10 THINGS TO CHECK BEFORE BUYING AN OLD LUXURY TRUNK
Are you planning to acquire a new collection trunk from the luxury houses Louis Vuitton , Goyard, Moynat or Moreau ?
Great: this is a crucial moment and a very important decision !
But before buying , it would be better to check these 10 essential elements , so as not to have any unpleasant surprises once you get home…!
1- IDENTIFY THE CONDITION OF THE TRUNK:
- As is (and will therefore need to be cleaned or restored)
- Restored in perfect condition (nothing to predict)
- Badly restored (to be redone, or unrecoverable)
An old trunk that has been preserved as is ( in its own juice ) will have less value than the same restored trunk but more value than one that has undergone poor restoration !
Indeed, a good number of sellers "make up" their trunk so that it shines, but in reality, they deteriorate this beautiful luxury luggage forever .
2- STRUCTURE
Structure is the basis of your trunk. But what can happen if your structure is not in good condition?
Your purchase will quickly turn into a nightmare!
Make sure the wood is holy :
- That there is no trace of humidity (rust, oxidation stain ..)
- That it is not contaminated by fungi .
- That there is no small hole in the wood which indicates the presence of harmful insects .
Because under the canvas can hide good surprises.
Checking the underside of the trunk is a good indicator of the general condition of the trunk.
3 - OUTER CANVAS
The outer canvas, fabric or coated must be in perfect condition :
- Not stained, dirty or dull
- Complete, without missing or tearing
- glued and not blistered
Check that it has not been:
- Re - painted
- Varnished
- waxed
This irreversible damage will be fatal to your investment because it will cause the price of your old luggage to drop .
Read also: Repainted canvas, a scourge for collector's trunks
4 - BRASS POLISHING
A good polish is a golden yellow brass , mirror polished with beautiful reflections and without scratches, you must see yourself in it.
Check that the polishing is performed perfectly even in small corners.
Check that the adjoining canvas is not damaged or stained.
Tip - Stain in the corners of the lock:
Avoid this kind of restoration which says a lot about the amateurism of the seller. It is important that the polishing is carried out over the entire surface, even in the recesses.
Caution Avoid "cleaned" brass:
- With acid , which will leave red marks
- With miror household products
- With a metallic brush, nylon, brass ... these brushes intended for stripping old paints on metal deform the brass of your trunks.
This damage is detrimental to the price of your trunk.
Read the full article: Brass Care Guide
5 - INTERIOR: CANVAS AND QUILTING
The interior of a cabin or mail trunk represents 30% of the luggage, but in perfect condition as originally, it is a real added value.
If it is original check :
That there is not too much stain on the fabric
And above all without bad smell
If it was restored:
Check that it conforms to the origin .
That the inner canvas is perfectly glued and not floating
That the quilting is perfectly made as originally with cotton ribbons.
Opposite example of a trunk restored in our workshops.
It finds its original condition
6 - CONDITION OF THE LEATHERS
Leather is a natural, living, very fragile and delicate material.
It can not withstand humidity and many trunks and suitcases are damaged.
It is important to check that the leather is in perfect condition, of a chocolate brown color, not cracked or missing parts.
Also check that they have not been sealed with tinted silicone gasket . This practice is common to hide damaged leather.
It is of course a hidden screw.
7 - HANDLE
The handles are used to carry the luggage, they can be in leather, metal or brass.
Very often used and abused it is important to check that they are in good condition.
Because often broken and restored check:
- That the replacement one conforms to the original , and that it is sewn by hand and not by machine.
Indeed, machine seams will break quickly
- That it is not fictitious and that it is traditionally well fixed to the barrel and not with glued screws and nails.
Many bad restaurateurs stick them just for the "Deco". A new handle must be usable.
Also read our article: how to recognize a hand stitch saddle stitch.
8 - REPLICA PART
On collection trunks, it is essential that the brass jewelry (lock, clasp and handle) be of Louis Vuitton origin and not copies or spare parts.
We are seeing more and more molded false locks without any mechanism, generic clasps , totally manufactured brass handles ... on luxury trunks .
Discover our goldsmith's workshop
9 - PERSONALIZATION - CUSTOMIZATION
We estimate that 99% of crowns or crests are counterfeit.
Also we estimate that 70% of the bands called "stables" these decorative bands are counterfeit.
Bad, malicious trunk restorers paint false initials, hotel labels, bands, coats of arms or royal crowns ...
These decorations are only intended to deceive the buyer to create a story in the trunk and make it more "prestigious"
Beware of beautiful stories ...
Read our article: customization and painting on trunk
10 - QUALITY OF RESTORATIONS
The trunks are old they are often over 100 years old , they have traveled the world on trips,
it is therefore common that they have been restored.
Therefore, check that the restorations were made according to the rules of the art and are in perfect condition.
Because it is difficult when you are a novice to judge the qualityof a restoration, do not hesitate to ask us for our opinion on the acquisition of a future trunk Contact us
