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

[pinkispunk]

Hi Docride - I’m a big fan of you, your videos (more please!) and your tips. This is the first time I write you. I’ve bought this beautiful bag (Box, Kelly, Rouge H from 2000) and had a couple of questions for you. I’m not interested in a perfect bag so happy with the scrapes and scratches:

1) what do you think of the condition? It looks good to my untrained eye but I would love your opinion. I have bag in hand so can take additional pics.

2) for this particular bag, would you recommend conditioning and polishing myself (I’m familiar with your other thread) or Hermes Spa?

it is my first box!
Thank you so much!!!

https://www.fashionphile.com/p/hermes-box-kelly-retourne-28-rouge-h-877180

 

[pinkispunk]

Hi Docride - I’m a big fan of you, your videos (more please!) and your tips. This is the first time I write you. I’ve bought this beautiful bag (Box, Kelly, Rouge H from 2000) and had a couple of questions for you. I’m not interested in a perfect bag so happy with the scrapes and scratches:

1) what do you think of the condition? It looks good to my untrained eye but I would love your opinion. I have bag in hand so can take additional pics.

2) for this particular bag, would you recommend conditioning and polishing myself (I’m familiar with your other thread) or Hermes Spa?

it is my first box!
Thank you so much!!!

Adding some pics to make it more straightforward - thank you again!

https://www.fashionphile.com/p/hermes-box-kelly-retourne-28-rouge-h-877180

 

[docride]

I'd always wanted an Hermes Victoria travel bag, and when one came up for auction this week on eBay--and I was able to snag it for $377--I couldn't resist. The interior is pristine. The leather (?buffalo?) is in great condition. There's a storage smell, but I'm confident that with time, and Zero Odor, it will go away. But the outside is very stained. I love the bag, but I'm on the fence: should I try to clean it myself? Any suggestions on how? (I tried one of those Tide sticks on a tiny stain on the bottom; it didn't budge. Warm water and Dawn with a toothbrush also didn't do anything.) Perhaps I should just return it? (The seller, from whom I've bought way too many bags, has a generous return policy.). I'm not sure I want to bring it to Hermes: I do have a relationship with a SA, but I worry that Hermes would see my $377 find as unworthy. Plus: if I invest in some serious work on it, it will no longer be a delightful bargain/find. I'd love advice/opinions . . .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275201846196?nma=true&si=ntIbhmyhIpnOTmhlqrpT036w0nk%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557#mainContent

Hi there
Cool bag
So, can you take it to a trusted dry cleaner and see what they say ?
all the best doc

 

[Sylvain]

Hi Doc,

quite belated (shame on me) but thank you so much for your great advice!

 

[docride]

Hi Doc,

quite belated (shame on me) but thank you so much for your great advice!

Just saying I know some dry cleaners are very handy with stained fabrics. Very best of luck

 

[nomdesac]

Hi there
Cool bag
So, can you take it to a trusted dry cleaner and see what they say ?
all the best doc

(oh, why didn't I think of that--thank you so much!!)

 

[docride]

(oh, why didn't I think of that--thank you so much!!)

 

[Stacy31]

Hi docride!! I hope it is okay to ask this question in your thread. I recently purchased a Birkin 35 from Fashionphile in Vache Liegee leather. Was the dust bag different for this bag than other leathers at that time? It is a very soft, almost velvet to touch material. The year is 2008 (L-square). TIA!

 

[docride]

Hi docride!! I hope it is okay to ask this question in your thread. I recently purchased a Birkin 35 from Fashionphile in Vache Liegee leather. Was the dust bag different for this bag than other leathers at that time? It is a very soft, almost velvet to touch material. The year is 2008 (L-square). TIA!

Hi
I have to stay on topic here… but I can PM you with your answer

 

[samouu]

Hello dear docride,
I went through many threads but couldn’t find a clear answer regarding Ardennes leather so thank you for your time.

I got this Birkin 30 in Ardennes (not sure about the color name though?) : the corners show wears, there is some dryness/cracks on the leather (on the strap to close the bag), cracks in the glazing/resin and the handles have faded and turned somehow into a beige color.
obviously the bag is 28 year old so I didn’t expect it to be 28 days old plus it’s in great shape for its age.
-Should I use some conditioner that I have to see how it goes? I have Saphir rénovateur, saphir crème universelle and crème délicate

-Or should I leave it untouch and give it to the H SPA? Could they work on it even if Ardennes is discontinued?
Regarding the handles, I am worried they will advice to change them… which is kind of costly after doing some research in the forum. I would love to hear your suggestions as you’re the expert here.

thanks a lot for your help

 

[docride]

Hello dear docride,
I went through many threads but couldn’t find a clear answer regarding Ardennes leather so thank you for your time.

I got this Birkin 30 in Ardennes (not sure about the color name though?) : the corners show wears, there is some dryness/cracks on the leather (on the strap to close the bag), cracks in the glazing/resin and the handles have faded and turned somehow into a beige color.
obviously the bag is 28 year old so I didn’t expect it to be 28 days old plus it’s in great shape for its age.
-Should I use some conditioner that I have to see how it goes? I have Saphir rénovateur, saphir crème universelle and crème délicate

-Or should I leave it untouch and give it to the H SPA? Could they work on it even if Ardennes is discontinued?
Regarding the handles, I am worried they will advice to change them… which is kind of costly after doing some research in the forum. I would love to hear your suggestions as you’re the expert here.

thanks a lot for your help
View attachment 5376656View attachment 5376657View attachment 5376659View attachment 5376660View attachment 5376661View attachment 5376662View attachment 5376663
View attachment 5376668

Hi there !
Wow what a beautiful birkin
I don’t see anything alarming in its condition. It could use some corner touch up so let Hermes do any conditioning they see fit when you send it for spa. Maybe they can refresh the resin/edge color at that time as well.
Ardennes in natural color ( which is the color name of your bag) is almost a two tone leather color so the top of the grain being a different color than the in between the grains; so when it gets done wear like on the handles they will appear lighter as the darker color on top of the grains comes off leaving the lighter color . So having someone do color work touch ups will never be quite like the original.
Sometimes using conditioners can have a color slip off of the top color …just saying it is possible. So , trust this beautiful bag to the care of an H craftsman.
All the best, doc

 

[samouu]

Hi there !
Wow what a beautiful birkin
I don’t see anything alarming in its condition. It could use some corner touch up so let Hermes do any conditioning they see fit when you send it for spa. Maybe they can refresh the resin/edge color at that time as well.
Ardennes in natural color ( which is the color name of your bag) is almost a two tone leather color so the top of the grain being a different color than the in between the grains; so when it gets done wear like on the handles they will appear lighter as the darker color on top of the grains comes off leaving the lighter color . So having someone do color work touch ups will never be quite like the original.
Sometimes using conditioners can have a color slip off of the top color …just saying it is possible. So , trust this beautiful bag to the care of an H craftsman.
All the best, doc

Oh thank you for your reply dear Docride!
So I have followed your advice and given it to H spa and they have sent me a quotation for a « cleaning makeup » and they would do the work in the local boutique. However they have written it’s «vache fjord » but it is wrong…it’s either vache Ardennes or vache liégée, what do you think?
Now I trust the artisan who worked on my Birkin a bit less as he analyzed the leather poorly…and I’m a bit worried on the final look of the bag.
Plus, I am not sure if they have noticed the color fading on the front and bottom back of the bag, should I insist about that before they start the work or you suggest that I just let them do the work and wait for the final result?
Thanks a lot docride!

 

[docride]

Oh thank you for your reply dear Docride!
So I have followed your advice and given it to H spa and they have sent me a quotation for a « cleaning makeup » and they would do the work in the local boutique. However they have written it’s «vache fjord » but it is wrong…it’s either vache Ardennes or vache liégée, what do you think?
Now I trust the artisan who worked on my Birkin a bit less as he analyzed the leather poorly…and I’m a bit worried on the final look of the bag.
Plus, I am not sure if they have noticed the color fading on the front and bottom back of the bag, should I insist about that before they start the work or you suggest that I just let them do the work and wait for the final result?
Thanks a lot docride!

Hi again,
While I understand your concern that they didn’t use the leathers name I would not be overly concerned. It’s important to note that Hermes will not usually do any kind of color touch/ups to the handles they call this normal wear ( though they might replace handless) or middle of panels unless you ask ahead and get affirmative response. I would expect the bag May get have corners touched up and get an external clean and condition nothing drastic.
All the best ,doc

 

[classicgirll]

Hi Doc! It is so nice of you to help out with your time and expertise.

I've been thinking of purchasing this clemence birkin, which was accidentally washed in the washing machine.
Is there any hope of restoring it? What do you suggest?
Thank you!

 

[ShopGirl123]

Hi Docride! I got my first swift bag last week, a gorgeous mini lindy in framboise. The second day I wore it I had on a long black cotton dress. After a long day of walking I discovered this color transfer. I took it to Hermes the day of happened. They worked on it and definitely made it better but it’s still very noticeable to me. They said the only other option is to leave it for service but they’d have to apply color to it which they don’t recommend for such a new bag. Any suggestions? I don’t have a leather shop I would trust with this bag, I’m in NYC.