msP, you have very sharp eyes! you were absolutely spot-on in guessing that it is a large ebano veneta! (it's a single handle, so it's not the campana; nor the flat handle style of the sloane or pyramid or ball)
I have to confess that this was abit of an impulsive decision to suddenly buy a dark coloured bag, as i've actually been hunting down an Ottone Sloane to use this Summer. (All sold out in Hong Kong, so i put my name on the list)
-BUT there have been rumours of an upcoming BV price increase.
-the Euro has been getting stronger and stronger against US Dollars (the HK dollar is pegged to the US dollar, so increasing the cost to the local BV)
- there was no price increase in 2007
- if there's a price increase on 1 June, i will kick myself for not having bought a bag before the increase
- an ebano veneta is a "no regrets" purchase
and finally, i had to go to BV anyway, to pick up another bag from conditioning. so one thing led to another.