Cigar Shell Care

[AnGeLiCbOrIs]

I recently won a pair of cigar shell Alden semi-brogues on eBay. I was wondering what would be the best way to care for them. I found AE's discontinued dark brown shell cordovan cream in their eBay store and bought one. Is this correct for cigar shell? Is there anything else I would need? I was considering buying a few more since they are no longer manufactured by AE.

 

[Brad]

I rarely use anything on cordovan. I don't think you'll need more than one jar of the AE stuff for the life of the shoes.

Btw, that's a handsome pair of shoes.

 

[Marcus Brody]

This isn't at all helpful to the OP, but I'm curious: does shell cordovan just not get scuffed? I've never been fortunate to own a pair of shoes made from the stuff, but I always read people posting about how they do very little to their shell cordovan shoes.

 

[abc123]

It does scuff, but all you really ever need to do to get it looking new again is to wipe down with a damp cloth, and buff with a horsehair brush for a few minutes. I put a tiny bit of wax on my shells every six months or so - if done too frequently, it builds up in the creases and is hard to get rid of.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by abc123

It does scuff, but all you really ever need to do to get it looking new again is to wipe down with a damp cloth, and buff with a horsehair brush for a few minutes. I put a tiny bit of wax on my shells every six months or so - if done too frequently, it builds up in the creases and is hard to get rid of.
This is my method, too. It works very well. Wipe, brush, buff, and go.

 

[DrZRM]

Those really are very lovely, I watched those jealously last week. Wish they were bigger.

 

[ThinkDerm]

great shoes amnon

 

[Golf_Nerd]

great shoes

 

[Chips]

I probably drove people nuts on here recently asking a similar question. I have their wingtips in #8 shell. I found that when the leather was warm enough, they didn't need much in the way of polish, cream or wax. It seems like anything you put on them tends to sit right on top of the surface anyway, rather than absorb in. For me, I found that cleaning them with a slightly damp microfiber cloth (that I use to clean all my leather) plus some basic rub time with an old silk tie tends to do the job perfectly.

Those are quite nice looking by the way! They look like a 10 or maybe an 11?

 

[Marcus Brody]

Originally Posted by abc123

It does scuff, but all you really ever need to do to get it looking new again is to wipe down with a damp cloth, and buff with a horsehair brush for a few minutes. I put a tiny bit of wax on my shells every six months or so - if done too frequently, it builds up in the creases and is hard to get rid of.

Ah thanks. Hopefully I'll sometime soon have the chance to put this knowledge to use.

 

[AnGeLiCbOrIs]

Originally Posted by Chips

I probably drove people nuts on here recently asking a similar question. I have their wingtips in #8 shell. I found that when the leather was warm enough, they didn't need much in the way of polish, cream or wax. It seems like anything you put on them tends to sit right on top of the surface anyway, rather than absorb in. For me, I found that cleaning them with a slightly damp microfiber cloth (that I use to clean all my leather) plus some basic rub time with an old silk tie tends to do the job perfectly.

Those are quite nice looking by the way! They look like a 10 or maybe an 11?

You're good. They're a 10.5 b/d.

 

[adambparker]

Originally Posted by AnGeLiCbOrIs

You're good. They're a 10.5 b/d.

Man, you're killing me recently -- I think 4 or 5 pairs I've bid for on Ebay have shown up on Shoe Damage with your name on 'em.

My wife thanks you.

 

[ThinkDerm]

how much did they go for? used, I see.

 

[AnGeLiCbOrIs]

Originally Posted by adambparker

Man, you're killing me recently -- I think 4 or 5 pairs I've bid for on Ebay have shown up on Shoe Damage with your name on 'em. My wife thanks you.

Did you try to get these too?

Originally Posted by ThinkDerm

how much did they go for? used, I see.
~$360

 

[Josef Seibel]

me too; i was lusting for them, but in the end wasn´t sure if a 10,5 b/d on the hampton last would fit me well.

AnGeLiCbOrIs, could you please comment on the fit , perhaps in comparison with the barrie last ; i have several aldens on the barrie last in 10,5 b/d. thanks.