The CHANEL Vintage Kelly Bag, a must-have for second-hand lovers, is more expensive than the 2023 replica. Is the rare leather being sold for NT$770,000?

In recent years, CHANEL occasionally reproduces styles from the 80s and 90s to pay tribute to the classics. Following the CHANEL PREMIÈRE Watch and CHANEL 31 Bag, this season CHANEL reproduced the Kelly Bag from the 90s, which surprised vintage fans. If you want to know which one is more worth buying, the vintage version or the new version, you must first understand the difference between the two versions.

CHANEL reproduces the discontinued model in the 1990s

Although the official name of the new version of CHANEL Kelly Bag is Shopping Bag, vintage fans will definitely think of the classic CHANEL Party Kelly Bag launched in 1997.

Named after the Princess of Monaco

The once popular but now discontinued Kelly Bag was launched in the 1980s. The bag was named after Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco. The Party Kelly Bag with a small flap design was launched in 1997.

The Party Kelly Bag's strong curved top handle creates an intellectual, elegant and stable atmosphere. This unique handle is known as the "Kelly handle". The trapezoidal shape of the Kelly Bag is full of retro style.

The entry price of second-hand Kelly starts from 50,000

The Party Kelly Bag launched in the 1990s is not only made of cowhide, but also has been made of rare wild animal leather, including lizard, crocodile and other leather styles. Currently, the second-hand price of the cowhide Party Kelly Bag has exceeded HK$50,000, and the wild animal leather version has been sold for as high as HK$770,000 on auction websites in Europe and the United States, which fully proves the collection value of the Vintage Kelly Bag.

New version of Kelly with chain strap

Different from the vintage model, the new version of CHANEL Kelly Bag launched this season has more obvious classic stitching design on the bag body and a larger top handle design. In terms of material, it uses shiny aged calfskin and plain knit fabric. In addition to the handle, the new version also comes with a chain strap, which can be turned into a crossbody or shoulder bag at will. The current official price of the Mini size is $34,300.

Supported by Margot Robbie

Recently, the new version of Kelly Bag has become a hot topic because of Margot Robbie's endorsement. She was the first to use the pink new version of Kelly Bag when promoting the live-action version of "Barbie", causing this new bag, which debuted at the CHANEL 2023/24 Fall/Winter fashion show, to be sold out before pre-orders. At the same time, it attracted the attention of vintage fans to the Kelly Bag, causing inquiries about the CHANEL Vintage Kelly Bag to soar in the vintage market.

CHANEL 31 Bag has been reproduced three times

The CHANEL Kelly Bag is not the first bag to be reproduced. The CHANEL 31 Bag, launched in 1989, has been reproduced three times since 2000. The name of the CHANEL 31 Bag not only pays tribute to the CHANEL store at 31 rue Cambon in Paris, but also contains the French proverb "se mettre sur son 31" (dress appropriately).

31 Bag 80s vs. 2000s

When the CHANEL 31 Bag was launched in 1989, it was available in two sizes, large and small. The handle was designed with a hollowed-out circle in a piece of hard leather, and the bag was hard and could not be folded. The shoulder strap was a classic leather chain, which was dignified and elegant.

The CHANEL 31 Bag was first re-released in 2000. The new model has a horizontal body, a shoulder strap, and a leather belt. The color of the bag has also changed from solid to mixed colors, making it more suitable for a casual look. CHANEL then re-released the 31 Bag in 2018 and 2023. The latest version in 2023 combines a leather chain with a leather shoulder strap, and is available in mini sizes.

Rare model with high appreciation potential

Since the CHANEL 31 Bag has been discontinued, it has become more unique in the second-hand market. In addition, there is a rare chance of seeing the 1989 version in the second-hand market, making the CHANEL Vintage 31 Bag even more precious. Its appreciation potential cannot be ignored. This year, the second-hand market price of the Vintage 31 Bag has risen to more than HK$30,000.