Bit of rep science - 187 v Rome

After months of waiting I finally have both of my minis! Burgundy / brown caviar from 187 and silver metallic calfskin from Rome.

Now I have them side by side I can say that I think Rome makes a better version of this bag. The overall shape, hardware weight, stitching, construction, and symmetry go to Rome.

Leather for both are excellent, I've held both auths in store and I cannot fault either factory. I actually will go as far as say that Rome has managed to find the exact same leather as auth for this style.

The burgundy caviar from 187 is faultless as well, soft, lush, with that gorgeous subtle sheen you see in the auth. The leather smell is spot on from the auth caviar WOC that I have.

The errors on both bags:

- Rome's screws in the handle parts protrude slightly instead of sitting flush like in 187's (last 2 photos). The auth sits flush too.

- 187's stitching under the pocket flaps aren't as even as Rome's.

- 187's 31 rue cambon hardware is sharp at the edges. Rome's edges are smoothed out slightly.

- Rome's interlocking Cs on the pocket are slightly thicker than 187. Having seen the Auth, 187's is more accurate.

The errors are tiny details and I don't think any of my friends would clock them, especially with these two buried in my collection of auth bags. For those wondering - I do intend to pass these off as auths if somebody asks, but highly doubt anybody would ask because these are great reps, and I have a job that can support it.

Very satisfied with both buys! Next up is to try OF, which I've heard makes the best minis.

187 from Doris, Rome from Bao Bao. Found both sellers using the search bar!

Seller experience:

Doris - fast to respond, fast to ship. Had a bit of a snafu when Doris didn't send tracking details to me. First shipment ended up getting seized but she was extremely quick getting a replacement and the bag arrived in the UK less than a week later.

Bao Bao - fast to respond, fast to ship. Immediately sent tracking details and a tracking link. Shipment took about 10 days to the UK.

I like both sellers, but BaoBao provided a bit more advice in terms of getting me to trust that Rome was also high tier.

Very happy and will definitely be a repeat rep customer from here on out! I can't say that reps will definitely replace auths for me, but for these funky colours that I won't wear all the time, reps are the way to go 💖

EDIT: PRINCES

187 - $442 including shipping to UK Rome - $370 including shipping to UK

Opted for no boxes for both.

Common Rep Differentiators: Identifying 187 Factory’s “Boxy” C25 RepScience Guide...

Today’s guide is about a common rep differentiator in 187 C25s and teaches you the attributes to look for to identify it yourself.

This can be useful for choosing a factory to order from, QC, assessing the possibility of a bait & switch, vetting rehome claims, and playing rep vs. auth/rep games. It is NOT definitive, prescriptive, or any sort of guarantee. It also isn’t meant to describe your specific bag, but rather a generalization observed across many photos.

It’s possible bags from other factories can have these characteristics, and a given 187 C25 may show only one or two, or none. This guide is based on looking at many photos, reading observations from others, and trying to identify and verbalize patterns that contribute to an overall “look” community members have discussed for ages. Not every 187 bag will show all three, depending on the batch, individual bag, or how the bag has adjusted and relaxed with use over time.

Lesson 1: The sides don’t slouch/leather doesn't "crumple"

187 C25s can look like the sides are straight rather than slouching inward. The leather may appear to crumple less than the auth or some other factories.

Lesson 2: The “side arms” fold right above the pockets

Look at where the sides fold into the body of the bag. On 187, the “side arms” can appear to fold more directly above the pockets rather than slouching further up or sloping more gradually.

Lesson 3: Rectangle + trapezoid

The sides may stand upright, while the top looks a little more open. Overall, this can make the bag look slightly more rectangular, with a trapezoid on top.

Putting it together

These three characteristics, if one or more are present, can contribute to what people describe as the “boxy” look of 187 C25s. In other words, it may look like there's a box inside of the C25, shaping the bag.

Why it matters

187 is often touted as the “best” factory for Chanel, but “best” is subjective. 187 is known for its leather, stitching, hardware, etc., but its CFs and C25s are commonly observed to be boxier, and the CF tongue is another common tell. I personally notice shape more than stitching, so another factory may be “better” if proportions matter most to you.

187 is also the most expensive Reddit factory for Chanel.

And importantly, 187 DOES NOT ACCEPT REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES unless there is a MAJOR defect. Boxy look is not a major defect. "Not looking like the auth" is not going to get you a refund or exchange. Know this before buying if you’d be bothered by a known 187 characteristic/tell.

A couple disclaimers

I don’t own a 187 bag because I can’t personally justify the higher price and inability to RL, despite its arguably superior quality in some aspects of construction compared with other factories. This post is therefore based on observations from photos others have shared, not my own item(s).

Also, most photos posted in rep subs are of brand-new bags. It’s possible this shape relaxes with use, so it’d be great to see more posts from long-term 187 owners sharing photos and experiences with their used bags.

This post is not the place to ask to QC your bag or try to identify if/which is from 187, thanks for understanding 🙏

Image credits: These are not my images. Images were sourced from across Reddit, with the link credited on each comparison slide. This guide is not a criticism of 187 or those who own 187 bags, nor is it meant to disparage anyone. I’m grateful to the contributors who shared their photos for the community to learn from and thus make guides like this possible.

Wrapping it up

Overall, this isn’t perfect, prescriptive, or foolproof, but I hope it was a little helpful, or at least a fun little game?

If you have additional insights to contribute, I’d love to read them in the comments. I don’t claim to be “right,” and I’d love to learn from you all. I’m open to updating this guide in the future with the community’s contributions and observations.

Have observations about another factory, bag, brand, etc. that would make a good “Common Rep Differentiator” guide? Feel free to reach out! If you teach me, I’m happy to write it and give you co-writing credit. Or, if you want to write your own guide but need a little support, I’m happy to proofread!

Links to my past Common Rep Differentiator Guides:

• Common Rep Differentiators: Why do people say, "BV is not repped well"?
• RepScience: Lo3we x Studio Ghibli - Common Rep Differentiators

Hi everyone,

My 26b CC 20cm mini souplissimo flap bag arrived yesterday from XC and I couldn't contain my excitement at how amazing it looks in person. Everything exceeded my expectations for the price point (I paid $265USD excluding shipping through Mandy).

First of all, I haven't seen the auth in person as this bag is quite new and hard to find from what I gathered online. I obtained some images from VC of the auth and did a comparison between XC version and auth. And to my surprise, it's pretty close - you can see very subtle differences like placement of grommets, back pocket and CC logo sits a bit higher on the auth, but other than that, you can't even tell (I've attached side by side photos).

The leather feels amazing and absolutely no fufu or unpleasant smell (coming from someone with extremely sensitive nose). It's slouchy but still hold structure. The tone of the hardware is not brassy or overly yellow, it's the perfect light gold.

The interior lining is great as well, no major callouts or complaints in terms of leather quality. The only "flaw" I would point out is the inner lining of the back pocket is quite stiff and hard on touch compared to the interior. Moreover, the turnlock can be a bit stiff within the first couple of uses but it's a lot better now.

The strap is comfortable to wear, although I did hang it up over my closet door to remove the dent from the way it was originally packaged.

Overall, I'm extremely pleased with this bag from XC/Xiao C factory. Apologies if I missed anything crucial. Happy to hear everyone's thoughts ☺️

Disclaimer: No incentives or discounts were given for this review, all opinions are purely mine. I just wanted to share my little win today 🤍

The first is a mini puzzle in Asphalt Grey, Nude, and Green tricolor colorblock. Alongside a Lo3we sheep charm it's just so cute and scenic 😭 It looks like the perfect place for a herd to enjoy a peaceful, partly cloudy day 🥹

The second is a limited edition Lo3we Flamenco Surplus that looks like a sandy beach for a crab to scuttle 🦀🦀🦀

The flamenco has been repped, not sure about the puzzle.

Do you know of any other bags that would fit this kind of theme? What do you think of these charm pairings?

GF Di0r bags - finally in hand! 💃🏻

Finally received my god factory Di0r bags!!

I have owned Di0r bags in the past and have always been a fan of Gf’s overall quality, materials, hardware etc.

TS: Lucky (4964)
Factory: GF

1. Black LD in small = $370 + shipping
2. Black Toujours in medium/ 28cm = $460 + shipping
3. Taupe WOC in small = $315 + shipping
4. Beige WOC/ My Di0r in medium = $480 + shipping

Thoughts on the bags:
Overall, very happy with my bags.
I do regret buying the medium beige WOC and will likely Rehome (apparently it is totally sold out and they will no longer have this material/colour). The material is more durable/stiff than the traditional LDs - which is also typical in the auth, and that’s why the auth My Di0r is half the price of the LDs. I do love that it’s durable and not as delicate but the colour + size just looks too big on me (I’m very petite) and doesn’t suit me well. It just looks like a big box on my hip 😟

Also, the small WOC and small LD are too small for me 🤦🏻‍♀️ or for anyone who has a 17 pro max and likes to carry keys, cards, lippy etc 😂 I’ll likely just wear these bags with my phone in hand.

I am totally in love with the medium Toujours and I’ve been using it this week with a perfect insert. I will definitely be exploring another colour 🙂‍↔️ open to suggestions if anyone can recommend another good colour.

Thoughts on the seller:
Overall, pleased. I have purchased from Lucky a few times in the past and his communication is always good and he has great prices. Easy communication and friendly.

Disclaimer:
I have not received any discount/ incentive for this review. Seller is aware I am posting a review and gave me permission to mention his prices.

If you want any extra photos or any other info about the bags or seller then please feel free to ask! ❤️