Chanel Caviar Leather Reference Guide

For the really serious Chanel lovers out there, you may have noticed that Chanel produces a lot of different caviar leathers. Which ones are softer; which ones are the most durable? See all sorts of caviar leathers with this reference guide.

The Classics

While Chanel has released many types of caviar leather now, the classic caviar leathers, as seen above, are still the most common. Not all classic caviar leather have the same texture or hardness. However, all classic caviar leather is very durable compared to most leathers. They are quite resistant to staining, marks, scratches and tears.

Prior to 2000, Chanel classic caviar leather tended to always be a bit harder. After 2000, caviar leather can greatly vary depending on the season and style of bag.

Soft Caviar

As the name implies, soft caviar is softer than the traditional caviar leather. The leather is not as durable as traditional caviar, but much more so than smooth calfskin or lambskin.

Some prefer the look and feel of soft caviar to classic caviar, describing it as less plastic-like. It really depends on your own tastes. Hopefully, all the pictures in this guide help you decide your personal preference.

Be careful especially with light-colored suede caviar as it is the least durable of the caviar leathers.

Special Finishes

Glazed, patent, and pearly caviar all have a noticeable glossed effect. These bags share similar durability to the classic caviar leathers.