Rejuventating, Repairing or Restoring Your Balenciaga

[muchstuff]

I always procrastinate when there's a risk I'll destroy something, in this case my bags. I now have the Collonil Leather cream and the Carbon Pro (thanks ManilaMama). There's nothing really keeping me from getting started with the cream but I'm telling myself I'm waiting for the Angelus Acrylic paint

I am the queen of procrastination, I'm supposed to be watering the yard / bathing the dog / cleaning the bathrooms / grocery shopping right now...

 

[peacebabe]

Hey SGCW, yes, please update after you try it! TIA

I always procrastinate when there's a risk I'll destroy something, in this case my bags. I now have the Collonil Leather cream and the Carbon Pro (thanks ManilaMama). There's nothing really keeping me from getting started with the cream but I'm telling myself I'm waiting for the Angelus Acrylic paint

 

[OhHelloDoll]

I received my fist Balenciaga a few weeks ago and have been in love with it, as I've wanted one for well over 10 years (crazy I waited this long). It's pre loved and was told by an authenticatior it's a 2007.

The leather is durable, wrinkly and lovely to look at, but I do notice it's a bit dry, especially on the sides. I used some Coach leather moisturizer, because that's what I had at home, and it sucked that right up but feels the same. I'm not worried about the leather cracking, it's not in bad shape, it's more about the feeling of it.

Given the age of the bag, is this just normal and I should just love it and move on? Or should I try one of the other brands I've read about here? I've never even seen another Bal bag in person prior to me buying this so I'd love to hear any thoughts!

 

[SomethingGoodCanWork]

I've got all the creams etc needed but not the motivation to get started on my bags and slg in a big way. I used the leather cream from Collonil on my Classic Bal cardholder and it looks fine, not a lot of difference as it's still like new. I did probably leave the cream on too long because I was gluing tassels at the same time, so there were a few whitish tiny spots but with a bit of effort I was able to polish them in to the leather. It says to leave it on for 20 min. and then polish and one should probably follow that advice And do one thing with one bag/slg at a time I'm going to put some acrylic on the corners of the cardholder and then spray it with the Colonil Carbon Pro. Next up is my black Bal coin purse.

I've used rubber cement to glue together some tassels and they look fine, the glue is really good and keeps the tassels soft and "flowy". The 2006 m-u bag looks much better with the tassels glued together again, I think. I'm not going to use anything else on this one as I'm planning on selling it. The tassels were quite easy to glue btw.

 

[chowlover2]

View attachment 4124756 I received my fist Balenciaga a few weeks ago and have been in love with it, as I've wanted one for well over 10 years (crazy I waited this long). It's pre loved and was told by an authenticatior it's a 2007.

The leather is durable, wrinkly and lovely to look at, but I do notice it's a bit dry, especially on the sides. I used some Coach leather moisturizer, because that's what I had at home, and it sucked that right up but feels the same. I'm not worried about the leather cracking, it's not in bad shape, it's more about the feeling of it.

Given the age of the bag, is this just normal and I should just love it and move on? Or should I try one of the other brands I've read about here? I've never even seen another Bal bag in person prior to me buying this so I'd love to hear any thoughts!

Don't give up and move on, there's an easy fix. First off, if she is really dry get a bottle of Leather Honey ( dark only ) You apply and let sit 24 hrs and it makes such a difference. the 2007 leather is my fav ( along with 2005 ) If she is really dry, which I doubt you can apply another coat, but I doubt it. The color lightens when it becomes dry. I also use a Leather restorer, but I have to get the bottle out for the exact name. I have a black Bal that was grey when i got her. 2 treatments of Leather Honey and she was a black beauty again!

 

[OhHelloDoll]

Don't give up and move on, there's an easy fix. First off, if she is really dry get a bottle of Leather Honey ( dark only ) You apply and let sit 24 hrs and it makes such a difference. the 2007 leather is my fav ( along with 2005 ) If she is really dry, which I doubt you can apply another coat, but I doubt it. The color lightens when it becomes dry. I also use a Leather restorer, but I have to get the bottle out for the exact name. I have a black Bal that was grey when i got her. 2 treatments of Leather Honey and she was a black beauty again!

Thank you for this! I will look more into the product. I just didn’t know if I was being too picky about the feel, but the leather in the front pocket is so much softer than the rest of the bag. I had a hunch that maybe I could improve it.

I will say I am pleasantly surprised at how durable the leather feels, as I’ve read some comments about Bals being delicate.

 

[eyeonprize]

I want to remove my Balenciaga's laces on handles. Any advice on how to unscrew the rivets? Omg it just keeps turning the same direction of the screw when I move it...

Need tips for effective tools!! TIA!

 

[muchstuff]

I want to remove my Balenciaga's laces on handles. Any advice on how to unscrew the rivets? Omg it just keeps turning the same direction of the screw when I move it...

Need tips for effective tools!! TIA!

That's because you need to hold the stud still while you unscrew the rivet, right now they're both just turning in the same direction because there's no resistance. Gently hold the stud with something like a pair of pliers (or you could try your fingers first) while you turn the rivet in a counter-clockwise direction (most screws undo in that direction).

 

[OhHelloDoll]

I just wanted to give an update on my dry pre loved 2007 City. After doing some research on Leather Honey that was suggested I was too scared to go that route first because I saw some examples that darkened the leather. So I looked into Apple instead and that seemed more gentle.

I ordered a small kit off amazon and applied it to my bag with last night. I don’t think it looks much different color wise (yay) but it does seem to have a new “glow” and the leather is much softer. The sides no longer have a paper like feeling to it.

Success! It worked a heck of a lot better than the Coach stuff I tried at first.

 

[Mi931]

Hello ladies.
I’ve gotten myself a bal baby, I intend to send for cleaning, just a check usually for maintaining, what do you guys use in particular? I’ve always seen like leather material wipes, is that alone good enough?

Anything... anyone knows how to tie the mirror onto the bag with the nice zigzag(??) or rather braid? Sorry Super bad with the terms haha. I’ve remove the mirror and tassle from the bag, thinking if I should do a nice braid on it.

 

[A1aGypsy]

My silver hardware is wearing to a copper colour. Has anyone had any luck or brilliant ideas for how to deal with this? I’ve tried metallic pens, nail polish and car paint. They all just rub off.

TIA for any suggestions!

 

[muchstuff]

My silver hardware is wearing to a copper colour. Has anyone had any luck or brilliant ideas for how to deal with this? I’ve tried metallic pens, nail polish and car paint. They all just rub off.

TIA for any suggestions!

Have it re-plated at a jewellers? Don't know if its possible or not...

 

[muchstuff]

I've been experimenting with a product I've found by Hussard, called "detacheur cuirs textiles" in an effort to try to clean darkened handles. I've had some success after two applications (its a spray-on powder that you allow to dry for a couple of hours before brushing off). It's partner product, 'Terre de sommieres" is apparently for fresher oil/grease marks, I haven't tried it yet but old threads suggest it may help. The powder does get stuck in the whipstitch but a soft nail brush takes it out.
So, I hope you can see the difference, I did one half of one handle on a couple of 05 bags, a chocolate and an olive. I do think that more applications will help. Aside from a lightening of colour the part of the handle where the product was applied FEELS cleaner, it seems to help with that somewhat sticky feeling darkened handles can have. More success feeling clean-wise with the choc than the olive, but I may have used three coats of spray on that one, I can't remember. See pics:

Olive cleaned

Olive not cleaned

Chocolate cleaned

Chocolate not cleaned

 

[SomethingGoodCanWork]

That's a huge difference

 

[muchstuff]

That's a huge difference

Still think there's room for improvement though. When I have time I'll play with both products a bit more...