Review Chanel Classic Medium Lambskin Flap in Black and Beige
Where or from whom did you purchase? TS Mr Gary / Wechat: gary6031
My Photos: Black / Beige, (last photo is truest to RL, back of beige bag here) - these aren’t the best photos as we’ve had a couple of gloomy days where I am, but I was very excited to share the pics and review the bags. Will try to upload better photos when the weather gets better. I’ve compared the black bag to my auth 1991 vintage in some photos.
Update: More photos of beige with better sun
Factory Photos: S Factory
Links to auth ref: Black / Beige (Chanel has many different types of beiges so I’m not too sure if this is the right one)
Price: Both bags were 2500 RMB before Gary’s usual RL discount of 200 RMB = so 2300 RMB each, paid through TB
Shipping cost: Free mainland China shipping to TB consolidated warehouse, TB consolidated shipping to Asia is very cheap (18-21RMB for every 0.5kg)
Order timeline
Beige
- 1 Apr: Enquired on ready stock, Gary confirms it is available. I pay on the same day
- 3 Apr: Gary sends PSPs with a scuff on the bag (I didn’t even see it), he says he will reject it and get me a new one. I said ok!
- 8 Apr: Gary sends me new PSPs along, I GLed
- 9 Apr: Gary ships out bag to the warehouse
- 14 Apr: Bag arrives at warehouse (long wait as it was a weekend), I delayed shipping to my country until I have enough TB parcels consolidated
- Mid-April: Bag arrives with me!
Black
- 14 Apr: I haven’t even received the beige bag but I trust the RL reviews so I pay for the black.
- 16 Apr: Gary sends me PSPs, looks perfect and I GLed immediately
- 18 Apr: Gary ships out bag
- 20 Apr: Bag arrives at TB warehouse, I ship it to my country immediately
- 27 Apr: Bag arrives with me!!
Quality: 10/10. The bags feel soooo soft and buttery (but the caveat is that I haven’t felt an actual lambskin CF that is made in more modern days but I have a mid/low-tier rep to compare it to, and the texture of that compared to the S fact bags is almost plasticky). I feel like the dye must have affected the leather differently (this is true in the auths as well apparently), and the black is just a tad softer and smoother than the beige.
The bags smell like leather, though one thing I’ve noticed about all my reps is that the leather smells more of shoe/car seat leather vs leather bags you buy in boutiques - wonder if that’s just me! On both bags, I counted 9 stitches every quilt. I also counted 9 stitches based on photos of the auths I’ve linked above whilst my vintage auth has 10. Both are beautiful bags which are well constructed though I did dent the front of the beige bag in 2 days without even taking it out (I think I must have just breathed on it too hard) which is a good reminder how light-coloured bags are a lot less forgiving.
The hardware (chain and CC plates) feels solid and substantial. I’m very excited to keep this bag for 30 years and see if it ages just like the auth vintage did :D I’m pressing obsessively on the quilts because they feel so squishy and soft.
Accuracy: 9/10. According to websites, the auth measures 15.5 × 25.5 × 6.5 cm, with a double strap drop length of 23 cm, and a single strap drop length of 41cm. The shape of the S factory bags look similar to the recent bags with puffier quilts but the S factory bags differ slightly in sizes and strap lengths. I’m not fussed at all about both bags deviating from the auth but here I’m taking a very small 0.25 off, because even from the same factories, the drop length varies:
- Black: 25.2cm x 15.7cm x 6.5cm; double strap drop length of 23.5cm, single strap drop length of 43cm
- Beige: 25.1cm x 15.5cm x 6.5cm; double strap drop length of 25.3 cm, single strap drop length of 44cm
You will see that the gold hardware on the chain looks good when you compare it to my vintage auth which has 24k plated gold. One thing to note is that the chains are very squeaky (but so is my auth, after 30 years so I’m not taking any points off here). Where I’m taking off points on the chain is I’ve noticed that the chain links tend to kink (-0.5) - I’ve noticed this on both bags and I’ve tried to straighten out the kinks. It is fine in the black but seems to return in the beige.
I’m also taking -0.25 off for the Chanel stamp inside - it is thicker than the auth I have, and images of the auth I see online, but not something you will see without the auth by the side. Zippers are EP and snap closure have Chanel / Paris engraved as with recent bags. The screws on the Chanel plate look slightly bigger in the auth compared to the rep (but I’m not taking points off because this is definitely not something you can see without an auth side by side).
Satisfaction: 10/10. I love both bags and can’t wait to take them out. The black feels especially luxurious. I had asked Mr Gary what is the best factory for lambskin, regardless of the price tag. I was expecting the answer to be 187 or God Factory but he was very sure it was S Fact. When you ask him about Caviar, he will rank 187 and God Factory before S Factory.
I’m now still wondering how a 187 bag might feel but these two S factory bags are absolutely delicious - MINUS the long wait (if I want a bag now, I want it now..if I had to wait, I should be saving up for an auth haha)
Service and/or Communication: 10/10 for Mr Gary as always!! I had a million questions comparing between factories, styles and Gary was always very patient. When I couldn’t decide, he told me to “take a rest” and let him know when I’m ready to order. I was also very glad he RLed a bag that was unsatisfactory to his standards, without my asking.
by shopaholicfess
Comments
Thank you for the detailed review, both bags are gorgeous and the black looks so good beside the vintage CF! 😍 Just wondering, how does the rep lambskin feels in comparison to the auth vintage lambskin in terms of “buttery soft-ness”? ⏤ by Chanelxlovers (↑ 5/ ↓ 0)
├─ I feel like it is so difficult to compare especially since the auth quilts have flattened by now, but if I brush the back of my hand against both, they both feel soft and smooth - almost similar except the new one is puffy ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 7/ ↓ 0)
I love comparison posts. Enjoy your bags! ⏤ by LovinglyReckless (↑ 5/ ↓ 0)
├─ Thank you! ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Thank you for the review. Please add a pic of the back of the beige CF. ⏤ by GlaringFlaw (↑ 3/ ↓ 0)
├─ Done, thank you! ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├── Appreciate it. ⏤ by GlaringFlaw (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Thanks so much for the review! They look so beautiful. I have to wonder, how in the world did you get the beige to look green in pictures? Lol. I’m curious, is the beige also called “milk tea?” I’ve been looking for it and it looks similar. I didn’t know S factory made that color. ⏤ by vomitdirt (↑ 3/ ↓ 0)
├─ LOL now that you say it, I think it’s just really bad room lighting and shadows. I waited a couple of days but the sunlight just wasn’t enough.
Nope it’s called Almond. S factory has a milk tea which has a bit more of a pink undertone ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 5/ ↓ 0) ├── Thanks so much! The beige family has so many variations I wasn’t sure. 😊 ⏤ by vomitdirt (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├─── No problem - sun is good today. Here are more photos! ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├──── Ah thank you! It’s so pretty to look at 😍 ⏤ by vomitdirt (↑ 2/ ↓ 0)
Omg thank you for blessing us with this review!! It’s been on my list for so long, I love the vintage look so much more for lambskin. ⏤ by Luxe_Lover4801 (↑ 3/ ↓ 0)
├─ Yes, and I love my vintage auth. She looks so good for something that is 30 years old! ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 2/ ↓ 0)
Your bags are beautiful! The CF is at the top of my list, I just need to take the plunge and make an order already! ⏤ by Genevieves187 (↑ 3/ ↓ 0)
├─ Do it! It’s worthwhile :) ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Aw Gary sounds like a sweetheart! Thanks for your review, I’m going to order something from him because he sounds so lovely haha x ⏤ by Fluid_Carry_9882 (↑ 3/ ↓ 0)
├─ He is!!! He isn’t pushy in terms of sales, gives good intel + I must have asked like 20 questions at a go and when I apologised he said “don’t worry, you only had a few questions” :D ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 3/ ↓ 0)
Thanks for the helpful review! Gary is great too ⏤ by hydrangeacloud (↑ 2/ ↓ 0)
├─ I really want to like Gary but he is taking 2-4 days to respond to every message :( I ended up buying from Aaron and Nina just because the wait was killing me ⏤ by bag_bunny (↑ 1/ ↓ 0) ├── He posted an announcement recently saying that he was moving to a safer place because of the factory raids, hence the late replies. He’s normally very accommodating though. ⏤ by jamcl31 (↑ 3/ ↓ 0) ├─── Thank you!!! This is good to know. I will definitely give him a try soon then. Hope he has a safe move ⏤ by bag_bunny (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Does this seller have a WhatsApp ⏤ by StillTrappn (↑ 2/ ↓ 0)
├─ Asking the important questions! I tried to get wechat but I don’t know anyone with wechat to do the auth lol ⏤ by BananaPralines (↑ 1/ ↓ 0) ├── Same here someone actually said they’ll verify me for $20 🤦🏾♂️ ⏤ by StillTrappn (↑ 2/ ↓ 0) ├─── Yikes! ⏤ by BananaPralines (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Hi! I don’t know if I’m blind but I couldn’t see Gary’s contact details in the TS list, could you please pass them on to me? ⏤ by antelope287 (↑ 2/ ↓ 0)
├─ Nvm I found it but forgot to post haha 😰 ⏤ by antelope287 (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
I’m so glad to hear this about lambskin Bc it’s something I’ve been wondering myself. Thank you! ⏤ by freebasetarsier (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Thanks so much for the review! I think I saw your PSPs on Gary’s wechat moments haha. I ordered the same black bag back in mid April as well and I’m even more excited to get it now! ⏤ by 88baobao (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├─ Yes, you probably did! Did you manage to get his 300 RMB discount he’s running this month for S fact? I’m seriously considering getting the mini rectangular lambskin now but it’s a pity they have such few colours for that ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├── No I ordered it before he started running the promotion sadly 😢 I actually ordered mine before you did (I paid Apr. 11) if I’m reading your timeline correctly, but I haven’t received PSPs yet! Maybe it’ll be ok for me to bug him about it now lol ⏤ by 88baobao (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├─── Totally fine. I bug Gary like after 2-3 working days - he typically gets his stock in really quick and the black one was always in stock I feel. You have the patience of a fairy!! ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├──── Thanks for letting me know! It’s my first time ordering so I wasn’t sure how often I should wait haha, will def message him now!!
Edit/ I msged him after this and he immediately sent me PSPs haha 😂 ⏤ by 88baobao (↑ 2/ ↓ 0) ├───── No worries! I think he typically gets 20-30 orders daily so it must all add up but he’s always super quick to respond if you chase him a second time :) ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Yay yay yay! Both are so gorgeous and making me really excited to get my first flap from S Factory and Gary 😊 thank you for sharing!! ⏤ by rosequartzcandle (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├─ Enjoy!!! ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 2/ ↓ 0)
I’ve been trying to decide between these 2 exact bags. Just can’t decide which color. ⏤ by For-All-Time (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├─ I would go for the black, tbh. It just looks a lot more luxurious!! ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Your bags are soo beautiful!! Congrats!! ⏤ by OC_Mommy (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Hi! loved your review! Question on your black bag- Is the bigger flap as sturdy as the auth? I purchased a mini cf from S factory and the flap feels flimsy to me, but I have never felt an auth.
Really tempted to purchase the same black bag as you after reading your review, but this question is on my mind. ⏤ by Inside-Log7793 (↑ 1/ ↓ 0) ├─ Hi there! I took this vid for you (sorry I didn’t realise how dark it was) - the auth is pretty sturdy and I would say it is even sturdier than my auth (bearing in mind my auth is 30 years old). Anw if you tell Gary your concerns I’m pretty sure he will make sure yours is fine before he ships it / take a PSP vid for you. :) ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 1/ ↓ 0) ├── Oh great! thanks so much 😊<33 ⏤ by Inside-Log7793 (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
Wow! Nice! The auth on pic 4 for the black has unparalleled screws while the rep has it parallel! ⏤ by october17th (↑ 1/ ↓ 0)
├─ Yes! I didn’t take points off because I wasn’t sure what the standard is..and I’m pretty sure it will differ across auths too ⏤ by shopaholicfess (↑ 2/ ↓ 0)