The GST Club

[BigAkoya]

I just took some more shots of the rings, and i dont see any engraving whatsoever.

View attachment 4979986View attachment 4979987

There should be engraving on the grommet otherwise the bag is a fake. Chanel engraved the grommets as a step to help slow down all the fakes (it was a hot bag in its hey day!). The logo is embossed, not stitched, so the bag is post 2010, hence the grommet should be engraved.

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

The older style has a plain grommet and the logo is a separate piece of fabric stitched on top. The new version, around 2010, has the grommets with the Chanel etching and an embossed logo. Chanel made the change as so many GST were faked. This style was a best selling tote, so yes, many fakes.

If I were buying second hand, I would only buy the new version as it looks fresher to me. That’s just me.

Good luck.

Thank you.
Do you have a close up photo of the grommets with the Chanel etching and an embossed logo so I can search for this?

Finding a GST seems impossible right now, especially in the UK. I'm losing patience. I thought they would be easy to get one with the trend towards mini handbags.

 

[BigAkoya]

Thank you.
Do you have a close up photo of the grommets with the Chanel etching and an embossed logo so I can search for this?

Finding a GST seems impossible right now, especially in the UK. I'm losing patience. I thought they would be easy to get one with the trend towards mini handbags.

Hi! I am a huge fan of GSTs and have 6 of them. Best bag ever! I hope you can find one.
Here are some photos. You can see the grommet is engraved with Chanel and Rue Cambon. I also took a photo of my Medallion so you can see the “stitched on” logo. It is a separate piece of leather. The older (pre-2010) GSTs have a stitched logo and no engraving.

The newer GSTs have an engraved grommet and embossed logo like the GST in my photo. Here are some photos.

I hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Onesy]

Here is my preloved tan/beige caviar GST, pre 2010 i think, bought private in Norway, its a bit saggy tho, i have it hanging in closet, anything i can do to get the saggy bottom away? Inserts? There are 2 big compartments in it

 

[BigAkoya]

Here is my preloved tan/beige caviar GST, pre 2010 i think, bought private in Norway, its a bit saggy tho, i have it hanging in closet, anything i can do to get the saggy bottom away? Inserts? There are 2 big compartments in itView attachment 4983620View attachment 4983623

Hi! Yes, your bag is pre-2010 (you can tell by the grommets and the stitched on CC).
As for sagging, I had a couple that started to sag as well and sent them to a leather repair shop that specializes in Chanel/Hermes bags. They redid the bag and it looks great. My bag stands up tall now.
I live in the US, and here is a link to the company I used: Santana Leather Care | Fine Leather Repair & Restoration Specialists

They do Chanel repairs for Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman here in the US, so they are excellent.
You may want to find a similar leather repair company.

As FYI... this is my theory on why the bags sag. It's because the inside outer edge pockets get overstuffed. My GSTs sagged at the back, not the front. I kept analyzing what was causing the sag, and one day, I realized it was because I put heavy stuff in the inside back pocket. I put keys, multiple lipsticks, etc. Then, I did a test and put my fist in there and pushed down. Sure enough, I could see how the bag began to pull down. That's my theory. Of course, you cannot live life babying bags, bags are meant to be enjoyed. I still put keys and lipstick in the inside back pocket.

After having sent in two bags to get "straightened up" (almost too straight), I have not done it to my other GSTs (I have 6). I like the slight slouch and feel it's a bit more chic to wear a well-loved bag.

I hope that helps and congratulations on your new GST. This is my favorite style of all time!

 

[Onesy]

Hi! Yes, your bag is pre-2010 (you can tell by the grommets and the stitched on CC).
As for sagging, I had a couple that started to sag as well and sent them to a leather repair shop that specializes in Chanel/Hermes bags. They redid the bag and it looks great. My bag stands up tall now.
I live in the US, and here is a link to the company I used: Santana Leather Care | Fine Leather Repair & Restoration Specialists

They do Chanel repairs for Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman here in the US, so they are excellent.
You may want to find a similar leather repair company.

As FYI... this is my theory on why the bags sag. It's because the inside outer edge pockets get overstuffed. My GSTs sagged at the back, not the front. I kept analyzing what was causing the sag, and one day, I realized it was because I put heavy stuff in the inside back pocket. I put keys, multiple lipsticks, etc. Then, I did a test and put my fist in there and pushed down. Sure enough, I could see how the bag began to pull down. That's my theory. Of course, you cannot live life babying bags, bags are meant to be enjoyed. I still put keys and lipstick in the inside back pocket.

After having sent in two bags to get "straightened up" (almost too straight), I have not done it to my other GSTs (I have 6). I like the slight slouch and feel it's a bit more chic to wear a well-loved bag.

I hope that helps and congratulations on your new GST. This is my favorite style of all time!

i sent it to a leather shop in oslo (i live in norway btw), he did some polish on the outside, it still has some black colouring on the back, he was not a specialist in chanel bags, so he was afraid of not doing it right, anything i can use on the back? also have 2 minor red penstripes in the bag, thoughts on that? thanks for great reply btw

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

Hi! I am a huge fan of GSTs and have 6 of them. Best bag ever! I hope you can find one.
Here are some photos. You can see the grommet is engraved with Chanel and Rue Cambon. I also took a photo of my Medallion so you can see the “stitched on” logo. It is a separate piece of leather. The older (pre-2010) GSTs have a stitched logo and no engraving.

The newer GSTs have an engraved grommet and embossed logo like the GST in my photo. Here are some photos.

I hope this helps and good luck.

Can I ask for a favour? I found this that looks like it could be real, but wasn't sure. What do you think? I know I need to get it authenticated.

Chanel GOLD HARDWARE GST TOTE | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Chanel GOLD HARDWARE GST TOTE at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Aoifs]

Can I ask for a favour? I found this that looks like it could be real, but wasn't sure. What do you think? I know I need to get it authenticated.

Chanel GOLD HARDWARE GST TOTE | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Chanel GOLD HARDWARE GST TOTE at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

I'd suggest asking for better photos. Some are blurry and an authenticator will have a hard time making an assessment.

 

[BigAkoya]

Can I ask for a favour? I found this that looks like it could be real, but wasn't sure. What do you think? I know I need to get it authenticated.

Chanel GOLD HARDWARE GST TOTE | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Chanel GOLD HARDWARE GST TOTE at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

I would agree to ask for more photos and also more details on this bag. I would ask:
- For photos, I would ask to see the inside of the bag, the serial number (she can hide the last several digits), the label on the box/tags if she has them (in France, they take all the tag though, but I forget what they do in the UK as it's been a while since I was there). I would also ask for a photo of the inside back zipper pocket.
- When was this bag purchased (the seller should not hide this), does she have the receipt (she can hide any personal info)
- A photo of the authentication card. Knowing the serial number will also help you figure out roughly the year the bag was made

From the photos, I don't see anything suspicious about this bag, so if it's real, it would be an amazing find. It is a bit odd how this bag is brand new as the GST was discontinued over 6 years ago, around 2015 as I recall. It could be person who bought it and didn't like it. I think I also see the plastic protectors still on the grommet, but not on the zipper pull.

I would definitely ask all those questions. If she hesitates to tell you, then she is hiding something.
Yes, get this authenticated for sure. I hope this is authentic, it looks good and you found an amazing brand new GST!

I'm excited for you! I totally love the GST... there has not been a tote since that I love more.

 

[BigAkoya]

i sent it to a leather shop in oslo (i live in norway btw), he did some polish on the outside, it still has some black colouring on the back, he was not a specialist in chanel bags, so he was afraid of not doing it right, anything i can use on the back? also have 2 minor red penstripes in the bag, thoughts on that? thanks for great reply btw

Hi! I have not been to Oslo yet, but I have travelled to Helsinki, Finland. I went in January (bad idea!), and I froze to death! I am sure you are used to the cold. The upside is I am sure you have amazing coats and boots!

On the bag, I would send it in for restoration if you want it done professionally.
That said... here is a solution that works, but I need to explain it in full detail as some people swear by it while others say no way.

There is a product called Magic Eraser. The purpose of this product is to wipe away grime. It is a house cleaning sponge, and you can literally use it to wipe away pen marks on a painted wall, marks on shoes, etc. It works. People literally swear by this product. I have used it myself.

BUT... and here is the BUT... what people do not realize is this is really super super super fine sandpaper. So you have to be really careful and not rub too much as you are rubbing off the color/leather. This is actually what happens when anyone buffs/shines/rubs something... you are actually taking off material.

That said, you could try it very gently. What I would recommend is find something else you want to clean and practice using Magic Erase to see if you even like it. You will see it is very delicate if you don't go crazy rubbing. I had a pen mark on my freshly painted wall, and I was so annoyed. I did not want to use a cloth to wipe it off as that does is smear the ink. I decided to try Magic Eraser and it worked. I was very very very gentle.

After that I got brave. I have a white GST and I got a blue ink mark on it. I tried Magic Eraser gently on the white GST and it came off. Shocked really as I was ready to expect a mess and told myself "no regrets if I did this" (the pen mark was at the bottom of the bag, so if I made a mess, it would not be the end of the world).

Ink is tough as it smears, and your ink is red. Don't rub back and forth, you will just smear it. Rather, use a one stroke in sort of a short lifting motion in one direction to try it first. See if it works after a few strokes.

Practice first though on some other dirt spot (try a wall or a painted door! ) so you can feel how the sponge cleans. Caviar is pretty tough, so I used it gently on my GST. I also have lambskin bags, and I would not attempt to do it on my lambskin bag. As FYI, I have a yellow lambskin bag with a red streak... I think it is lipstick. I just left the spot there and did not fool with it as I would rather have a little crisp streak, then a big pink splotch (I hope that makes sense). I also did not send it in for restoration as I did not want them to re-dye the entire bag and lose the softness of lambskin.

Here is a link to Magic Eraser on amazon US so you can read about and you can decide if you want to use it: Amazon.com: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original, Cleaning Pads with Durafoam, 9 Count: Health & Personal Care

For me, I would leave it... does the pen mark really bother you that much? If it doesn't, I say leave it.
My theory is "the more you mess with something, the worse it gets". Plus, all bags will eventually be "used" and have some markings or wear spots. I think it gives a bag character. If you are picky about the red, then I would probably take/send it to a leather specialist. Maybe call Chanel and ask what local companies they use.

Whew.. sorry for the long post... I hope it helped.

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

I would agree to ask for more photos and also more details on this bag. I would ask:
- For photos, I would ask to see the inside of the bag, the serial number (she can hide the last several digits), the label on the box/tags if she has them (in France, they take all the tag though, but I forget what they do in the UK as it's been a while since I was there). I would also ask for a photo of the inside back zipper pocket.
- When was this bag purchased (the seller should not hide this), does she have the receipt (she can hide any personal info)
- A photo of the authentication card. Knowing the serial number will also help you figure out roughly the year the bag was made

From the photos, I don't see anything suspicious about this bag, so if it's real, it would be an amazing find. It is a bit odd how this bag is brand new as the GST was discontinued over 6 years ago, around 2015 as I recall. It could be person who bought it and didn't like it. I think I also see the plastic protectors still on the grommet, but not on the zipper pull.

I would definitely ask all those questions. If she hesitates to tell you, then she is hiding something.
Yes, get this authenticated for sure. I hope this is authentic, it looks good and you found an amazing brand new GST!

I'm excited for you! I totally love the GST... there has not been a tote since that I love more.

Yes I did think it was also suspicious that the bag has not been used. Also I looked at the other items she has on for sale, everything seems to be brand new not worn in excellent condition. She said she was a hoarder.
She doesn't have the receipt, she did try to look for it
She says she brought the handbag maybe 8 yrs ago but said she can ask her SA if she knows what yr she purchased it. She has agreed to post more photos so will wait until then.
My concern at the moment is that the bag is stolen. I'd rather get a used bag.

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

I would agree to ask for more photos and also more details on this bag. I would ask:
- For photos, I would ask to see the inside of the bag, the serial number (she can hide the last several digits), the label on the box/tags if she has them (in France, they take all the tag though, but I forget what they do in the UK as it's been a while since I was there). I would also ask for a photo of the inside back zipper pocket.
- When was this bag purchased (the seller should not hide this), does she have the receipt (she can hide any personal info)
- A photo of the authentication card. Knowing the serial number will also help you figure out roughly the year the bag was made

From the photos, I don't see anything suspicious about this bag, so if it's real, it would be an amazing find. It is a bit odd how this bag is brand new as the GST was discontinued over 6 years ago, around 2015 as I recall. It could be person who bought it and didn't like it. I think I also see the plastic protectors still on the grommet, but not on the zipper pull.

I would definitely ask all those questions. If she hesitates to tell you, then she is hiding something.
Yes, get this authenticated for sure. I hope this is authentic, it looks good and you found an amazing brand new GST!

I'm excited for you! I totally love the GST... there has not been a tote since that I love more.

She's posted a couple more photos. Very tempted, but not sure if too good to be true.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chanel-G...975554?hash=item3b56e5ddc2:g:KhEAAOSwey5gHoyw

 

[BigAkoya]

She's posted a couple more photos. Very tempted, but not sure if too good to be true.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chanel-G...975554?hash=item3b56e5ddc2:g:KhEAAOSwey5gHoyw

Ok... there is definitely something wrong. Reasons why:

- The first two photo is a different bag. Why would she show a different bag?! The first photo is the older style GST. Notice the grommets do not have the engraving (they are just thin round grommets). And notice the logo is stitched, a separate piece of leather, not embossed like a new one. I am really shocked she is showing two different bags!
- Also, she is only showing you the last several digits of the serial number. Wrong. Most people show you the first several digits as it will indicate what year the bag was made. The last several digits mean nothing in terms of finding out what year the bag was made.
- Finally, she kept this bag so pristine with all the papers and everything, so she obviously knows the value of documentation. Yet where is her receipt? For all my bags, I have all the paperwork, receipt, booklet, etc in case I ever wanted to sell it knowing the a buyer would want as much documentation as possible.

If it were me, I would pass. I definitely would not buy from someone who is showing photos of two different bags. That is totally wrong. Next thing you know, you buy the bag, you realize it's fake, yet she is now telling you, that you were the one who swapped the bag out. Who needs that drama?

Anyway, yes.. it's probably too good to be true. For me, I would pass.

 

[BigAkoya]

@Minimalist_Chic
By the way, I posted here the first photo in her listing as it shows what the older pre-2010 design looks like. You can see the grommet is rounded and clean, no engraving. You can also see the CC logo is stitched on, a separate piece of leather. The newer GST logo is embossed.

Also, this bag has to be refurbished. The side edges stand too straight, super straight, like they are reinforced. A 10 year old bag does not stand so stiff and vertical like that. I had two GSTs refurbished, and they stand stiff, just like the photo, which to me, I do not like. I prefer the softness of a slight slouch for leather.

 

[Minimalist_Chic]

@Minimalist_Chic
By the way, I posted here the first photo in her listing as it shows what the older pre-2010 design looks like. You can see the grommet is rounded and clean, no engraving. You can also see the CC logo is stitched on, a separate piece of leather. The newer GST logo is embossed.

Also, this bag has to be refurbished. The side edges stand too straight, super straight, like they are reinforced. A 10 year old bag does not stand so stiff and vertical like that. I had two GSTs refurbished, and they stand stiff, just like the photo, which to me, I do not like. I prefer the softness of a slight slouch for leather.

View attachment 4985505

Yes, I noticed this too. I did ask her if the photo was from the web. She said yes and said good spot. She has posted another photo of her bag. It sounds too good to be true so guess I'll have to pass.