One of the hardest decisions when buying a Chanel Flap bag is not the colour or size but the material - Lambskin or Caviar. To the untrained eye, they look relatively similar but ask any owner of this iconic item and they will have very specific reasons why they chose the material they did.
I have listed below the pros and cons, as well as the main things you need to know about the different materials, so that you can make an informed decision.
CAVIAR LEATHER
PROS
Sturdier.
Can withstand daily use without showing signs of wear and tear.
Harder to scratch and scuff.
The shine that is more associated with the Lambskin also happens to the Caviar when worn for a while.
Maintains it's puffy quilting over time.
Has a better resale value
Requires less storage care than the Lambskin.
Cheaper than the Lambskin.
CONS
When directly next to the Lambskin, the Caviar does not look as luxurious.
LAMBSKIN
PROS
The iconic Chanel material.
Looks more luxurious
Darker colours look darker in Lambskin than in Caviar thus more striking.
Shinier than the Caviar leather.
Very smooth and soft
Although less sturdy than the Caviar it is not fragile.
CONS
Prone to scratches and scuffs.
Does not maintain puffiness in the quilting as well as the Caviar.
In lighter colours, lambskin will show up scratches.
Requires very specific storage (i.e. if the lambskin is not stored correctly, the hardware can dent the lambskin).
I hope this helps in your choice!