- Chanel is known for their exclusive and exquisite bags. The decision to buy a Chanel bag is always easy, but choosing which Chanel leather to pick is much more challenging. The Chanel bags have tons of looks thanks to the range of luxurious materials it comes available in like metallic calfskin, tweed, sequin, denim fabric and more. But the most common are lambskin,Caviar, Calfskin and goatskin. So is Chanel lambskin or calfskin better? Is calfskin better than goatskin? Which is softer calfskin or lambskin? Or Which is more expensive, Chanel caviar or lambskin?
- While deciding which of the different leathers is better comes down to your personal taste, after all, there are distinct pros and cons for each which should make your decision easier. Here are a few basic facts about the four different Chanel leathers and how they differ.
Chanel Lambskin vs. Caviar vs. Calfskin vs. Goatskin Reviews
Chanel Lambskin Leather
Lambskin leather is one of Chanel’s most desirable handbag skins. It has a butter-soft, smooth finish with a luminous sheen, and is coveted for its luxurious, dressy aesthetic. If depth of colour is high on your priority list, lambskin is the material for you – it offers the darkest blacks and the richest brights around. For all its major attributes, Chanel lambskin does have its complications: due to its delicate, untreated texture, it can be more prone to damage than other leathers, and needs to be stored carefully when not in use.
Incredibly soft to touch with a gorgeous appearance, Chanel Lambskin Leather is undoubtedly one of the most popular and sophisticated leathers on the market. It is known for its velvety smoothness that almost craves a woman’s touch. However, being as baby soft and smooth as it is, there is really no wonder why this delicate material is also a magnet for flaws. This fragile, tender leather requires utmost upkeep to ensure it is in tip top condition.
Chanel Lambskin Review
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Chanel Caviar Leather
If you’re looking for a durable Chanel bag that will stand the test of time, make caviar leather your go-to search term. A popular grained calfskin leather with a pebbled finish, it’s slightly heavier than lambskin, and has a much more scratch- and water-resistant surface, so you can use it every day with confidence. Some collectors see caviar leather as more informal than lambskin, but at the same time its treated finish does lend more structure to a bag, making it a great option for the office.
Although beautiful and intriguing to the eye, Chanel Caviar Leather is a bit bumpy to touch. However, this doesn’t discount its popularity in any way. Caviar leather is certainly a popular leather in the Chanel community for the simple fact that it is incredibly gorgeous and can handle a bit of abuse. This tough, yet elegant leather can fend off scratches with ease, making it the perfect choice for everyday use handbags. Its resilience is definitely a selling point!
Chanel Caviar Review
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Chanel Calfskin Leather
Can’t choose between lambskin and caviar? Untreated calfskin is a great halfway house. It’s both smooth, with a fine grain, but also slightly more durable than lambskin. For a vintage vibe, aged calfskin is another lauded leather, most often encountered on Chanel’s 2.55 Reissue bags.
It has a creased, slightly faded look that’s great for hiding general wear and tear – and adding a dose of rock ‘n’ roll to everyday looks. Glazed calfskin has a luxurious shimmer that looks especially beautiful when quilted – although bear in mind, it can be more prone to scratching.
Most often used in Chanel’s iconic quilted designs, such as the Boy bag, its small and delicate grains give it an elegant texture. Calfskin is very versatile, nicely balancing the soft, supple feel of Lambskin with the look of Caviar. Despite its smooth look and feel, Calfskin is quite durable.
Chanel Calfskin Review
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Chanel Goatskin Leather
Although not quite as common, Goatskin is a good hybrid between lambskin and caviar leather: it’s more matte and structured than lambskin, giving it greater longevity.
Goatskin is known for being a sturdier textile with a little more texture to it and can withstand everyday wear (still prone to scratches, but the natural creases conceal them better) compared to lambskin. In the world of goatskin, there is regular goatskin and there is shiny goatskin. These also come in both classic and seasonal colors.
If we could sum up Chanel Goatskin in just a few quick words, we’d most likely come up with the words soft, durable, and stiff. Goatskin is known for being one of the most durable leathers out there, withstanding even the toughest elements. However, its stiffness and softness can be somewhat of a downfall when it comes to handbags. While the front, back, and sides tend to keep their shapes nicely, the top of bags tend to look ‘crushed’ or dented after a few weeks of use. To put it plainly, goatskin is definitely a great option. Durable and great to look at. Just try to be as cautious as possible to avoid dents!
Chanel Goatskin Review
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Chanel Lambskin vs. Caviar vs. Calfskin vs. Goatskin Comparison Side by Side
1.Softness
Chanel Lambskin
Buttery soft, supple and smooth, Chanel Lambskin is notably the most popular choice out of all the skins boasting a natural luminous sheen. A sophisticated leather, lambskin offers a much more luxurious finish adding that final finesse to the wearer's look and outfit.
Chanel Caviar
Chanel Caviar is made from pebbled calfskin with visible and tactile grains making this leather tougher and heavier than Lambskin, and a popular choice among those who want to carry their Chanel bag more often.
Chanel Calfskin
Due to its uniquely soft exterior, calfskin is noted as being one of the most high quality and sought after leathers.This is definitely an excellent option if you’re into the more classical and vintage items, and looks great with almost any bag. Not to mention the fine grain is soft to touch yet resilient to scratches and other unsightly marks!
Chanel Goatskin
If we could sum up Chanel Goatskin in just a few quick words, we’d most likely come up with the words soft, durable, and stiff. Goat hide is one of the toughest and most durable leathers among all luxury handbags.Despite its toughness, Goatskin is very soft to the touch.
2.Structure
Chanel Lambskin
If depth of colour is high on your priority list, lambskin is the material for you – it offers the darkest blacks and the richest brights around. For all its major attributes, Chanel lambskin does have its complications: due to its delicate, untreated texture, it can be more prone to damage than other leathers, and needs to be stored carefully when not in use.
Chanel Caviar
Chanel's Caviar leather is essentially pebbled calfskin – "caviar" is just a chic namesake that Chanel uses. The visible grains on the leather make it sturdy and heavier than Lambskin. It is also less prone to scratches and blemishes than Lambskin
Chanel Calfskin
Chanel's classic Calfskin leather sets a nice compromise between the longevity of Caviar Leather and the soft grip of Lambskin leather. Despite the soft handle, it is robust and white to please with a matt shine and a fine structure.
Chanel Goatskin
Goatskin is known for being a sturdier textile with a little more texture to it and can withstand everyday wear.Stiffer construction that allows for the bag to hold its shape better than others.
3.Appearance
Chanel Lambskin
Lambskin has the advantage when it comes to colour saturation. Compare black Lambskin leather and black Caviar leather side by side and you’ll see the difference: Lambskin takes on a richer pigment from dyes than Caviar. Blacks are more profound, and brights more vibrant. Caviar leather can almost appear dull in comparison.
Chanel Caviar
Caviar leather comes in different finishes, like matte, soft and shiny caviar. Shiny caviar is generally the most popular option for its look and durability.
Chanel Calfskin
Calfskin is very versatile, nicely balancing the soft, supple feel of Lambskin with the look of Caviar.It has a creased, slightly faded look that’s great for hiding general wear and tear – and adding a dose of rock ‘n’ roll to everyday looks.
Chanel Goatskin
On regular goatskin you’ll notice a sheen. On shiny goatskin, you’ll definitely spot the sheen. Due to the grains, goatskin can develop more visible creases throughout. This occurs naturally with this type of skin.
4.Durability
Chanel Lambskin
Overall, lambskin is the more delicate leather option, meaning it does scratch more than goatskin. Over time it’s more susceptible to marks, especially when there is a lot of hardware present – in the case of the Chanel 19, that couldn’t be more true.
Chanel Caviar
There really is no question here that caviar is the more durable leather. The pebbled quality lends itself well to daily wear and tear and holds structure very well because of its more rigid nature. You will eventually see some minor wear on the corners of your flap – this will be minor and only after several years.
Chanel Calfskin
Chanel calfskin leather is a popular choice for everyday wear because it's soft to the touch but also durable. The tightly packed fibers of calfskin leather give it a surprising amount of strength.
Chanel Goatskin
Both goatskin and shiny goatskin are incredibly durable, without being terribly stiff. In fact, they’re super flexible and hard-wearing. Many will say goatskin gets better with age, making them ideal materials for bags.
Chanel Lambskin vs. Caviar vs. Calfskin vs. Goatskin: Key differences chart
For your convenience, all the main features of each type of leather, like Colourfastness, wear and tear, recommendations on care are in the table below. It might help you to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the materials and decide which Chanel leather is better.
Criteria | Chanel Lambskin Leather | Chanel Caviar Leather | Chanel Calfskin Leather | Chanel Goatskin Leather |
Aesthetic | Lambskin has a glossier finish which gives it a more luxurious look. Bright colours also look more vibrant on Lambskin due to its ability to take on dyes. | Caviar leather has a grainy pebbled finish. Many collectors see Caviar as the more casual, less formal alternative to Lambskin. | It’s both smooth, with a fine grain, but also slightly more durable than lambskin. | It can withstand tremendous wear and tear, and it's a great option for hard-working handbags that see a great deal of use, such as totes. |
Durability | Lambskin creases easier, and surface scratches are more prominent. As a result, Lambskin looks a little more worn and lived in after some time. | Caviar is slightly heavier than Lambskin and is much more scratch and water-resistant. Even after many wear, the Caviar bags still maintain their condition. | Extremely durable material, which can be compared to grained calfskin (so the difference is the style and look only). | Goatskin is a good hybrid between lambskin and caviar leather: it’s more matte and structured than lambskin, giving it greater longevity. |
Colourfastness | Lambskin is known to hold colour better than Caviar. However, you have to be careful of leather scrapes. | Lighter coloured Caviar leather can be prone to colour transfer. Therefore, it is important not to wear it with dark fabrics as your bag could rub against your clothes and lose its colour. | Chanel’s classic Calfskin leather sets a nice compromise between the longevity of Caviar Leather and the soft grip of Lambskin leather. | An enticing luster, an unmistakable shine, and a softness like no other. |
Care | Lambskin is sensitive to water as water can cause watermarks or even mould. So keep it away from rain and prolonged sun exposure to prevent drying out your Lambskin! | Perfect for everyday wear, Caviar is known for its practicality. In addition, it is relatively easier to maintain. | When cleaning the bag with a dry cloth, try not to stain it. | Carry with care to avoid shape loss. |
Storage | Lambskin requires additional attention in storage. Ensure that you stuff the bag to keep its shape, cover the flaps with protective covers, and wrap the chains so the hardware won't damage the Lambskin. | Caviar has a sturdier and more rigid structure compared to Lambskin. Ideally, it would help if you stored the bag upright, well-padded, away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. | The leather should be stored with mindfulness, as the handle and chain straps leave their traces and the top layer of the leather of the Bag can replace. | Wrap any chains or straps with tissue paper, and store your handbag upright in its original pouch. |
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Chanel Lambskin vs. Caviar vs. Calfskin vs. Goatskin Leather: What’s Best?
Choosing between Chanel Lambskin vs. Caviar vs. Calfskin vs. Goatskin leather bag depends on personal preferences, budget, and any existing fits conditions. So Lambskin vs. Caviar vs. Calfskin vs. Goatskin Leather: which is best suitable to you?
Chanel Lambskin - If you are purchasing your first Chanel bag, we would say go for the Lambskin as it is the quintessential Chanel bag and is perfect for special occasions. For those more concerned about the look than the practicality, then lambskin might be a good option for you – more of the seasonal colours (and often the best ones) are released in lambskin; I suspect this is because lambskin holds colour a lot better than caviar.
Chanel Caviar -For those looking for a luxury and durable leather for their product, Chanel Caviar Leather might be the perfect choice. If the idea of scratches fills you with horror, that’s where Chanel Caviar comes into its own. Due to its treated finish, it’s a far more durable leather than Lambskin, so it doesn’t have to be ‘babied’ as much.
Chanel Calfskin - An ideal balance between the lambskin smoothness and the look of grained calfskin – this is the choice for those fashionistas, who want to have a durable bag with a silky touch. It’s a special vintage-like effect. A perfect choice for those who don’t want a structured or hard bag. Unlike Caviar, it’s soft to the touch but as tough.
Chanel Goatskin - One of the most durable Chanel leathers of all. Keeps its structure perfectly, although might be dented on top if used frequently. Doesn't show a lot of wear as it already has a 'vintage look'. Might be suitable for everyday use if carried gently.
Read More:
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