While current Chanel bags like the Boy Bag, the Chanel 19, the Filigree Vanity Case, and the Deauville are still hotter than ever on the resale market, the obsession with vintage Chanel pieces like the Camera Bag and the Diana Bag continues.

Many aficionados claim the quality of Chanel bags have decreased drastically since the early 2000s, and we can see why this may be true and cause shoppers to consider vintage Chanel. Some vintage Chanel bags were made of even better-quality materials than today, with real 24K gold hardware on many bags produced before 2008. When nowadays it’s just gold-tone hardware, and sometimes the stitching is uneven, the lambskin is dented, and the flimsiness of the materials causes it to lose shape much more quickly.

Plus, with the massive price hikes on some of Chanel’s newest models, consumers have jumped ship for the vintage side of Chanel. And while the prices on the vintage pieces have also increased due to supply and demand, some of the best vintage Chanel bags of the past are still considerably cheaper than today’s $10,000 Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap Bag.

Well, we wanted to take you on a tour of some of our best-selling vintage Chanel bags that we think you should also consider investing in for your shop too!

CHANEL CAMERA BAG

Launched in the 1980s, the Chanel Camera Bag was a fashionable reinterpretation of the camera cases used by photographers and reporters. Since then, the Camera Bag has become iconic.

This square-shaped bag may be small but has lots of space. Crafted in quilted leather with the CC logo, a top-zip closure and the classic chain crossbody strap, this elegant, elusive design is a highly sought-after piece on the resale market.

CHANEL GRAND SHOPPING TOTE

The Chanel Grand Shopping Tote (GST) is Chanel’s most classic, iconic, and roomiest shopping tote. Featuring classic quilting, the double C motif, open and zippered compartments, and split chain handles, it’s no wonder this now discontinued shoulder bag is fetching top dollar 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’s only available in classic quilting, and mostly produced in caviar leather, but there are a few patent and lambskin options on the resale market. It’s also available in a rainbow of colors, from white to blue and traditional black.

CHANEL MEDALLION TOTE

While not yet exactly vintage, the Medallion Tote, which launched in 2006, is one of our best sellers and most requested bags. Featuring a large CC motif, classic Chanel quilting, and long top handles, this roomy tote is lightweight and for many years, was one of the hottest carryalls around.

The Medallion Tote is only available in 12.5“ x 10“ x 6“ and was produced in two types of hardware, but many different colors and combos. It was mostly produced in caviar leather, but you can find some bags in lambskin, patent leather, and even velvet.

CHANEL DIANA BAG

Introduced by Karl Lagerfeld in 1989 (production ended in the mid 90s), the Diana Flap Bag was made famous by Princess Diana who carried the small version. This single strap bag, which also comes in a medium-sized version, was crafted in diamond-quilted lambskin leather and features gold ‘CC’ hardware, the classic chain strap, and a border trim on the curved front flap.

With an internal zip and slip pocket and leather lining, this timeless classic is large enough to hold small necessities but shouldn’t be weighed down. The bag was produced in a handful of colors and a color-blocked option too.

CHANEL JUMBO XL FLAP BAG WITH OVERSIZED CC CLASP

Chanel’s now-discontinued Jumbo Flap Bag is a hot ticket item on the resale market. Introduced in the mid 90s, this single flap, double chain-link strap, Matelasse leather bag is instantly recognizable due to its large, 24k gold CC turnstile lock.

CHANEL COSMETIC VANITY CASE

While the vanity case is a most-wanted item right now thanks to the success of the Filigree Bag, this design dates back to the Audrey Hepburn era, when women used to carry cosmetics and toiletries whenever they traveled. The original Cosmetic Vanity Handbag was released in the 80s, and then Karl Lagerfeld introduced the Chanel Vanity Case in the ’90s.

HOW TO RESTORE A VINTAGE CHANEL BAG

Sometimes the bag you find is in less than perfect condition, but that’s ok! These days many resellers are purchasing lower-grade bags to upcycle and restore, and luckily there are a few experts out there who can restore and repair bags to like-new condition. We’ve become quite fond of Leather Surgeons, and once Gerry Gallagher and his leather surgeons complete their work on your pre-loved luxuries, you’ll be amazed by their expert craftsmanship and how they’re able to take a very used Chanel Classic Flap Bag and make it look 10 years younger.

LEPRIX WHOLESALE

Meet LePrix Wholesale, the most trusted and largest online platform to source authentic, pre-owned luxury. With LePrix Wholesale at your service, you have immediate access to all the bestselling designer pieces for your resale business.

You’ll never again have to spend countless hours searching for the hottest Louis Vuitton pochette or the classic Chanel bag at a healthy margin. Or stress over currency conversions, the customs and shipping process, or the authenticity of your purchases. Every item on LePrix Wholesale is inspected and authenticated multiple times. You can easily add a Certificate of Authenticity with your order.

On our wholesale platform, every item comes with a description, condition, and letter grade for top brands. By leveraging deep data analytics and AI, our platform also shows you a suggested minimum resale price and estimated profit margin for top pre-owned brands like Chanel, Hermès and Dior. Every item is LePrix-vetted and inspected so you and your customers can rest assured knowing that each purchase is authentic.

If you’re a business, you may qualify for exclusive access to authentic, pre-owned designer bags, jewelry, and accessories at wholesale prices. Find out more here.

ABOUT LEPRIX

LePrix means “the price” and “the prize” in French, which captures the spirit of the hunt for pre-owned luxury. The thrill of the hunt sparked the launch of the world’s largest marketplace enabling access to shop over 600 designer consignment boutiques online. While working with hundreds of the world’s best consignment boutiques, we discovered that our store partners were wasting a lot of time and energy sourcing inventory to grow their businesses. They needed a convenient way to source more top-selling products like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, etc. from other trusted resale businesses. And that is how LePrix Wholesale was born.

In 2018, LePrix launched LePrix Wholesale, which is the only marketplace in the U.S. unlocking access to pre-owned, pre-authenticated luxury from the world’s most trusted suppliers at deeply discounted prices. Our team of experts carefully select suppliers, curate the most desirable inventory and inspect your orders before shipment. You will be assigned a dedicated account manager to help you optimize your wholesale buying experience. We believe in empowering businesses like yours with the right tools (access to top sellers, inventory you need, or valuable resources) and support to help you grow your business.

*LePrix is not affiliated with any brands in any manner. All items are LePrix Vetted and Approved: LePrix’s team of specialists inspect every item before it’s listed and sold on LePrix Wholesale.