles that she never had before!! And they are only at the top front of the bag. Why the heck did this happen? I don't think its particularly dry in my home, it may be a bit dry in winter from the heat (but not out of the ordinary), and very humid in the summer. She was stored closed and on her side.

Should I try to condition her or spa her? I have Saphir Universal Creme, will that be enough? Can she be saved?

Hey there! Wow your bag needs some serious conditioning I can’t say for certain if that surface will ever smooth out completely again but probably not. Yes conditioning is the place to start. This might require some help from a pro rather than trying to improve this on your own. I’d say take it to Hermes or a very trusted professional whom works with high end luxury leather. In the right hands you should get some improvement. I would avoid applying anything yourself so that the professional can approach this in the most savvy and unencumbered way .

Good luck , doc

 

[phisigbb]

Hey there! Wow your bag needs some serious conditioning I can’t say for certain if that surface will ever smooth out completely again but probably not. Yes conditioning is the place to start. This might require some help from a pro rather than trying to improve this on your own. I’d say take it to Hermes or a very trusted professional whom works with high end luxury leather. In the right hands you should get some improvement. I would avoid applying anything yourself so that the professional can approach this in the most savvy and unencumbered way .

Good luck , doc

Hi Doc,

I feel so bad that I haven't conditioned her! Hopefully, as you said, some conditioning will help her improve. I have to pick a bag up from the Hermes spa next week so I will bring her in then. Thank you so much for your advice.