The Vintage Chanel Bags Worth the Investment
While current Chanel bags such as the Boy Bag, the Chanel 19, the filigree Vanity Case and the Deauville are hotter than ever on the resale market, the obsession with vintage Chanel pieces such as the Camera Bag and the Diana Bag continues.
Many aficionados claim that the quality of Chanel bags has significantly declined since the early 2000s, and we can see why that may be true and prompt buyers to consider vintage Chanel. Some vintage Chanel bags were made with higher-quality materials than today, with genuine 24-carat gold pieces on many bags produced before 2008. While today it is only gold-tone hardware, and sometimes the stitching is uneven, the lambskin is dented, and the fragility of the materials means it loses its shape much more quickly.
In addition, with massive price increases on some of Chanel's newer models, consumers have turned to Chanel's vintage side. And although vintage piece prices have also risen due to supply and demand, some of the best vintage Chanel bags from the past are still considerably cheaper than today's €10,000 Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap bag.
We wanted to take you through some of our best-selling vintage Chanel bags and we think you should also consider investing in your store!
Chanel Camera Bag
Launched in the 1980s, the Chanel Camera Bag was a stylish reinterpretation of the camera cases used by photographers and reporters. Since then, the Camera Bag has become an icon.
This square-shaped bag may be small, but it has plenty of space. Made in quilted leather with the CC logo, a top zip closure and the classic chain shoulder strap, this elegant and elusive model is a highly sought-after piece on the resale market.
Chanel Grand Shopping Tote
The Chanel Grand Shopping Tote (GST) is the most classic, the most iconic and the most spacious of Chanel's totes. Featuring classic quilting, the double C motif, open and zippered compartments, and chain handles, it is no wonder that this now-discontinued shoulder bag commands high prices on the resale market.
The bag comes in three different sizes, the Petite Shopping Tote, the Grand Shopping Tote and the Grand Shopping Tote XL. As a classic piece, it is only available in classic quilting and is mainly produced in caviar leather, but there are a few patent leather and lambskin options on the resale market. It is also available in a rainbow of colors, from white to blue to traditional black.
Chanel Medaillon Tote
Although it is not quite vintage yet, the Medallion Tote, launched in 2006, is one of our best sellers and one of the most in-demand bags. Featuring a large CC motif, classic Chanel quilting and long handles, this roomy tote is lightweight and for many years was one of the most popular bags.
The Medallion Tote is only available in a 12.5" x 10" x 6" size and was produced in two types of material, but in many different colors and combinations. It was mainly produced in caviar leather, but you can find some bags in lambskin, patent leather and even velvet.
Chanel Diana
Introduced by Karl Lagerfeld in 1989 (production stopped in the mid-1990s), the Diana flap bag was made famous by Princess Diana, who wore the small version. This distinctive shoulder bag, which also comes in a medium version, was made in diamond-quilted lambskin and is adorned with gold-tone "CC" hardware, the classic chain shoulder strap and piping on the curved front flap.
Featuring an interior zip pocket and a storage pouch, as well as a leather lining, this timeless classic is large enough to hold the small essentials, but should not be weighed down. The bag was produced in a handful of colors and in a color-blocked option as well.
Chanel Jumbo XL Flap
The now-discontinued Chanel jumbo flap bag is a highly sought-after item on the resale market. Introduced in the mid-1990s, this quilted leather bag with a single flap and double chain-link strap is instantly recognizable thanks to its large 24-carat gold CC turn-lock clasp.
Chanel Vanity Case
If the Vanity Case is the most sought-after item right now thanks to the success of the Filigree Bag, this model dates back to Audrey Hepburn's era, when women used to carry cosmetics and toiletries while traveling. The first Cosmetic Vanity Handbag came out in the 1980s, then Karl Lagerfeld introduced the Chanel Vanity Case in the 1990s.
