First…I’m so excited for you! I had been patiently waiting for the Gabrielle Clutch to become available in black with gold hardware so when my local boutique got some in, I jumped at the chance to snag one. I am confident that you will love the bag no matter which color combination you select. It is such a usable size while still being subtle and elegant.
I’m not sure I can offer much help selecting a color since that is so personal but I’ll throw in my two cents. First, I’m also in my forties as well and own a bunch of different bags with silver hardware (and gold). I think some bags and some colors simply look better with silver hardware. I also wear silver, white gold or platinum jewelry fairly often so silver hardware is often the best choice. I definitely don’t think I have out-aged of silver hardware and I don’t think I ever will. Sure, it might be a little more contemporary, or maybe a little more casual, but i think people of all ages can pull off silver with ease.
As for the potential overlap with your black/gold Chanel bags…I have a few vintage and a current classic flap in black/gold and they are so different from the clutch. First, the Chanel bags are so recognizable whereas the Moynat tends to fly below the radar. There are definitely times when I want to carry a below the radar bag, especially lately, so the Moynat fits that bill perfectly. Plus, the polished gold, leather-threaded strap on Chanels offers such a different look from the sleek and subtle Gabrielle Clutch (with or without the strap). The colors may be similar, but the vibe is so different. There are definitely occasions for each.
As for the touterelle, I don’t have a tourterelle Moynat (yet!…it’s on my list!) but I think it’s a very easy color to match. For what it’s worth, I have the Chanel timeless clutch in both black and beige clair and I wear them equally. And I would argue the tourterelle is a much more user friendly tone than the beige clair. (Both of my Chanel timeless clutches have silver hardware, by the way).
So, in a nutshell…I’m no help! I really mean it when I say I do not think you can go wrong. Maybe think about the last 5 or 6 times you grabbed one of your Chanel’s…would the Moynat have been a better option any of those times? If so, which color? Which hardware? I will never forget a Barney’s salesperson once talked me out of buying a black bag from him, presumably losing his commission. I was impressed and his approach stuck with me. He noticed I happened to be carrying a black Delvaux bag and he asked if there were ever a time when I could see myself choosing to carry the new black bag over the black Delvaux (he happened to really love the Delvaux). After thinking about it, my answer was “no” so I passed on the new bag. I try to use this approach whenever I am considering a new purchase. It has really helped me whittle down options and select the proper color, ultimately filling holes in my closet instead of adding redundancies time and time again.
Best of luck! Please report back with an update on which bag you chose. Such fun!