Do you know the difference between a lambskin and a caviar Chanel bag? When choosing a Chanel bag there are some elements to consider such as color, and hardware. But, the most important choice you may have to make when it comes to aesthetics is the type of leather you want. Both the lambskin and caviar have their share of advantages—so let’s dive right in!

Both caviar and lambskin are options on all classic Chanel handbags which include:
Chanel Medium Flap
Chanel Jumbo Flap
Chanel Maxi Flap
Chanel 2.55 Reissue 225
Chanel 2.55 Reissue 226
Chanel 2.55 Reissue 227

So when considering the color and hardware, keep in mind the leather you want. Don’t just make a quick decision just cause. Pick the leather that fits your life and personality.

So Which One?

For starters, the lambskin is very soft. If feels extremely smooth and dainty to the touch. The lambskin gives Chanel bags a more luxurious and rich feel which is actually a good thing, because Chanel is supposed to feel that way.

The disadvantage to the lambskin is that it is fragile. If you plan on making your Chanel one of your ‘evey-day’ bags then don’t choose lambskin. After a few days of wear, you may start to see scratches and maybe even the corners wearing off. Keep in mind this all depends on how you treat your bag. If you do choose lambskin treat it like your child.

The scratches and wearing on the lambskin leather is actually inevitable with time, even if you mean well with your bag.

Caviar, on the other hand, is much more durable leather. You shouldn’t expect that much damage early on like with the lambskin leather. While the lambskin can be scratched easily by the smallest bump or scuff, the caviar leather can handle a bit of abuse. Light scratches aren’t apparent on the caviar.

But the disadvantage of the caviar leather is that it doesn’t feel as soft as the lambskin. The durability of the bag does play a role in the overall feel of the bag. So if you plan on using your Chanel bag every day or almost every day, then you should definitely choose the caviar leather.

These are just some brief advantages and disadvantages, but remember it comes down to personal preference. Some people may know the risk of buying a lambskin Chanel bag and wearing it every day. But, they’d rather a lambskin over a caviar bag. That’s perfectly fine, because in the end you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a bag that doesn’t feel right to you.

As far as cost is concerned, the caviar leather is a must. With the constant price increases on Chanel handbags choosing the less costly caviar leather bag would be the right choice. I don’t blame anyone who does this because, frankly, I do it too.

If decide to buy a classic Chanel anytime soon it will be the caviar leather version, no doubt. Since I already have a couple lambskin bags, why not purchase a more durable bag that lasts longer? If bought another lambskin leather bag, the inevitable scratches would hurt me more than the bag itself! I can’t imagine having another lambskin bag that is scratch prone. I want my bags to last as long as possible. So my next choice is caviar.

What do you think about the leathers? Would you choose caviar or lambskin leather, and why?

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