Journal
What we have learned, written down
Notes on authentication, condition and materials. Written to be useful whether or not you ever buy from us — a market with better-informed buyers is a market we do better in.
How to read a condition grade
Five words carry most of the risk in a resale listing. Here is what each one should mean, and what to check when it doesn't.
AuthenticationHow online authentication works — and what it can't tell you
An independent service looks at photographs and issues an opinion. That is strong evidence, not a proof. What it catches, what it misses, and what to ask a seller.
MaterialsVachetta, patina, and what counts as damage
The most common argument in pre-owned leather is whether a mark is character or a flaw. There is an answer, and it is mostly about evenness.
AuthenticationHow to read a Louis Vuitton date code — and why it proves less than you think
Six characters stamped inside a bag tell you where and when it was made. They do not tell you whether it is real. Here is how to read them, and where they stop being useful.
AuthenticationFour construction details worth checking
Logos and date codes are easy to overvalue. Construction details still tell you more about whether a piece deserves a closer look.
Buying guideFive bags that hold their value best
Resale value is not about prestige. It is about supply, recognisability, and whether a design was ever tied to a moment.
Buying guideMonogram, Damier, or Epi — which holds value
Three canvases, three very different resale outcomes. The differences are large enough to change what you should pay.
MaterialsHow to care for vachetta leather
Untreated cowhide with no protective finish. Almost everything that goes wrong with a Louis Vuitton bag happens here — and most of it is preventable.
Buying guideNine questions to ask before buying pre-owned luxury
Most bad purchases are avoidable, and most are avoided before payment rather than after. These are the questions worth asking, and what the answers tell you.
SourcingWhy sourcing matters
Responsible resale starts before inspection. Here is how accountable sourcing reduces risk before a piece ever reaches us.
Buying guideIs it safe to buy pre-owned luxury online?
Yes — with conditions. Here is where the actual risk sits, and how to reduce it to something small.
AuthenticationWhat a certificate of authenticity is actually worth
Some are meaningful. Most are decoration. The difference is entirely who issued it and what they promise if they are wrong.
Ask us anything in here
If something in these notes is unclear, or you want an opinion on a piece you are considering — even one you are buying elsewhere — write to us.