Lambskin vs Caviar

Chanel handbags commonly comes in two types of leathers, caviar and lambskin. Lambskin and caviar are not the only leathers that Chanel offers – they will often include calfskin, goatskin, exotic skins and a number of others.

Today we will be talking about the commonly used leathers. One of the most important decisions to be made when purchasing a Chanel Classic Flap Bag is whether you’d prefer a Chanel Caviar Bag or Chanel Lambskin Bag, I’m sure most of you faced this at some point in time! These bags are made with different types of leather that each feature pros and cons, below I have added a table to simply the pros and cons.

Although a few years ago, lambskin was more expensive than caviar due to its very smooth and soft finish, right now the retail cost for either is about the same in the boutiques.

Which leather should you choose?

They type of bag is a major deciding factor on which leather you should choose.

If you are looking to buy a crossbody bag then caviar would be a better choice since it will be worn against your hips and is more likely to be bumped/scratched. If you are looking to buy a tote then the durable caviar will be a safer bet. If you are looking for a shoulder bag then you can consider both caviar and lambskin. If you are looking to buy wallets/SLGs then you should pick the durable caviar for everyday use!

If you decide to go for lambskin, it will be recommended for you to rotate between bags instead of carrying it frequently. Lambskin will be a good option for those concerned about the look as there have more of the seasonal colors and often the best ones.

If you’d like to use it as your everyday bag, you should opt for the caviar. Lambskin on the other hand will wear fairly quickly under constant use. The first signs of wear will likely appear on the corners of the flap and at the bottom of the bag but you also need to mindful of the overall leather condition and any creases or scratches.

Based on the resale market, caviar has a much better resale value than lambskin, sometimes for the same bag the difference can be approximately USD1,500. However, this also mean that if you were to purchase a caviar bag in the resale market, expect it to be more pricey but it will still be a discount as compared to buying directly from the boutique.

I hope this gives you a better understanding between lambskin and caviar leather!