Leather Wallets - Hermes and Louis Vuitton

[WiseMenOfGotham]

I recently had the same issue as you when I was looking for a slim wallet. Hermes didn't carry anything that worked for me, so the SA recommended to try LV (I was surprised). I purchased a slim card wallet from them and while it's not Hermes quality, it doesn't feel cheap at all. I do not care for all the branding so I purchased the Damier Graphite pattern. If I could do it again, I would have my current LV slim wallet style made in grain leather by April in Paris- Hermes quality with LV pricing seems like win win to me.

 

[tweedydon]

I'm no-where close to buying anything form Hermes any time soon, but I was wondering: Would Hermes be willing to repair their items some years after purchase, if repairs are ever needed?

 

[dreamtripper]



I'm no-where close to buying anything form Hermes any time soon, but I was wondering: Would Hermes be willing to repair their items some years after purchase, if repairs are ever needed?

Supposedly so. I explicitly asked this question at well.

I recently had the same issue as you when I was looking for a slim wallet. Hermes didn't carry anything that worked for me, so the SA recommended to try LV (I was surprised). I purchased a slim card wallet from them and while it's not Hermes quality, it doesn't feel cheap at all. I do not care for all the branding so I purchased the Damier Graphite pattern. If I could do it again, I would have my current LV slim wallet style made in grain leather by April in Paris- Hermes quality with LV pricing seems like win win to me.

Hermes had a nice slim card case type wallet with a silk lining in the store. I think it might have been a new model.

 

[sns23]

I like LV canvas wallets/card holders. Very durable.

 

[paradoxical3]

Might I suggest a Tom Ford wallet?

I went through the same dilemma that you did and settled on a Tom Ford design. They are more reasonably priced than Hermes and the quality is really top notch. One year later it literally looks brand new after being thrown in my pocket every single day and not babied at all.

 

[Winam]

Nice idea. Had a look at the tom ford wallets and i like them. Might get one


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[eddievddr10]

i like the berluti wallets, great patina

 

[ThatGuy]

I have a Nomade leather wallet. Got it 3 years ago and not a stitch has come lose. However, it has darkened due to the untreated nature of the wallet and stains from jeans.

I think the LV lines that are still made in France are of higher quality.

Note, this excludes the canvas stuff

 

[SirGrotius]

I have a black leather LV wallet. I think the line is called Utah leather. I have been very impressed with suppleness of the leather and the construction. It looks brand new after a year of being bit to smithereens. There's a very discreet logo.

I wasn't too keen on the Hermes designs, but they are top of the line. Of course you're paying for the name partly with these things but with that name comes the particular aesthetic.

 

[Michigan Al]

Forget the foreign stuff go for the foreign sounding stuff. Bosca. I have used a series of their single fold wallets for cards and ID's for years.I bought two at an old line luggage store in Traverse City last summer. They are really well made and a great value. Love the blog. I linked to it after a mention on Ivy Style regarding a Corbin madras patch jacket. I recently bought a Corbin patchwork jacket that looks like a quilt. Originally sold at Jacobsons in Michigan. Great stuff.

Al

 

[HLow]

LV quality:
Stitching is tight and straight (machine stitched and it better be), folded over leather is done well but the fusing done with glue really leaves much to be desired. The lined card compartments are splitting too. All these after very light usage for less than a year.

Fused part splitting


Closeup:

i would like to see some pictures if you don't mind... i'm kinda curious

 

[stevent]



Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

LV quality:
Stitching is tight and straight (machine stitched and it better be), folded over leather is done well but the fusing done with glue really leaves much to be desired. The lined card compartments are splitting too. All these after very light usage for less than a year. 

Fused part splitting


Closeup:

Yeah I had that issue with my LV wallet 5 years ago or so. It lasted about 8 months before issues started with decent usage.

 

[Klobber]

???? LV wallet I had gave me good service for a number of years without pulling apart at the seams. Is it possible newer production models are inferior quality to older models?

 

[HRoi]

i think there is a HUGE difference in quality between LV and Hermes. not that i think LV falls apart or anything, but i'm not a fan of the type of leather they use. Hermes, on the other hand just screams top quality and the leather is butter soft.

my wallet is not a Hermes but my wife has a couple of Hermes wallets. superlative stuff but x3 the cost of equivalent LV or Valextra.

BTW just to throw another marque into the mix i was very impressed by the Bottega Veneta women's wallets when my wife dragged me into their shop last month. do they make men's wallets?

 

[Aaron01]

As far as monogrammed pieces go, I prefer Maison Goyard to LV. You should check out Valextra, Smythson, RLPL, Cartier and Bottega Veneta as well. I will second the reccomendation for the TF wallets, I checked out some of them at his BH store, they're very nice; thick, supple leather. There was a lot of gator/croco (Spoo) stuff there too...

LV is not really in the same league as Hermes, the latter uses much better quality of leather. A lot of the LV stuff I've seen has been very flimsy, actually I thought some of the Chanel card cases were nicer.