Louis Vuitton Vachetta - Is it now treated?

[Claireb5]

Hi

I've just ordered the Speedy B 30 in monogram. I have an older LV bag with vachetta and it was completely untreated and led to a lovely patina. I've heard the odd person saying that sometimes the vachetta handles are now being treated especially on the speedy? Can anyone help explain this? I even watched one review where the bag seemed to have one treated handle and one normal (untreated) handle which resulted in one handle looking a completely different colour to the rest of the vachetta, when the rest of the bag developed a lovely patina. I know LV quality is so so bad now compared to years ago with so many quality concerns and I'm sure that LV would now not replace a bag that had this quality issue so I am really worried about my new bag and wondered how to identify the "treated" leather handles so that I can return it if I get one of those bags.

Does anyone have any info?

Many thanks guys

 

[karylicious]

And if the vachetta is treated, should we still treat it..?

 

[BULL]

Louis Vuitton does pre-tan VVN leather on some of their newer models. They are getting better, so in most cases it is clearly stated on their website. The product pages say "aged natural cowhide". It is also quite easy to see from the product photos.

There is 0% chance that anyone bough a bag from them that had a treated and also an untreated handle. Unrealistic, and since these bags are assembled on a line like a car, it is unlikely that on 'Speedy day' they had any treated handles on the floor. Also even Zara quality control would spot something like this.

On the other hand it is true that natural untreated cowhide doesn't tan evenly. Even a single hide can behave a little differently in the center on on the edges, but if they use skin from different cows on a single bag (which is true in most cases), the parts can age at different speeds. But it is natural, it it not a defect, and it is rarely so apparent that it would bother anyone. So I wouldn't worry about this at all.