Hermes Vintage Bag Nightmares & Hermes Leather Care

[jomirod]

Hello Doc!

First thing, I want to thank you for all the time you take to inform and educate all us leather novices. Where would many of us be without you

On to a question or two of my own. I just received my Barenia and Crinoline 45 HAC which has a few minor condition issues. A pair of water (oil?) spots on the front face flap (pic 2), some graying (dirt?) and dryness of leather at the edges of rear flap and feet/corners (pic 3). What do you recommend for these two issues, particularly the dryness? I feel like the leather needs a drink, at the grand old age of 13 years. According to the seller, the bag was treated with H saddle balm a few times. Would this explain the inconsistency in colour of different areas? (pic 4)

Also, not really a leather question, but do you know much about the maintenance of crinoline? Aside from a few broken strands and a 'dent' at front (just visible in pic 4), could a steam/iron fix this?, IS crinoline fragile/susceptible to damage with real, honest-to-goodness use, I've received very mixed answers from threads in the forum. I didn't buy the bag with the intention of babying it.

Thanks very much in advance for any light you can shed

Also, I'll be contributing some pictures to your Barenia /VN thread on the main forum page soon, as soon as we get some sun/decent light to capture the colour correctly!

 

[docride]

Hello Doc!

First thing, I want to thank you for all the time you take to inform and educate all us leather novices. Where would many of us be without you

On to a question or two of my own. I just received my Barenia and Crinoline 45 HAC which has a few minor condition issues. A pair of water (oil?) spots on the front face flap (pic 2), some graying (dirt?) and dryness of leather at the edges of rear flap and feet/corners (pic 3). What do you recommend for these two issues, particularly the dryness? I feel like the leather needs a drink, at the grand old age of 13 years. According to the seller, the bag was treated with H saddle balm a few times. Would this explain the inconsistency in colour of different areas? (pic 4)
Some areas have more oil in them then others hence darker in those areas, you could give this a cleaning with Lexol PH leather wipes or just Lexol PH following directions on the container... And then if you still feel it's dry you can follow with Hermes baume... Can you get any of these where you are?

Also, not really a leather question, but do you know much about the maintenance of crinoline? Aside from a few broken strands and a 'dent' at front (just visible in pic 4), could a steam/iron fix this?, IS crinoline fragile/susceptible to damage with real, honest-to-goodness use, I've received very mixed answers from threads in the forum. I didn't buy the bag with the intention of babying it.
Crinoline does get small breaks but that's just the nature of the material...but it's still fairly sturdy stuff. I would Not apply an iron to it...this could weaken it...causing more breakage in the long run...I would just use and enjoy the bag,it's lasted this long I...awefully well I think



Thanks very much in advance for any light you can shed

Also, I'll be contributing some pictures to your Barenia /VN thread on the main forum page soon, as soon as we get some sun/decent light to capture the colour correctly!

Gorgeous bag congrats! Answers are above^^^ Cheers!doc

 

[Norm.Core]

Hello, Congrats on your lovely Christine bag and anniversary! Some good black polish will hide the scratch quite well ...Why not give this a try?

Whoa! Scratch is barely there! Doc, you rock!

p.s. I just read up on blistering... There's no real cure for it on Clemence, right?

 

[docride]

Whoa! Scratch is barely there! Doc, you rock!

p.s. I just read up on blistering... There's no real cure for it on Clemence, right?

Blistering does not happen typically on Clemence...Do you have this problem?

 

[jomirod]

Gorgeous bag congrats! Answers are above^^^ Cheers!doc

Thanks for the quick response

I will look up the Lexol products right away. I am under the impression that Hermes doesn't sell the saddle Baum or cleaning items (aside from soap) in Australia. I seem to remember there being a reason for this. I wonder if they discourage customers from buying and using this on their non-saddle Hermes items.

Also would you recommend Hermes saddle soap (this is sold domestically) for lifting dirt and light grease from Barenia? Or should the leather wipes suffice? The last thing I want to do it overtreat the bag - would much rather let it age gracefully

Thank you!

 

[Kimmmie]

Docride, how much did you originally pay for your Birkins and how much did it cost to buy all the supplies and kits needed to rejuvenate them? Sorry if these are crass or tacky questions but I'm very seriously considering doing the same thing (as in buying a beat up Kelly or a Birkin and redoing it) and I'm trying to see whether or not the cost is worth it and if it's less than simply buying a new bag. But you do such amazing work it motivates me to try!

 

[docride]

Thanks for the quick response

I will look up the Lexol products right away. I am under the impression that Hermes doesn't sell the saddle Baum or cleaning items (aside from soap) in Australia. I seem to remember there being a reason for this. I wonder if they discourage customers from buying and using this on their non-saddle Hermes items.

Also would you recommend Hermes saddle soap (this is sold domestically) for lifting dirt and light grease from Barenia? Or should the leather wipes suffice? The last thing I want to do it overtreat the bag - would much rather let it age gracefully

Thank you!

The lexol PH Leather wipes will be the easiest to work with...Hermes saddle soap or any good glycerine based saddle soap can be used but if you have not used such products before it can get messy..best off with teh wipes if you can find them... If you can't find them ...come on back...

 

[docride]

Docride, how much did you originally pay for your Birkins and how much did it cost to buy all the supplies and kits needed to rejuvenate them? Sorry if these are crass or tacky questions but I'm very seriously considering doing the same thing (as in buying a beat up Kelly or a Birkin and redoing it) and I'm trying to see whether or not the cost is worth it and if it's less than simply buying a new bag. But you do such amazing work it motivates me to try!

Interesting question.. My special Vache Natural and Barenia bags were not bought as beat up bags , cheaply and then restored...

I did not buy kits to restore them.. I have a shop where I do restorations on a daily basis..so I have many supplies on hand...most of which you would never need.

Restorations can be done on older and/or damaged bags of course... Buying an older used bag and restoring it (if you have the skill to do so) is always going to be less expensive than buying a new bag.


Products for a restoration depending on what needs doing will generally run under $100.


Sending a bag out for restoration costs anywhere form 150+ depending on what you need done and or to where you send the bag.

Used and abused Kellys can be found from about 2200-3500
Used and not absued from 3.5-5.5K

Used and abused Birkin 35cm can be found from about 6.8-7K
Used and not abused Birkins from 7.5-8.5K

But really asking pricing questions on used bags is best addressed in the Hermes shopping threads

IMO it is always about condition which makes the value of a bag...


I hope this answers your questions?

 

[Kimmmie]

Interesting question.. My special Vache Natural and Barenia bags were not bought as beat up bags , cheaply and then restored...

I did not buy kits to restore them.. I have a shop where I do restorations on a daily basis..so I have many supplies on hand...most of which you would never need.

Restorations can be done on older and/or damaged bags of course... Buying an older used bag and restoring it (if you have the skill to do so) is always going to be less expensive than buying a new bag.


Products for a restoration depending on what needs doing will generally run under $100.


Sending a bag out for restoration costs anywhere form 150+ depending on what you need done and or to where you send the bag.

Used and abused Kellys can be found from about 2200-3500
Used and not absued from 3.5-5.5K

Used and abused Birkin 35cm can be found from about 6.8-7K
Used and not abused Birkins from 7.5-8.5K

But really asking pricing questions on used bags is best addressed in the Hermes shopping threads

IMO it is always about condition which makes the value of a bag...


I hope this answers your questions?

Wow, that's really detailed and answers all my questions and then some! Thank you very much.

 

[Norm.Core]

Blistering does not happen typically on Clemence...Do you have this problem?

Hi Doc,

Sorry I couldn't take pics until now. I've never owned Clemence before so I don't know if 'blistering' is what's happening with the plumped bit on the Christine's flap.

The first picture is when the flap is opened up. When it is closed, you can't really see any issues. Not really overtly concerned since it's barely noticeable but what do you think it is?

Thanks!

 

[docride]

Hi Doc,

Sorry I couldn't take pics until now. I've never owned Clemence before so I don't know if 'blistering' is what's happening with the plumped bit on the Christine's flap.

The first picture is when the flap is opened up. When it is closed, you can't really see any issues. Not really overtly concerned since it's barely noticeable but what do you think it is?

Thanks!

Hi there, I'm not sure what that is... looks like the grains have relaxed there..is the area raised or stiff?

 

[Norm.Core]

Hi there, I'm not sure what that is... looks like the grains have relaxed there..is the area raised or stiff?

It's raised only when the flap is open. Not stiff at all. I did a quick read here and guessed it might be blistering. I can take it to H Sydney but apparently, they don't have a craftsman and if it needs any sprucing up, it will need to be sent to France. Yikes!

 

[docride]

It's raised only when the flap is open. Not stiff at all. I did a quick read here and guessed it might be blistering. I can take it to H Sydney but apparently, they don't have a craftsman and if it needs any sprucing up, it will need to be sent to France. Yikes!

Hi, If it is actual blistering not something that an Hermes spa would address as far as I know... I do not think this is true damaging type blistering as you would see in Box calf for instance. Is this something which really bothers you?

 

[Norm.Core]

Hi, If it is actual blistering not something that an Hermes spa would address as far as I know... I do not think this is true damaging type blistering as you would see in Box calf for instance. Is this something which really bothers you?

Nah. Just trying to understand and learn more about the leather. It doesn't show anything when the flap is closed. I kinda like the idea of this H having been through adventures before it came to me. Hehe.

Anyway, Doc thanks again for the black polish tip for the scratch. I'm wondering if I should condition the leather... Bad habit that started with Balenciaga chevre. LoL

 

[docride]

Nah. Just trying to understand and learn more about the leather. It doesn't show anything when the flap is closed. I kinda like the idea of this H having been through adventures before it came to me. Hehe.

Anyway, Doc thanks again for the black polish tip for the scratch. I'm wondering if I should condition the leather... Bad habit that started with Balenciaga chevre. LoL

A good cleaning and conditioning would be a great idea it might even help the bumped up spot somewhat. Black clemence is quite easy to work on..