Docride's Hermes vintage bag nightmares & Hermes leather care

[wannaprada]

Plaque? did you mean some of the hardware? a strap plate? The strap plates often do separate from the leather on the strap.. yes quite common... its the tiny nails which hold the strap plates to the strap , the leather could be glued down and clamped until set ,but typically they will release again as the leather expands and contracts with temperature.
I hope this helps?
All the best,doc

That helps a lot, thanks so much!

 

[lomodes]

Hi Docride, my R stamp toolbox in swift is beginning to feel dry as I have stored it too long in the box. Can you please advice me what I should do with it? How can I restore its moisture and lustre?? Im feeling so guilty for keeping it in the box for more than half a year without using it.

 

[docride]

, it will get water stains or water spots

View attachment 3559236View attachment 3559237View attachment 3559238
What do you think? Is there anything to help this one? Thank you so much, Docride for your time and expertise.

Hello, That looks like Vache natural, not natural charmonix. Those spots are water marks and they'll not be covered or corrected as can sometimes be done on a finished leather . The spots might blend into the leather when the rest of the bag
's leather darkens and gains more patina.
Vache Natural (natural cow hide)is an unfinished or semi-finished leather. It starts out very light and gets more tan ad eventually brown over time and with use it will get water stains and or spots ... this leather is similar to the leather handles found on a classic LV bag... so yes you could push the patina, to try and get those spots to bled back to an even deeper color of bag, but then it still wont be perfectly even, and you really will have a more earthy, rustic kind of bag as a result.
all the best,doc

 

[docride]

Hi Docride, my R stamp toolbox in swift is beginning to feel dry as I have stored it too long in the box. Can you please advice me what I should do with it? How can I restore its moisture and lustre?? Im feeling so guilty for keeping it in the box for more than half a year without using it.

Hello,
Hmm sounds odd, swift leather should be feeling dry or lack luster from simply being stored in the box... generally, that leather being a very modern tanned and finished leather should not require deep conditioning...deep conditioning swift leather could result I a overly soft and floppy and stretched out leather so I would caution you. So, what makes you think its dry? Or is it simply you think it doesn't seem as rich looking as it once did? A simply light conditioning and shine type leather care wipe can often help in such an instance do be careful not to use any oily type care wipes as they could stain, remove finish or leave streaks. Always test a small hidden area first.....before moving on to larger visible areas.
Help me out... with some more information and a photo or two if I'm not clear enough or so i can better assist you ok?
All the best,doc

 

[docride]

Hello DocRide,
How are you, DocRide?
I found a Kelly Chamonix in Natural but it has quite a few dark spots all over. I'm in love with Chamonix in natural and wondering how to rescue this bag. Could you please advise me, Docride?
Here are pictures..

Hello
I wanted to do a little lesson about "Natural" when describing Hermes leathers ...funny thing natural can mean "a color" such as pale tan or buff for instance on a finished leather; or it can mean that the leather surface is naked such as in unfinished leathers such as Barenia ( all of the barenia colors are still unfinished leather olive,fauve,black or indigo) or Vache natural (which is usually semi finished). What was once called "natural" barenia is now called fauve.

The color "natural" can be found on many finished leathers such as Epsom, Charmonix, Courchevel, Ardennes,clemence and I'm sure some others which I did not mention...

A finished leather generally means one or more clear or colored top coats has been applied on top of the surface of the leather.
Most leathers today are finished leathers, that's why they can often be restored or touched up by applying a matching colored finish to areas of wear or stains or color-loss .

Ive gone into greater depth on this subject on my blog if interested

 

[docride]

No questions. Just a compliment. You are a wonderful woman who possesses the best intentions. Thank you [emoji4] [emoji3]!!!
Have a healthy, happy New Year xo[emoji173]️[emoji173]️[emoji173]️

Thank you so much! I wish you and your's a most pleasant ,healthy new year !
Sincerely,doc

 

[lomodes]

Hello,
Hmm sounds odd, swift leather should be feeling dry or lack luster from simply being stored in the box... generally, that leather being a very modern tanned and finished leather should not require deep conditioning...deep conditioning swift leather could result I a overly soft and floppy and stretched out leather so I would caution you. So, what makes you think its dry? Or is it simply you think it doesn't seem as rich looking as it once did? A simply light conditioning and shine type leather care wipe can often help in such an instance do be careful not to use any oily type care wipes as they could stain, remove finish or leave streaks. Always test a small hidden area first.....before moving on to larger visible areas.
Help me out... with some more information and a photo or two if I'm not clear enough or so i can better assist you ok?
All the best,doc

Thank you so much, Docride! Maybe I just need to carry it more often these days.

 

[lovely2008]

Sometimes they can be removed with a conditioner and a tiny brush carefully , very carefully... Get a magnifying glass and a blunt small instrument....

Welcome back Doc! I hope you did enjoy your holidays! Thanks for answering this post. Please go back to page 64 and post #956 with pics. Can I clean the black stains with any sort of cleaner/conditioner? Will it come off with any sort of cleaner/conditioner? Or will it need color restoration/dye? Thanks!

 

[docride]

hi doc, just find this blue jean kelly wallet. can it be save? are the black stains removable? thanks!!

View attachment 3535002 View attachment 3535003 View attachment 3535005 View attachment 3535006

The stains and colorloss you see are not simply removable with a cleaning, this wallet would require expert color restoration in my opinion. Less than expert work would alter this to the degree it would no longer look or feel luxurious. I hope this helps? All the best,doc

 

[docride]

Dear docride, you've been a great help with a vintage Kelly and Drag over the last year, now I acquired a Shoulder Birkin in white from 2010 stamped N in a square. Could you identify the leather? i'm thinking Togo. The bag is in great condition, but maybe you have some tips and tricks for my first Birkin, especially since it's a white one. Thank you!

Looks like clemence
Congratulations its beautiful!

 

[docride]

HI Docride,

I'm beyond impressed with the work you have done restoring vintage Hermes bags. I am considering purchasing a vintage Birkin, but there is significant edge wear, corner wear, color transfer, etc. The pictures are at the following link: http://www.fashionphile.com/hermes-epsom-birkin-35-gold-133622
If I were to send this Birkin to a restorer like yourself, are these issues that could be fixed or is the bag permanently stained? Thank you in advance for your assistance, I am amazed at the level of beauty you have been able to achieve with other bags.

Hi there, Sorry for the late reply,
The corner wear looks like a straight forward easy fix by spa or restoration specialist or a color touch up kit if you are handy. As for the color transfer I did not notice it... Over all it looks lovely, I like this bag Good luck, doc

 

[docride]

Hi doc, long time! Hope you are doing well! Just wondering if you know a good product for cleaning barenia occasionally? Thanks!!

Sure barenia can be cleaned nicely with a Lexol Ph wipe, or better still with a leather cleaning wipe made for unfinished leather.. barenia is quite forgiving even a wash cloth with some mild soap and a rinsing can be used .. without undue pressure or heavy duty rubbing.. what are you trying to clean in particular?
Also do NOT use baby wipes....
All the best,doc

 

[docride]

hi doc! where are you doc? can initials be removed on this croc clutch?View attachment 3541538

Initials like that can sometimes be removed with a small toothbrush and some conditioner , but sometimes it wont budge.. Its hard to say... you could try and I certainly would if it were mine. Good luck, doc

 

[docride]

Hi @docride please help me.... my glycine birkin somehow got a pen mark, is it possible to remove it? Or should i send the bag for repair?

Hello sorry for the late reply, ball point ink marks which are just made can sometimes be removed with a soft pink eraser...or some cuticle remover gel carefully...also there are ink killers made specifically for leather... however you may have missing finish as well... so no ink but an area of missings orginal color can sometimes be more of a blemish that the original ink mark was.. then very careful color restoration to the area would need to be performed by an expert or the results may not be good... still I'd ask a professional for help,
Good Luck, doc

 

[docride]

View attachment 3527146 Hi Docride,

Could you confirm for me that my new to me bag is barenia (or is it VN)? Also, could you give me instructions on how to clean and condition it so that it achieves that beautiful, even, rich patina, and specifically, which products and steps you'd recommend?

Thank you so much!

Its a little hard to tell from your single photo, off the cuff i'd say it's barenia in fauve color... I wouldn't expect it to be a perfectly even patina over time ...it's going to get beauty marks.... products made for unfinished leathers are the way to go... and use your bag Lexol Ph leather wipes are ok., there are better products but I am not allowed to name them here, I can only mention products here that I do not produce.. Its best to AVOID baby wipes, polish, way products and straight oils on this leather.
All the best,doc