Vintage Delvaux designer handbags combine exceptional Belgian craftsmanship with lasting quality that spans decades. These rare collector's pieces tell a story that new bags cannot, making them a smart choice for luxury leather handbag enthusiasts who value authenticity and heritage. How Durable Are Delvaux Vintage Handbags? As passionate collectors of Delvaux vintage handbags, one thing stands out: Their bag’s quality just lasts. We have Delvaux bags in our collection that are 40, 50, 60, or even 70 years old, and they still look absolutely stunning. Delvaux selects the best leathers and uses impeccable craftsmanship to work them. The brand also dyes their leathers with aniline teint. Aniline teint is light in pigmentation, different from strongly pigmented EPI leathers commonly used by other luxury brands. Over the years the aniline tainted leather retains a shine, which is attributed to this procedure. For us, using Aniline teint itself is a wonderful ode to the history of la maison Delvaux. Aniline, being one of the first synthetic dyes invented in 1843, is still in use today. We love the fact that Delvaux stays true to old craftsmanship techniques, including the use of teint as this. What Makes Vintage Different from New? No one can expect a bag after many years of handling to be at 100%. However, vintage bags don't need to be perfect. With Delvaux's lasting leather quality, the pre-requisite is set. Beyond this, there's the appeal of bags telling a story that a new one cannot. And the fact that it makes you feel less guilty should you ever accidently damage your beautiful Delvaux bag. Delvaux truly makes us proud of Belgian craftsmanship when you see the age and the extent of quality of the bags next to each other. There is no greater pride than carrying a vintage Delvaux, no matter the day, no matter the season. The bag's look, its history, and ultimately its rarity make this a unique standout experience. You can be sure never to bump into anyone carrying the same bag on the street. Why Does Delvaux Focus on Quality Over Quantity? From 1829 to now, Delvaux never stopped focusing on quality first. What's attractive is their consistency in maintaining it always. You cannot stay in business for over 190 years without this base element creating consistent customer satisfaction. In Quality, Delvaux sets the bar high in walking the talk. From leather selection to assembly to final “bichonnage” - quality is built in through a painstaking process of exactitude. From design to finish, their bags are crafted to last for life, which is why in Belgium they are handed down over many generations (and thus stay in close circulation, which makes them hard to get by for the collector!). How Does Delvaux Select Its Leathers? Before starting the crafting process of a bag, Delvaux will critically inspect the leathers by craftsmen seasoned in this job over many years to strictly select the most appropriate leather for the bag. Delvaux typically works with the "fleur", the flower part of the leather. This is the first layer, which is the thinnest one and has the longest aging potential. The fact that Delvaux uses light pigmenting aniline teint for their leather means there is no hiding defects. Strong pigmentation does not cover imperfections, so the highest quality of leathers matters – this is particularly apparently in some of the vintage 1950s and 1960s pieces when the coating is so thin that one can see the adders of the leather run through the piece under the light. It really demonstrates Delvaux’s pure confidence in the leather selection process – which on the old pieces was done entirely by hand, eyesight and experience and also fits very well with Delvaux’s philosophy of wanting to really showcast the quality of craftmanship and material used. (source from delvaux.com) Before moving to the assembly process, Delvaux further works on enhancing the durability, quality, and strength of structure through the three "R" processes: "refente" (slitting to thin the leather further), "rembord" (skiving to reduce and smooth the edges), and "renfort" (reinforcement to enhance the strength and thickness of the leather). Who Makes Delvaux Handbags? In the assembly process, a bag will then be taken care of by one artisan craftsman from start to finish. The artisans are accountable and proud of the finished product and working for Delvaux, many of which who have been with la Maison for over 15 years. The artisans have good reasons to be proud. It takes a long time of exacting apprenticeship at Delvaux to be allowed to assemble a bag. Some wait many years to do so, and it can be up to three years before they may be allowed to make a wallet alone, particularly if using exotic leathers. Through strictly sticking to its standards and putting priority on quality first, Delvaux has managed to continuously refine and sustain its quality over many years. Why Is Rarity Important in Luxury Handbags? Not being about volume is another way of saying – rarity plays. What we love about Delvaux is that they care about producing bags of impeccable craftsmanship and want these bags to last a lifetime. As collectors, we like to own something special, something that is not in everyone's hand. A vintage Delvaux is always special, and even when it is crafted with quiet luxury in mind, it makes you stand out from the crowd. At the oldest luxury leather handbag manufacturer in the world, maintaining quality leather and not following the latest fashion is a built-in attitude. Not only does Delvaux source their leather through sustainable sources, handles the bag through a quality focused process, but they also care about long term support of the client and the leather bag. Delvaux offers a bag spa service similar to Hermès, which gives a lifetime boost to their product. How Often Does Delvaux Release New Collections? Delvaux issues about two major collections per year, not connected to any fashion trend but rather following its latest inspiration. This could be a historic event, such as the 200 years of the French Revolution, a collaboration with an outside designer or artist, or the reinterpretation of Belgian’s prominent surrealist René Magritte. With its close to 200 years, Delvaux gives balance to the luxury bag market and stays true to its Belgian identity, "Belgitude." Are Vintage Delvaux Handbags a Good Investment? Let's recap the facts: Delvaux is a brand that exists for over 190 years. Through its discretion, its exclusive royal and aristocratic customer base, and its tiny production volumes, it has stayed continuously in business and in the know of only a few. This is a brand that has been for years part of exclusive presents given to state leaders visiting Belgium. It has worked with leading designers before the world even knew them. Let’s not forget that some top Hermès artistic directors started off or crossed within their careers la maison Delvaux, such as Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski (late 90s, early 2000s) and Martin Margiela (in 1983). This is not to mention other leading designers and artistic directors Delvaux worked with, such as Charles Kaisin, Didier Vervaeren, and Princess Frédéric de Broglie, otherwise known as Christina Zeller. What Is the Delvaux Customer Experience Like? A few years ago, when we started our vintage Delvaux collection and walked into the Delvaux shop in Brussels asking about one of our first bags, we had a positive surprise. We found welcoming staff with good knowledge of the house's heritage and who were attentive to their customers. No judgement or looking down on you because of bringing in a vintage product with questions, as opposed to taking interest in the latest collection. On the contrary, there was joint excitement to review and look at the beauty of their heritage. Which brings us to the next reason why Delvaux, vintage or new, just makes sense: an outstanding customer experience. In all modesty, we did have our fair share of Delvaux visits, reviews, and discussions. This was partially because we were buying new, our vintage collection enjoyed a good spa, or because they assisted us with research into one of our collectibles. How Do Delvaux Staff Serve Customers? No matter the reason, every time we get treated well and time flies. We can discuss in tranquility our vintage bags or get to peek at the new collection. The sales staff is always helpful with advice on the technicalities of the new bags on offer or shares our passion discussing the old. Already mid-century, Franz Schwennicke, the ex-owner's family, established a behavior guideline which has become the "D-attitude." This is the art of building a lasting customer relationship and a real feeling of exclusivity. His philosophy was that a customer well treated any time coming into the shop, even not buying, may very well return five years down the road as a buying customer. From our experience, we can testify that this philosophy has carried forward to this day.
