I have a belt in veau Madame. I love how scratch resistant it is and still looks very refined. (I can’t find any adjectives to describe my lovely belt!)
Madame Calfskin Leather
- Thread starter romily
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Unfortunately, Madame has not worked out for me. 
My B30 sellier is in Veau Madame and I’ve only worn it twice to go to the mall for a short period of time. I just noticed a 1/2 inch scratch where the top grain of the leather looks like it has lifted just a slight bit. Any idea how I can fix this?
My B30 sellier is in Veau Madame and I’ve only worn it twice to go to the mall for a short period of time. I just noticed a 1/2 inch scratch where the top grain of the leather looks like it has lifted just a slight bit. Any idea how I can fix this?Attachments
Unfortunately, any scratches on Epsom-like leather (including Madame) will show up most clearly on dark colours. SA's typical reply will be to just enjoy the bag & not get too paranoid about it, then send for spa later. But TBH, I am not sure if the spa can treat the scratches on leathers like Box/Tadelakt/Madame/Epsom unlike Swift leather which can rub off light scratches and heal by itself.Unfortunately, Madame has not worked out for me.
I have no knowledge on box or tadelakt, but Epsom is supposedly pretty scratch resistant, right? Like, it would take some effort to make a scratch in Epsom leather?
I have both and I come across women who actually look down on my Birkin Sellier Epsom saying that “their Veau Madam is wayyy more expensive” and blah blah blah. It’s actually not that much more expensive in my opinion, especially when speaking of Birkins. To me, my different leathers are choices. I select according to size and if the bag will become my work horse everyday stuff everything including kitchen sink, throw it around in the car and soccer mom bag and or if it will be one of those only in perfect weather, no rain and have to worry about scratches outing. In my opinion they aren’t that different except VM is softer and less grainy if that makes sense. I have found it to be less scratch resistant than Epsom. I am sorry you have a scratch on it only on your second outing. The first scratch is always the hardest pill to swallow. Believe me, I feel your pain. My suggestion would be to see if your SA can rub a little of the magic they have in store (in their secret stash) without having to send it in for a spa day. I have found that a teeny tiny ..Tiny and I mean TINY dab of mink oil usually does the trick on VM. I would only try that after you speak with your SA and only if you feel comfortable with that. I would put a tiny dab on my finger and gently run your finger ON TOP on the VM leather as if a gliding motion barely touching it and see if that works. The difference between the two leathers is that Epsom is a processed male calfskin leather known for its fine press. It is embossed into a natural looking pattern boasting fine grain and a lovely sheen. The process creates a rigid leather that allows products to hold its shape over time, especially in larger bags. Epsom is definitely not a soft leather, but rather a lightweight, durable one that is easy to care for and resistant to water and scratches. A simple swipe using a damp cloth is usually sufficient for a quick clean and I would suggest trying this method before the mink oil. Veau madame calfskin's appearance is similar to Epsom although the embossed grain is finer and less pronounced while being softer to the touch and in my opinion not as water and scratch resistant like Epsom. Hope that helps. Please keep us posted. @jennyy
The corner wear & tear for Epsom leather will show up over time & is more pronounced & less easier to restore, I feel. But overall, it is a light & scratch resistant leather. However, many don't like the "plasticky" feel of Epsom leather.
I have an Epsom Birkin Retourne that is about 20 years old and the corners are still in perfect condition and I used that to the office for 7 years straight. Even in the rain, I did dry it as soon as possible though. Over the years the leather became softer and I have been asked if it was a Barenia or Chèvre Mysore and almost everyone asked to see the stamp code on it because they couldn’t believe it is two decades old. My SA still can’t believe it’s condition. I have newer bags in other leathers that look older than it But sizing and color play a huge part in that, in my opinion. It looses its “plasticky” feel over the years. My SA had sent us these screenshots of the different leathers when my daughter was selecting her first bag. @jennyy
May I know the colour of your Epsom Birkin? Probably you are a careful user or H quality standards have declined over the years as compared to the past cos there have been negative feedback from many forums
I scratched my Rose Azalee K25 at the handle after the second use and the handle had to be replaced because they couldn't fix the scratch. I also have a Rose Jaipur Epsom Kelly from 2016 and i feel the leather on this one is more durable than on my RA Kelly.
Unfortunately, Madame has not worked out for me.
I forgot I had posted this comment! Here's an update! I still don't know how the scratch got there, but I found a couple comments from other threads about fat from the leather rising up to the top and taking a hair blow dryer to melt the fat back into the leather. So I figured I'd give it a try and it worked! The scratch went away!
Also, speaking of price for VM, I paid $13,300 for a b30 sellier back in September 2020. So it's more expensive, but not exorbitantly so.
Mine is “Gold” color... their tan/beige/ natural color. I hate to admit that the bags my family and I have bought 15-20 years ago, all seem to be made to last forever, I won’t say their standards declined but I can tell a huge difference. Same thing with the canvas monogrammed bags from Louis Vuitton, the newer ones seem so much thinner in my opinion and the ones from decades past are heavier and much thicker canvas. Even my SA agreed. Ditto for Chanel’s double flap bags from decades past and their Hardware (Chanel’s) has definitely changed. The chain on my 10+ year flap bag is way heavier and I mean way heavier than the one I got 2-3 years ago.
Also on my Epsom I am not a “careful user” those are my work horses for daily commutes or travel ( pre COVID) I am much much more careful with Box or VM or any of the softer leathers of course. I wish they would bring back the Courchevel leather, that was dang near rain and scratch proof. A true workhorse. If you google Courchevel Birkins on the net and do a side by side comparison you can tell why it was a fan favorite among the ladies that like to carry bigger bags. They blew my mind when they got rid of that leather and I still pray they bring it back But they replaced it with Epsom, which I am extremely happy with.
Hi I just receive a text from my SA to offering me a B25 black retourne phw in veau madame.
Kindly share feedback on your kelly. In terms of scuffing, weight, structure and etc thanks in advance ❤️❤️ your bag is TDF
Hi dear, I have used the bag for less than 5 times. As I am careful user, I don't have scuffing issues so far.
Thanks for your kind reply. Since I foresee I not be having many Birkin in my collection (i can't afford to own a few) I decided to turn down the offer and informed my SA I will wait for another combo in the next shipment. Hope my bagfairy will grant me the right bag soon ❤️