The Chanel 19 Bag Guide
With puffy, oversized diamond quilting, the Chanel 19 bag features a trio of hardware finishes on chunky chains and an interlocking “CC” clasp. The Chanel 19 bag gets its name from the year it was released — just like Chanel’s 2.55 flap bag. Conceived by Chanel’s creative director Virginie Viard and the late Karl Lagerfeld—the final handbag he designed before his death—many collectors see it as the new It-bag.
Design and Features of the Chanel 19 Bag
Designed as a structured flap bag with a slouchy, soft shape, the Chanel 19 comes in various sizes, colors and styles. However, all of the iterations include the classic elements of a Chanel bag: flap style, diamond quilting, an interlocking “CC” clasp, chain strap detailing, mixed-finish hardware and a pillow-like exterior.
Chanel 19 Bag Sizes
The Chanel 19 handbag is available in five styles: flap bag, large flap bag, maxi flap bag, waist bag and the wallet on chain. The Chanel 19 line features the following dimensions:
- Chanel 19 Flap Bag: 6.2"L x 10.1"W x 3.5"D
- Chanel 19 Large Flap Bag: 7.8"L x 11.7"W x 3.9"D
- Chanel 19 Maxi Flap Bag: 9.8"L x 14"W x 4.3"D
- Chanel 19 Waist Bag: 4.3"L x 7.8"W x 2.1"D
- Chanel 19 Wallet on Chain: 4.8"L × 7.5"W × 1.4"D
The most popular Chanel 19 style is the flap, which comes in three sizes: small, large and maxi. It’s important to note that many collectors refer to the Chanel 19 flap bag as the small flap. Collectors love the dual chain strap offering multiple styling options, including as a shoulder bag or crossbody. The flap bag has a flat back pocket and opens to reveal a luxurious textile-lined interior.
Chanel released other iterations of this bag, including a waist bag and a wallet on chain (WOC). The waist bag style features a short adjustable strap you can wear around the waist or across the chest. The Chanel WOC features a chunky crossbody chain strap and a sizeable interior, great for when you don’t need to carry much more than a few credit cards, lipstick and a smartphone.
Materials and Craftsmanship of the Chanel 19 Bag
Chanel is known for the intricacy and artistry of its handbags. Thanks to Chanel’s leathermaking expertise, the Chanel 19 can withstand wear while looking beautiful for years to come. As with all Chanel purses, Chanel 19 bags comes in luxurious materials like goatskin, lambskin, tweed, jersey, denim, cotton canvas and printed silk. The House most frequently crafts Chanel 19 bags using glazed goatskin leather, which is durable and soft to the touch.
Colors of the Chanel 19 include classic shades of beige, black and white, plus seasonal colors like iridescent pink, pastel blue and tie-dye.
The trio of hardware finishes is one of the most defining characteristics of the Chanel 19 handbag. Made in-house by Chanel, the gold-, ruthenium- and silver-toned hardware is sturdy yet lightweight. The jewelry-like gold-tone clasp opens with a turn-lock, inspired by the Chanel Classic Flap. Inside the bag, Chanel lovers will appreciate the logo embossed gold-tone metal plate.
The Chanel 19 Bag’s Value and Collectibility
Collectors everywhere covet the Chanel 19 handbag. Due to rising prices in Chanel boutiques, the bag still holds much of its retail value even on the secondhand market. The nature of Chanel’s collectability means that shoppers may be able to find a style that’s brand new with tags or in excellent pre-owned condition. In early 2021, a black Chanel 19 Small Flap bag sold for more than $5,500.
Seasonal collections and colors not found in boutiques will fetch a premium on the resale markets. For example, Chanel released a rare pale blue iteration for its Cruise 2019 show that collectors often have on their must-have list. In 2021, this unique pale blue Chanel 19 Flap fetched approximately $5,200.