Whether you’re starting your Hermes journey in hopes of securing a quota bag or are simply curious about the legacy of the brand, you should try at least one of Hermes’ leather products at some point in your lifetime. One of the least expensive ways to do that is by buying the Calvi Cardholder. Today, I’ll be discussing the Calvi Cardholder’s pros, cons, and if I think it’s worth it.
What It Comes With
All of Hermes’ SLGs (small leather goods) are packaged in their classic Hermes orange box, tissue paper to protect the item within the box, and tied with the Hermes brown ribbon.
Details
The Hermes Calvi is designed in a simple, understated, yet practical way – which is exactly how the brand likes to be represented. Despite being the most coveted brand in luxury, Hermes is known to be fairly modest. You can see in the photo below that the Hermes name can only be found on the inside of the cardholder. Unlike many of their competitors who have logos plastered on every square inch of every product, Hermes avoids being flashy and ostentatious. Rather than designing their products with a ‘look at me!’ design and trying to attract as many consumers as possible, Hermes has maintained its clientele by remaining focused on producing products of the highest quality. Hermes is #1 in the market for all leather goods, and I would say they’ve rightly earned that reputation. Even with a product as simple as the Calvi, you can instantly feel the difference in Hermes’ leather.
The Calvi pictured here is made with Epsom leather, one of the fashion house’s staple leathers. It’s extremely lightweight, durable, easy to care for, and virtually waterproof and scratch-proof. Epsom is also exceptionally easy to clean, requiring a mere swipe of a damp cloth. Epsom holds its shape very well over time, so you won’t have to baby your Calvi.
In addition to Epsom being the most practical leather for a cardholder or wallet, it’s also known for its ability to show the vibrancy of colors. This specific Calvi is made in the color Vert Criquet, a unique pastel green meant to resemble the color of a cricket. I think having a pop-of-color SLG is a great idea since it allows you to spot your cardholder more easily amongst the items in your bag.
Capacity
Hermes’ Calvi Cardholder features two slots, each with a considerable capacity of 8 cards. This means the Calvi can comfortably fit up to 16 cards; you can see in the last photo below that there may still be room for 1 or 2 more thin cards such as a MetroCard, so you could likely fit a total of 18 cards in the Calvi.
Pros
Quality – As the #1 artisan of leather in the world, Hermes’ leather goods are incomparable to all others. Epsom leather is sincerely the best choice for a cardholder, especially given how much cardholders tend to be tossed around inside of bags.
Practicality – The beauty of Hermes truly lies within the brand’s practical products, and the Calvi is no exception. It was designed to be simple, practical, and long-lasting. Since the slots already have a large capacity, you don’t really need to worry about the cardholder ever stretching out.
Durability – Epsom is known to be extremely resistant to water and scratches, and it maintains its shape very well. All of these are factors that you’d want in an ideal wallet, and the Calvi has them!
Capacity – There’s just no beating the Calvi’s 18-card capacity. It’s unheard of for a cardholder to fit more than 8 cards, much less 18. Even if you don’t carry around that many cards, you can fit cards in one slot and cash in the other.
Cons
Design – If you like logos or intricate exterior designs, then the Calvi is not for you. Width-wise, the Calvi is also thicker than a standard compact cardholder, but this is due to the Calvi’s large capacity. Compact cardholders typically fit up to 5 cards, whereas the Calvi can fit up to 18.
Hard to get – Another reason Hermes’ clientele remains so loyal to the brand is due to the exclusivity of their products. The Calvi is known as a great introductory piece to the brand, making its already limited inventory even harder to get.
Is It Worth It?
Given its superb quality, practicality, and durability, I think the Hermes Calvi is well worth the money. It was my first Hermes leather purchase, and now I’m hooked! I’m glad that I was able to feel and experience the quality of the leather without having to shell out $10k for a quota bag. If you’re interested in purchasing a Calvi in Vert Criquet or another color, I’d be happy to source one for you. Feel free to message me on my Instagram or Facebook page!
If you only like to carry around a few cards and prefer a slim cardholder, then you can also consider the Chanel Classic Flat Cardholder. You can read my full review on that here or watch my YouTube video comparing the two cardholders here.
I appreciate the classic Hermes design this has; it’s very stylish!
So do I! I think everyone can appreciate Hermes’ classic, simple design 🙂
Great review! I haven’t bought any Hermes leather products before but this cardholder sounds absolutely amazing. The colour is so pretty and the fact that it holds up to 18 is unbelievable! Thank you so much for sharing x
Thank you! I’m so glad you like it. This is definitely my favorite cardholder that I’ve come across so far.
Congratulations on your first Hermes. I’m not sure if I will get an Hermes in the future. Hermes is just too expensive in Malaysia.
Thank you! Yes, I definitely understand that Hermes can be quite expensive, especially when you’re paying retail prices directly fromt the boutique! A great option to get Hermes’ items is from a pre-loved website. I luckily have several available from my small business IG, isabellevitanewyork, in case you’re interested 🙂
[…] If you like to carry around cash, coins, and/or more than 5 cards, then this is not the cardholder for you. In that case, you’re better off purchasing the Hermes Calvi Cardholder instead, and you can read my full review on that here. […]
The colour is really lovely! It sounds like a great card holder. You have shared a detailed review, sharing the pros and cons. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren
It is a lovely a cardholder! Thanks for reading ☺️
Hermes is one of our most favorite brands to follow, and this cardholder is cool. Thank you for sharing, and we really enjoyed you reading your post! Check out some of more recent posts to see what we are all about.
So glad to hear you like Hermes too!
Definitely. It is such a great and interesting brand!
Agreed! I loved learning about Hermes’ heritage.
Definitely!
This sounds amazing. Going to check out this cardholder. Thank you for sharing.
Yay! Let me know if you’d like to purchase it directly 🙂
[…] can also read my in-depth review of the Hermes Calvi Cardholder here and the Chanel Classic Flat Cardholder […]
What a gorgeous card holder! I’m in love with the color and the fact that it has a modest style. I loved your review, thanks for highlighting the pros and cons. I would love to own one in the future! Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely adore the color! Vert Criquet is such a unique pastel green. Thanks for reading!
Very professional color!
Love your detailed review of this Calvi Cardholder.
Hermes never ceases to surprise us considering their over 180-year history.
Emma
Agreed! Vert Criquet is such a special color and I love how the Calvi can work for so many lifestyles.
[…] spring, Hermes has quickly made its way into different areas of my life. First, I started with a Calvi cardholder since, after all, Hermes is the #1 leather artisan in the world, and now, I’ve purchased the […]
[…] in the entire world, which is quite the reputation. Thus far, I’ve been impressed with their Calvi Cardholder and classic Oran Sandals, and now it’s time to see if the highly-coveted Chypre Sandals are […]