Louis Vuitton is one of the most famous brands among numerous luxury items. When it comes to brand buybacks, it’s the brand with the highest number of purchases and inquiries, especially in the fields of bags and wallets. Questions like “Can I sell it in this condition?” and “How much can I expect to get?” are frequent for Louis Vuitton.
Among Louis Vuitton items, there are certain series that are particularly popular and have high circulation. In this article, we will introduce the “Top 3 Most Popular Louis Vuitton Series” that are in high demand and often sell out quickly after being bought back. We will provide insights into their appeal and important points to consider when selling or buying them!
The top 3 series for Louis Vuitton buybacks are as follows!
1st place: Speedy
Reasons for popularity
Speedy is a series born in 1930, based on the originally travel-oriented Boston bag called “Keepall.” (Originally named “Express”)
This series, based on the concept of the size for the front seat of a newly introduced car, comes in sizes 25, 30, 35, 40, and the small Nano Speedy, offering a total of 5 different sizes.
With a rich variety of sizes, the Speedy can function both as a handbag and a Boston bag due to its neat design, contributing to its popularity with its simple and clean impression.
What types of items are commonly available?
As they have been relatively popular for a long time, items brought to resale shops and circulating in the second-hand market often show signs of use. On the flip side, this makes them more affordable and easily accessible. Although newer items are not as abundant in quantity, they tend to be traded at higher prices.
The sizes, all five of them, are generally popular without significant bias. The most common pattern is the ‘Monogram’ tone, while patterns like Damier or Azur are less common. Consequently, their prices are significantly higher due to their scarcity. However, given their tendency to easily show dirt, the condition of the items can lead to substantial price differences.
How much are they being bought for?
In excellent condition, and particularly rare patterns, used items can be bought for prices exceeding SGD 1,000. There are instances where they circulate around SGD 3,000. However, the actual volume zone for used items is often within SGD 500, and especially if there are noticeable stains, signs of use, or slight deformities, the price can drop. Due to the high circulation of Speedy, the rarity of the pattern and minor changes in condition can significantly affect the buying price.
Points that Affect High-Value Appraisal?
There are various factors, but the purchase price is significantly influenced by the balance of two factors: “pattern” and “condition.”
Concerning the pattern, if it’s the most commonly seen and orthodox “Monogram,” the price tends to be relatively low. On the other hand, for patterns like Damier, Multicolour, and even rarer ones like Cherry or Bandouliere, the price tends to be higher.
Regarding the condition, as the handles bear a load, dirt and signs of use are often noticeable, and they are closely examined during the appraisal. Other vulnerable areas include the corners of the bottom surface and the base of the straps, where damage is more likely to occur, creating differences.
Even if the exterior looks clean, if the bag is not used for an extended period, moisture can accumulate inside, leading to stickiness, which can be fatal. If you are conscious of selling or appraising it later, it’s a good idea to store it with moisture absorbers!
2nd. Keepall
Reasons for popularity
The Keepall is said to be the prototype of the 1st place Speedy and was born in 1924.
Conceptually, it serves as a travel Boston bag, and although it is large, it can be folded to fit into a suitcase… which is why it uses foldable cotton material.
The “Keepall Bandouliere,” which has a shoulder strap and can also be worn over the shoulder, has also appeared as a derivative and is popular as well.
Sizes are available in widths of 45, 50, 55, 60, and an XS size, with four types in total. The availability of different sizes for various purposes is also a reason for its popularity.
Due to its high storage capacity and ease of use for various purposes, including travel, it has become one of the most commonly seen series!
What are the most common ones?
The Keepall, of course, remains popular even today. In Japan, especially, many were purchased during the 1970s to the 1990s, and items from that period are sometimes offered for sale. Given its status as a traditional series, there’s a somewhat prevalent impression that among the circulated items, those with signs of use are relatively more common.
While the classic Monogram is the most frequently encountered pattern, there is also a variety of patterns like the checkered Damier, Azur, as well as others including Cobalt. For relatively newer items in circulation, there’s an impression that patterns other than Monogram are more common.
How much are they being bought for?
They are circulating in a price range slightly higher than the Speedy introduced above. If it’s a rare pattern with little to no signs of use, it can circulate at a price exceeding SGD 3,000, and even for the most common Monogram pattern, it could exceed SGD 1,000 if the condition is exceptionally good. However, similar to the Speedy, if there is any damage such as handle wear, corner wear, or surface material damage, it can significantly reduce the circulation (buyback) price since popular items generally have a high supply. Models with noticeable issues like peeling or severe stains might even drop. Considering the abundance of older items in the market, the fluctuation in market prices is somewhat inevitable.
Points that Affect High-Value Appraisal?
The condition is certainly one factor, but especially for the Keepall, the purchase price is influenced by the difference in “patterns.” If it’s the widely popular Monogram versus a rarer pattern, the difference can be perceived as several times (often 3-5 times).
Recently, a rare pattern that has gained popularity and even a premium is the “Monogramouflage (camouflage).” The green-based genuine product born from a collaboration with designer Takashi Murakami can easily exceed SGD 5,000 even in used condition. Other relatively rare patterns like Damier, Drippy, Cherry, etc., can also expect a considerable purchase price due to their lower circulation.
While the condition, including signs of use, is crucial, especially for patterns with high circulation like Monogram, it’s essential to be aware that the price can be significantly influenced by the “detailed ranking of signs of use.” The three major points observed in the evaluation of the Keepall are whether “the handle part shows wear and discoloration,” “there are dirt or scratches on the corners of the bottom as signs of use when placed,” and “there is dirt inside.” Therefore, it’s advisable to be conscious of regular care and storage practices.
3rd: Alma
Reasons for Popularity
Louis Vuitton’s “Alma” is quite a new series, unlike the above-mentioned two series introduced so far, with its birth in 1992!
Conscious of being usable as both a shoulder bag and a handbag, Alma features a “firmly structured” design. It comes in three basic sizes (from small to large): PM, MM, and GM.
Derived from this, there are smaller versions like Nano Alma and Alma BB, as well as Neo Alma BB, and larger ones like Voyage MM and GM, continuing to release detailed variations according to the usage image. This is also a reason why it continues to maintain high popularity!
From the perspective of handling reused items, Alma is a series that is less prone to losing its shape. Therefore, even with older items, it is relatively uncommon for “prices to drop too much,” making it a recommended series.
What are the most common ones?
As the Alma itself is part of a relatively new series, it is not common to come across heavily used ones with significant wear and tear. Due to its resistance to deformation, most of them maintain a solid appearance.
Since the Alma was initially released in the Monogram pattern, Monogram variations are, of course, the most numerous. In addition to Monogram, there are many in classic patterns like Damier and Multicolor. Furthermore, there is a diverse array of materials and designs, such as Ostrich and Empreinte, which give a relatively flat impression.
How much are they being bought for?
If we’re talking about patterns where the buyback price tends to be high for Alma, collaboration patterns are one example. (Patterns like the collaboration with Kansai Yamamoto are often traded at high prices even in the resale market.) Additionally, Damier patterns are generally reliable for fetching good prices, and if the condition is good, there are many that trade for over SGD 1,000. Other patterns like Empreinte, Ostrich, and Graffiti, which were introduced above, also tend to have higher prices due to their lower circulation, and can be considerably more expensive if you are careful about their susceptibility to staining.
Even with Monogram, cases where the price exceeds SGD 1,000 are not uncommon, especially for items that are almost like new. In terms of the perceived volume in the market, there are many items in the range of SGD 200 to SGD 600. Unlike other series, it seems that cases where the condition is bad and it falls below SGD 100 are not so common.
Points that Affect High-Value Appraisal
The Alma, known for its relatively resistant shape, is evaluated in the resale market with a focus on its “easily soiled areas.” The most prominent and, therefore, emphasized aspects include the “wear, deformation, and dirt on the handles,” a point where even slight differences can significantly affect the price.
Following closely are the corners, prone to abrasion when placed down, and any dirt or damage on the bottom, which may also contribute to variations in valuation. Anecdotally, issues like the Alma’s “zipper becoming very stiff” over time can impact appraisal, so using it sparingly over an extended period could be both advantageous and disadvantageous.
While there are several points to consider when assessing the condition, these mentioned aspects are more easily discernible.
Regarding patterns, as mentioned above, while, of course, rare ones tend to have higher prices, looking at the magnification alone, it doesn’t seem that the price is as “influenced by the pattern” as much as with items like the Keepall or Speedy.
How was it? By the way, when I looked into it, the rankings from 3rd place onward were, 4th place “Neverfull,” 5th place “Papillon,” and 6th place “Noe.”
Also, since popular series are in high demand, “they are easy to sell quickly, so there is little inventory risk, and it is easy to price them with confidence,” which is another reason for favourable assessments. (In some cases, it is possible to purchase the product at a satisfactory price, even with a reason)
Furthermore, popular series also have high demand, which means they are “easy to sell quickly, with low inventory risk, and easy to price with confidence.” This is another reason why favourable assessments are more likely. (There are also cases where positive assessments are possible even in conditions like “slightly flawed.”)
If you have such a popular series and are considering replacement or sale, please feel free to request an assessment!
