Celine Triomphe bag — black restored and clasp re-plated

A Celine shoulder bag in glossy black calfskin with the gold Triomphe clasp. Fine scratches had built up across the flap, leaving whitish marks where colour had gone, and the clasp plating had worn through to the base metal in places.

Restoring the black (same colour) and re-plating the clasp in gold.

1. Cleaning
2. Colour matching
3. Restoring the black
4. Re-plating the clasp
5. Finishing

The scratched, raised surface was smoothed before the black went on, and the finish brought back the sheen of the glossy leather.

The clasp was prepared separately and re-plated in gold. This was separate from the dyeing.

The fine scratches no longer show on the flap, and the shine is even.Before · photo 5 / After · photo 3

In the close-up of the clasp, the spots where the plating had worn through now read as gold.Before · photo 2 / After · photo 1

No particular limits were noted. Any difference the leather keeps is explained before work begins.

The same spot, shot from a similar angle. An overlay opens once the two photos have been checked for alignment.