Hermes Vintage Bag Nightmares & Hermes Leather Care

[Jerlyn]

Dear Docride,

I just purchased a Kelly in Courchevel leather and there is a scratch mark at the back of the bag which I believe it's scratched by a sharp object. Any idea if I am able to remove it or cover it?

Would a spa help?

Thanks and looking forward to your reply

 

[docride]

Dear Docride,

I just purchased a Kelly in Courchevel leather and there is a scratch mark at the back of the bag which I believe it's scratched by a sharp object. Any idea if I am able to remove it or cover it?

Would a spa help?

Thanks and looking forward to your reply

High pigment polish will help mask that (I can't tell if your bag is black or dark blue) find black or navy ... would a spa help? Yes.

 

[docride]

Hi, i have just bought a chamonix kelly 32 stamp n from a reseller. And i know that the leather is "fragile". What can i do to protect the leather or are there any advice if i accidentally scratch it? Or when water is accidentally splash on it? Appreciate the advice here.

First off Charmonix and Box Calf are NOT Fragil leathers at all...with proper up keep they'll be looking better in 15-20 years than the so called hardly leathers like togo or clemence.

What color is your bag? There is a lot of information here which gives step by step instructions on how to weather protect Box Calf (same for Charmonix which is simply a matte version of Box Calf).

If your bag gets scratched matching polish will help blend the scratch back into the patina... Additionally Neutral polsih will help protect the leather from weather.

Good luck.

 

[Jerlyn]

High pigment polish will help mask that (I can't tell if your bag is black or dark blue) find black or navy ... would a spa help? Yes.

Hi,

Thanks so much for the advice. it's actually Indigo. Any recommendation for the high pigment polish u mentioned?

Also I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to ask.. I have a canvas mono Gucci purse but the color of leather trimming and handles are fading/peeling off. Now it looks really old and unsightly ( the leather was supposed to be white ) any remedy for that?

Thanks !!

 

[docride]

Hi,

Thanks so much for the advice. it's actually Indigo. Any recommendation for the high pigment polish u mentioned?

Also I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to ask.. I have a canvas mono Gucci purse but the color of leather trimming and handles are fading/peeling off. Now it looks really old and unsightly ( the leather was supposed to be white ) any remedy for that?

Thanks !!

For your indigo Kelly a good high pigment polish would be Lincoln Stain Wax in Blue
Sorry not able to answer your Gucci question here....

 

[Jerlyn]

For your indigo Kelly a good high pigment polish would be Lincoln Stain Wax in Blue
Sorry not able to answer your Gucci question here....

Sure. Thanks!! I will go and source for the polish

 

[dagnypup]

There you go ^^^

Try not to blindly mix the chemicals you have been using together you may be making a toxic soup unknowingly...

Thank you very much!

Yes, I will go ahead and do the Lexol pH and then try the Lincoln stain wax polish and hopefully that will be the end of it! Like I said, I am not looking for perfection. I really like a marbled look on leather with different variations and depths in hue, so hopefully this will give the bag that effect.

I think I am confused about all of the restoration projects that are using the Fiebing's leather dye -- those bags will always need the resoline applied to the top to keep the dye from coming off on the clothing? And then Blackrocks can never be used again on those bags - or just not for a while?

I thought that on one of the boxcalf bags that was redyed to a black (using the Fiebing's professional leather dye) resoline was not used and instead the atom wax was used as a finisher. Did I get this wrong? Does Hermes used an acrylic finish (like the resoline) on their leather after it has been dyed?

Thanks again, Doc. And rest assured, there is no mix of chemicals, I am using a chemical respirator mask and gloves to protect myself, and the work has been done outdoors!!

 

[Love Of My Life]

great suggestions for keeping our H bags looking good...

 

[docride]

Thank you very much!

Yes, I will go ahead and do the Lexol pH and then try the Lincoln stain wax polish and hopefully that will be the end of it! Like I said, I am not looking for perfection. I really like a marbled look on leather with different variations and depths in hue, so hopefully this will give the bag that effect.

I think I am confused about all of the restoration projects that are using the Fiebing's leather dye -- those bags will always need the resoline applied to the top to keep the dye from coming off on the clothing? Or something similar yes. And then Blackrocks can never be used again on those bags in conjunction with other products yes it could be used - or just not for a while?

Whoa..... lots of questions,I really think I could write an entire book just with your questions alone. I don't want to be rude here, but if you can limtit your questions to one instead of an entire grocery list it would be much kinder to me...I am trying to help you, but I don't get paid for this you know?

I am really here to help you ladies with basic leather care and upkeep and assist with minor restorations,not to teach you a new trade OK?

I think starting to learn how to do basic care is the first step rather than taking on a gigantic restoration project that would be challenging to a professional. OK?



I thought that on one of the boxcalf bags that was redyed to a black (using the Fiebing's professional leather dye) resoline was not used and instead the atom wax was used as a finisher. Did I get this wrong?
No you didn't get it wrong,that was what was done but there was some other steps taken to help prevent the dye backing out of the leather,and that bag requires frequent waxing and handbuffing.

You said you were concerned about getting the dye on your hands and clothing and because of that Resolene was the correct answer for you.

Does Hermes used an acrylic finish (like the resoline) on their leather after it has been dyed?
Hermes does not do dying or finishing of the leathers it uses.

Hermes buys it's leathers from the tanneries.

The tanneries make leather from raw hides.

When Finished colored leather is produced at the tanner after vat dying ,the Finish is applied a color overspray is applied and a sealant overspray.

Semi finished leathers and unfinished leathers may only have a light opaque color spray , translucient color spray, clear coat, colored waxy over spray, clear waxy over spray, light oil or nothing at all...respectively.

Thanks again, Doc. And rest assured, there is no mix of chemicals, I am using a chemical respirator mask and gloves to protect myself, and the work has been done outdoors!
Glad to hear that[/QUOTE]

Good luck

 

[dagnypup]

Thank you very much!

Yes, I will go ahead and do the Lexol pH and then try the Lincoln stain wax polish and hopefully that will be the end of it! Like I said, I am not looking for perfection. I really like a marbled look on leather with different variations and depths in hue, so hopefully this will give the bag that effect.

I think I am confused about all of the restoration projects that are using the Fiebing's leather dye -- those bags will always need the resoline applied to the top to keep the dye from coming off on the clothing? Or something similar yes. And then Blackrocks can never be used again on those bags in conjunction with other products yes it could be used - or just not for a while?

Whoa..... lots of questions,I really think I could write an entire book just with your questions alone. I don't want to be rude here, but if you can limtit your questions to one instead of an entire grocery list it would be much kinder to me...I am trying to help you, but I don't get paid for this you know?

I am really here to help you ladies with basic leather care and upkeep and assist with minor restorations,not to teach you a new trade OK?

I think starting to learn how to do basic care is the first step rather than taking on a gigantic restoration project that would be challenging to a professional. OK?



I thought that on one of the boxcalf bags that was redyed to a black (using the Fiebing's professional leather dye) resoline was not used and instead the atom wax was used as a finisher. Did I get this wrong?
No you didn't get it wrong,that was what was done but there was some other steps taken to help prevent the dye backing out of the leather,and that bag requires frequent waxing and handbuffing.

You said you were concerned about getting the dye on your hands and clothing and because of that Resolene was the correct answer for you.

Does Hermes used an acrylic finish (like the resoline) on their leather after it has been dyed?
Hermes does not do dying or finishing of the leathers it uses.

Hermes buys it's leathers from the tanneries.

The tanneries make leather from raw hides.

When Finished colored leather is produced at the tanner after vat dying ,the Finish is applied a color overspray is applied and a sealant overspray.

Semi finished leathers and unfinished leathers may only have a light opaque color spray , translucient color spray, clear coat, colored waxy over spray, clear waxy over spray, light oil or nothing at all...respectively.

Thanks again, Doc. And rest assured, there is no mix of chemicals, I am using a chemical respirator mask and gloves to protect myself, and the work has been done outdoors!
Glad to hear that[/QUOTE]

Good luck

Sorry for the 10,000 questions! I'm curious by nature and have been trained by the "see one, do one, teach one" method.

Once again, I really do appreciate all of the assistance you have given to me and the others on this thread and you are correct: this is for basic leather care and NOT to educate for a whole new profession. My sincere apologies.

And yes -- I do NOT want to get dye on my clothing when I use the bag.

The bag has been Lexol pH'ed and then I will be using the Lincoln stain wax polish. Is there a procedure I can use to prevent it from rubbing off on my clothing -- or is this just something I will have to live with? Do I want to do repeats of thin layers (rubbing it in between layers) or do I put the wax on in several layers before wiping it off?

Thanks again,
Dagny

 

[seepia]

First off Charmonix and Box Calf are NOT Fragil leathers at all...with proper up keep they'll be looking better in 15-20 years than the so called hardly leathers like togo or clemence.

What color is your bag? There is a lot of information here which gives step by step instructions on how to weather protect Box Calf (same for Charmonix which is simply a matte version of Box Calf).

If your bag gets scratched matching polish will help blend the scratch back into the patina... Additionally Neutral polsih will help protect the leather from weather.

Good luck.

Its a chocolate Chamonix. what brand polish should i get f i happened to scratch it and how do i apply it? how about the neutral polish for the rainy days? appreciate your advice here.

 

[docride]

Sorry for the 10,000 questions! I'm curious by nature and have been trained by the "see one, do one, teach one" method. I am very familar with that method as well ; but the problem lies in that while you can read about how to do something it's not the same as see one do one....

Once again, I really do appreciate all of the assistance you have given to me and the others on this thread and you are correct: this is for basic leather care and NOT to educate for a whole new profession. My sincere apologies.

And yes -- I do NOT want to get dye on my clothing when I use the bag.

The bag has been Lexol pH'ed and then I will be using the Lincoln stain wax polish. Is there a procedure I can use to prevent it from rubbing off on my clothing -- or is this just something I will have to live with? Do I want to do repeats of thin layers (rubbing it in between layers) or do I put the wax on in several layers before wiping it off? I'll post a how to polish lke a pro tomorrow...with some photos

Thanks again,
Dagny

All the best ^^^^ Answers above

 

[docride]

Its a chocolate Chamonix. what brand polish should i get f i happened to scratch it and how do i apply it? how about the neutral polish for the rainy days? appreciate your advice here.

A good brown polish should do .. Meltonian, Griffen,Woly, Kiwi, Lincoln etc... .I'll be posting a how to polish like a pro with photos tomorrow..it should help.
I like a round or two of Blackrock Leather n Rich and then a neutral polish to protect Box calf and Charmonix from weather...

 

[docride]

How to polish your bag like a pro...

1) Open all straps and buckles ...slide parts straps through any keepers so they are loose and hanging from their insertion point if possible,remove any removable parts and set aside.

2) Take a piece of cut soft lint free cotton or old Tee shirt material and wrap your first two fingers as shown in the photos

3) Apply an amount of polish to your applicator cloth...

4) Using a medium pressure and a 5 cm circular motion work polish into your bag's leather

5) Work in small sections of say 8 cm squares before moving on to another section

6) Remember to apply extra pigmented polish on worn areas and work pigmented polish into areas of color loss and scratches

7) When you have completed all the panels allow the bag to rest for about 5 mins or untill the bag looked evenly dull

8) Next use your soft horse hair brush and working on one panel at a time with quick light pressure strokes working a scetion at a time remove excess polish and begind to bring up your shine.

 

[docride]

9) When your bag has been brushed well with the soft horse hair brush you can move on to a polishing cloth or fresh lint free cloth ,use brisk medium pressure back and forth motions to even out and smooth the polish and bring up the shine



10) you can sprinkle a few drop of ice water and use a shine brush or polishing cloth to get the super high shine and seal your polish even more...

11) Use a fresh polishing cloth, continue to buff until your cloth is coming up clean,this means it shoud be stabil.

12) re-assemble your bag, if your bag is shining and beautiful ... give your self a pat on the back, Congratulations you have made an "A" in this class!

ENJOY Your beautiful bag!