Wallet: Brown or Tan, Bridle or other, Best Manufacturer?

I have decided to spend on a good, slim bifold wallet, and be willing to spend a little bit more. I was using a Barantani purchased from eBay, but the stitching came apart in less than a year and coins now fall out of it. I think I am rough on my wallets as I prefer to put them in a rear pocket, and they get crushed a bit when I wear my New Standards.

Some questions:

1. Many here would recommend a rich brown wallet, but would tan be acceptable for a professional? Would tan age better than anything else? Or would something like chestnet be a better compromise between dark brown and tan?

2. Is bridle leather the best and most durable material and should I make sure to look for it? I like the feel of a rich bridle leather piece, and alternatives I've seen on labels are calf, leather, nappa, cowhide, and pigskin. Crocodile, lizard and ostrich look interesting, but I heard these are less durable than bridle. And is stingray supposed to be the most durable of all?

3. Assuming money is no object, who would be the best manufacturer for a bridle leather wallet (leaving out exotics)? Names I've heard here include Swaine Adeney, Valextra, Tanner Krolle and Launer, and I admit there's some snob appeal to Launer wallets with the royal warrant on the inside. Are there small manufacturers that can produce the same or better quality for less?

4. An American-sized wallet (8 cm) should work for US dollars and Asian currencies, but not Euros, Pound notes, and other European currencies, right?

Thanks in advance.

Do you really think that the color of your wallet could somehow make it unacceptable for a professional? In the past I have carried blue, orange and green wallets. Nobody has ever noticed, and I have never noticed anybody elses.

As far as durability goes, if you are going to put it in your back pocket, you might as well get something cheap, because it will not last.

+1 on the color issue, although the blues/oranges are kinda out there.

I think bridle leather would be the toughest, as this type of leather is used for machineary.

I'm really not sure how a wallet would fall apart in one year. From a personal experience, I've carried a LV Taiga for 9 years and it's still quite serviceable. No loose threads. It's even just plain old calfskin. It goes in my backpocket everyday when I'm out of the house, so essentially 10 hours a day, 6-7 days/week, all this for 9 years.

I have driver license, 1 credit card, 4 pictures of family, and a single $20. No coins, no change. It's slim. I think carrying coins may actually be harmful to the wallet leather.

The only wallets I've ever had wear out are casual ones I put in my rear pocket and sit on all day. A slim wallet kept in the breast pocket should last a very long time even if it's not of the highest quality. My favorite slim is the Ghurka buffalo.

Originally Posted by josepidal

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1. Many here would recommend a rich brown wallet, but would tan be acceptable for a professional? Would tan age better than anything else? Or would something like chestnet be a better compromise between dark brown and tan?

As long s there is no elastic, velcro or held in a rubber band your peers and collegues shouldn't care.

2. Is bridle leather the best and most durable material and should I make sure to look for it? I like the feel of a rich bridle leather piece, and alternatives I've seen on labels are calf, leather, nappa, cowhide, and pigskin. Crocodile, lizard and ostrich look interesting, but I heard these are less durable than bridle. And is stingray supposed to be the most durable of all?

I've had brown croc Jil Sander wallet for over a year and the outside looks brand new. My boyfriend has had a stingray wallet for sometime and no problems there.
I've also had an Hermes wallet and the bridle leather seems to be very porous and it would easily stain and discolor.

3. Assuming money is no object, who would be the best manufacturer for a bridle leather wallet (leaving out exotics)? Names I've heard here include Swaine Adeney, Valextra, Tanner Krolle and Launer, and I admit there's some snob appeal to Launer wallets with the royal warrant on the inside. Are there small manufacturers that can produce the same or better quality for less?

You can add Hermes to that for about $800-$1000

Also, since I already deleted it from your quote...why do you carry around coins in your wallet? Just get a purse.

I've had extremely good luck with Hartmann wallets. Very, very durable.

If you're wearing dry denim, anything in tan will stain a bit - they seem to think it's pretty rad over at SuFu, but I think it looks marsupialed.

And yeah, agreed that there's no "appropriately professional" colour. Just don't carry an LV monogram and you'll be sweet...

ive been looking at some wallets too , as my 5+ year old black kenneth cole wallet is on its last leg.

i really love the John Lobb museum leather wallets.

pewter, gold, chestnut, dark brown, and plum museum leather wallets make for some beautiful eye candy whenever you take it out to pay for groceries or something.

Originally Posted by iammatt

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As far as durability goes, if you are going to put it in your back pocket, you might as well get something cheap, because it will not last.
So true; then add the silliness of sitting on a wad of leather.

BTW, I hate that I'm even responding to the OP's thread, he makes me feel like a chump. I rationalize that I'm chatting with Matt.

Originally Posted by Tomasso

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So true; then add the silliness of sitting on a wad of leather.

I know--I've never gotten the appeal of billfolds, or really anything that is placed in the back pocket of pants.

I don't think most Hermes wallets are made in bridle leather, which is generally sort of thick and tough. They use box calf or Barenia leather for a lot of their smaller leathergoods. Barenia is very nice but rather delicate.

If the OP wants bridle leather, Swaine Adeney, its sister company Papworth and Hartmann are well known for it.

Valextra does not use bridle leather to my knowledge, but it's pretty cool.

Launer and Ettinger are two good British leathergoods houses working mostly in calfskin

I use a Russia calf wallet with gilt corners to keep the corners from wearing down. I also used a RJ soft leather wallet that was quite well made.

Originally Posted by RJman

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Vote. Vote again
Do you hail from Chicago?

Originally Posted by Tomasso

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Do you hail from Chicago?

Originally Posted by RJman

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While some would say you're at a loss for words, I find your response utterly succinct.