The Bbag Chat Room

[Loulou2015]

hi everyone!I'm new here and i desperately need your opinion.should i get a preowned black balenciaga part time or a bnew neverfull mm in mono as my first splurge?im really torn.thank you!

Thats a hard one! Did you already decide?
short answer, someone else said this here, but get the one you Love (if you know).

long answer:
They seem quite different to me. I sound like a broken record, but depends on your style (I am still a newbie too of sorts)...and priorities and what other bags you have...if you love the monogram then it always thrilling to get a brand new bag and it seems that style is very practical--I actually think the monogram is pretty and based on interesting designs, but I don't feel comfortable with labels, so I wouldn't get the Neverfull in monogram--plus while I see some stylish looking young women with the NF (one with a damier ebene that looked cute) that style seems a bit matronly--not that matronly is a bad thing, but matronly in an uninteresting way--I actually find like the retro St. Jacques sort of cute, but I have odd tastes oftentimes. (I did get a Kusama LV which I love, but it obliterates the monogram). A black Bal PT was my first Bal moto bag and I LOVED/LOVE it, it was very thrilling to get also as they are so unique and different from anything you've ever experienced, but it isn't quite as practical, but it totally got me hooked, and I have not stopped getting Bal bags as they are incredible!! I don't think you will regret either one, and you can always sell either one easily, but it depends if you feel more comfortable with an edgier bag or a more recognized respected practical bag? I Vote Bal PT due to my bias, without knowing your preferences/lifestyle-- the part time is a little heavier and a little thicker leather more durable than some other Bal models--you can't overstuff it, but they will work and last a long time too, but look more nicely aged broken in, while of course the LVs are workhorses from what I have read...but then you are in a Balenciaga forum so maybe not surprising if there is a bias here, hehe, if you ask in the LV forum...

 

[tornLVandBB]

now decided,i'll get both in preowned.☺️
can't really decide.haha.thank you guys!

 

[Mendezhm]

Ok Bal lovers. I need help deciding which black city to keep. I found them both within like a week of each other, and once I received them, the 06 was a little more worn than I anticipated so I sent her off to get a spa treatment at LMB. She came back today, and looks amazing! The 04 is definitely smoother and thicker than the 06. But the 06 is more wrinkly and distressed. They both have their own personality, but unfortunately it doesn't make sense for me to keep them both financially. So, what do y'all think? Which one is better?

04 on the left and the 06 on the right

 

[Kloey123]

Ok Bal lovers. I need help deciding which black city to keep. I found them both within like a week of each other, and once I received them, the 06 was a little more worn than I anticipated so I sent her off to get a spa treatment at LMB. She came back today, and looks amazing! The 04 is definitely smoother and thicker than the 06. But the 06 is more wrinkly and distressed. They both have their own personality, but unfortunately it doesn't make sense for me to keep them both financially. So, what do y'all think? Which one is better?

04 on the left and the 06 on the right
View attachment 3138953View attachment 3138954

I like the 06 better

 

[Conni618]

Yikes! Of course these are both beautiful soulful bags.

This happened to me with 05 Dolma Cities. I was so excited to see a second one in perfect condition pop up that I grabbed it thinking, I'd just choose the one I wanted to keep and quickly sell the other.

Same problem you are having. They were completely different. And I loved both of them. I tried tossing a coin to see which result would be disappointing, and BOTH were!

I finally put both up on eBay as BINs, with the explanation that as soon as one sold, I'd be taking the other down. Turned out the more pristine of the two sold first, and I immediately took down the other.

I was actually very relieved to have handed off the decision, and perfectly happy with the bag fate kept for me.

 

[Mendezhm]

I like the 06 better

Thanks for your vote! [emoji7]

Yikes! Of course these are both beautiful soulful bags.

This happened to me with 05 Dolma Cities. I was so excited to see a second one in perfect condition pop up that I grabbed it thinking, I'd just choose the one I wanted to keep and quickly sell the other.

Same problem you are having. They were completely different. And I loved both of them. I tried tossing a coin to see which result would be disappointing, and BOTH were!

I finally put both up on eBay as BINs, with the explanation that as soon as one sold, I'd be taking the other down. Turned out the more pristine of the two sold first, and I immediately took down the other.

I was actually very relieved to have handed off the decision, and perfectly happy with the bag fate kept for me.

That's such a great idea! I might have to do the same thing! I'm literally agonizing over this decision. I've already used the 04 a few times and fell in love! Maybe I will use the 06 a few times too to see how she feels. Ugh. [emoji16]

 

[Catash]

Such a hard decision! I like the '06 slightly more. It reminds me of my '07 Mogano!

 

[maddie66]

Another vote for the 06 - just has so much character!

 

[s.tighe]

Ok Bal lovers. I need help deciding which black city to keep. I found them both within like a week of each other, and once I received them, the 06 was a little more worn than I anticipated so I sent her off to get a spa treatment at LMB. She came back today, and looks amazing! The 04 is definitely smoother and thicker than the 06. But the 06 is more wrinkly and distressed. They both have their own personality, but unfortunately it doesn't make sense for me to keep them both financially. So, what do y'all think? Which one is better?

OhhhhHHH sister, I've been there! Except mine were f/w '05 and f/w '11. I had this hangup about the '05 being the better one because of it's vintage, but when I held them side by side I truly loved the distressing of the leather of the '11 better. The '11 was heavier, had thicker leather and it was my first Bal and a gift from my husband. Even though the '11 wasn't nearly as mint as the '05 by the time I had them both, all things weighed in its favor. I sold the '05 in about a nanosecond. It was a beauty (pic below).

Your situation doesn't sound so straightforward! What is your priority? Mine is ALWAYS condition. The situation above is probably the only time I'd keep a less mint bag because of sentimental reasons. If the condition is comparable, then I'd ask myself the following:

1. which one makes you feel better when you carry it, and why? Do you melt when you look at one more than the other? Does it give you singular satisfaction that you're carrying a rare and sought after oldie... get to the core of what floats your boat!

2. Do you have a preference for the more matte but buttery smooth leather, or the glossier distressing? Which one excites you when you look at it or hold it.

3. Is there a financial consideration? Which one did you invest more in, or which one could you recoup more of your investment from? You could unload the '04 in a nanosecond, but there was no particular mystique about '06 black leather. The '04 is unquestionably more sought after by collectors, while to general shoppers, there are dozens of black Bals of all different vintages and conditions to choose from.

4. Imagine you've kept one and let go of the other. Do you anticipate more regret for letting go of one or the other?

5. If these were your best friend's bags, which would you vote for?

Me? *from the photos* I prefer the 06 a little better, but that's from looking at photos, not holding the bags, which means so, so much.

Ugh. I'm afraid I haven't been any help at all. The upside: YOU CANNOT GO WRONG!!

Good luck and keep us posted! Sorry for the NOVELLA of a response!

 

[Loulou2015]

Wow! I have to use my tiny phone right now so the pics are small but both are obviously gems! Of course go with the one you love the most and yes give them each a chance. If the 04 is in good shape now I would keep the 04, as its so hard to find and it looks gorgeous and it being thick IF you love the leather and its soft or yummy. But if you aren't feeling it don't keep it just cuz its more rare. I also like bags in very good condition...so that for me factors in on the satisfaction level. Yes either way you can't lose as they are both winners!!

 

[casseyelsie]

06 gets another vote [emoji4]

 

[dolali]

From your pictures, the leather on 06 looks incredibly yummy! It seems to have a bit more texture and depth, and for me a bit more of "personality", if that makes sense.

I know this is probably pretty lame for some.....ok....maybe it is super lame for the majority of people, BUT some bags make my heart skip a beat when I look at them, and when I carry them. I will keep the one that makes your heart skip a beat.

When I looked at your pics, 06 had that effect on me

 

[Sssy]

Ok Bal lovers. I need help deciding which black city to keep. I found them both within like a week of each other, and once I received them, the 06 was a little more worn than I anticipated so I sent her off to get a spa treatment at LMB. She came back today, and looks amazing! The 04 is definitely smoother and thicker than the 06. But the 06 is more wrinkly and distressed. They both have their own personality, but unfortunately it doesn't make sense for me to keep them both financially. So, what do y'all think? Which one is better?

04 on the left and the 06 on the right
View attachment 3138953View attachment 3138954

Defiitely I would keep the 2006 bag But I'm a big fan of 2006 year so ...
I had 2 black bags- 2005 and 2006. 2005 has gone to a lovely lady and I keep my 2006.
Maybe use both for a few days and it will help with your decision. Whichever you decide you can't go wrong with either of them

 

[s.tighe]

From your pictures, the leather on 06 looks incredibly yummy! It seems to have a bit more texture and depth, and for me a bit more of "personality", if that makes sense.

I know this is probably pretty lame for some.....ok....maybe it is super lame for the majority of people, BUT some bags make my heart skip a beat when I look at them, and when I carry them. I will keep the one that makes your heart skip a beat.

When I looked at your pics, 06 had that effect on me

It's not lame at all!! It's the very unscientific method I have for determining whether I'll keep a bag or not. If it doesn't have that effect on me, I let it go, regardless of what year it is or how coveted or how rare, etc. The only bag I've kept that doesn't excite me when I look at it is my '13 black Day, and it is my appointed "basher Bal." And still, I love the style so much that in spite of the crap-tastic leather, I STILL look at it and go, "DAMN I love that bag!!"

 

[s.tighe]

Defiitely I would keep the 2006 bag But I'm a big fan of 2006 year so ...
I had 2 black bags- 2005 and 2006. 2005 has gone to a lovely lady and I keep my 2006.
Maybe use both for a few days and it will help with your decision. Whichever you decide you can't go wrong with either of them

Sssy, this is so intriguing to me!! Why are you a fan of 2006? I haven't had the best experience with 06, to the point I've almost sworn off looking at anything from that year. Can you tell me more about why you love it? I'm super curious. Was it the leather? The colors? TIA!