So I was cleaning my grandma’s attic last week, right? Found this dusty old Chanel purse buried under mothballs. Looked straight outta some black-and-white movie. Figured it might be worth something, so I dove down the vintage Chanel rabbit hole. Here’s how it went down.
First: Identify the Damn Thing
Grabbed my phone and started snapping pics of every angle. The stitching, hardware, even the nasty stains inside. Googled “old Chanel purse logos” like a maniac. Turned out that lil’ gold CC clasp? Classic 1950s design. Got lucky ’cause the serial number wasn’t completely rubbed off – etched near the lining like tiny ghost numbers. Almost missed it.
The Hunt for Clues
Hit up three vintage shops downtown. First guy lowballed me hard: “I’ll give ya fifty bucks, final offer.” Nah. Second place smelled like cats, but the lady knew her stuff. Pointed at the chain strap: “See how these links interlock smooth? Counterfeits snap like twigs.” She pulled out a magnifying glass and showed me the quilt pattern alignment. Real Chanel’s flawless, fake ones zigzag like drunk ants.
Material Matters
- Leather: Rubbed olive oil on a hidden spot – vintage lambskin drinks it up. Modern stuff repels.
- Hardware: Scratched the clasp gently with a pin. Real gold plating doesn’t flake like cheap paint.
- Lining: Peeked under the stitches. 50s bags used silk, not polyester garbage.
The Shocker
Almost fumbled my coffee when an auction house dude slid into my DMs. Sent him the serial pics and bam – matched their archive database. Turns out this ugly duckling was a 1957 cocktail bag. Only 200 made. Valuation? Low end: $7K. High end: $20K if the leather hydrates right. My hands shook holding that raggedy thing after that.
Biggest Lesson Learned
Don’t trust randos quoting prices without inspecting every millimeter. And never, EVER try cleaning vintage Chanel with dish soap. Saw a horror story online where some idiot scrubbed off half the value with a Magic Eraser. Just… don’t.
