Chanel products: reviews and comparisons

Every Chanel piece we checked

Chanel Classic Wallet on Chain (clutches and evening bags, $3,900–$4,400): buy. Small flap with chain, card slots and zip pocket.

Chanel Evening Clutch (clutches and evening bags, $4,000–$5,000): consider. Quilted clutch.

Chanel 19 Small Bag Pre-Owned (crossbody bags, $4,500–$6,500): consider. Oversized quilting with mixed-metal chain.

Chanel Trendy CC Small (crossbody bags, $7,000–$7,800): consider. Top-handle crossbody.

Chanel Tweed Dress (designer dresses, $6,000–$9,000): consider. Tweed dress.

Chanel Two-Tone Slingback (designer heels, $1,100–$1,300): buy. Beige and black cap-toe slingback with a 65 mm heel.

Chanel Slingback Kitten Heel Pearl (designer heels, $1,300–$1,500): consider. Slingback with pearl heel.

Chanel Dad Sandal (designer sandals, $1,100–$1,300): consider. Quilted velcro dad sandal.

Chanel Coco Crush Earrings (fine jewelry earrings, $3,000–$5,000): consider. Quilted motif earrings.

Chanel Bleu de Chanel Parfum (luxury cologne for men, $160–$220): buy. Citrus and sandalwood.

Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extrême (luxury cologne for men, $130–$170): buy. Mint and tonka.

Chanel Classic Flap Medium Pre-Owned (pre-owned designer bags, $7,500–$11,000): buy. Classic Flap in caviar, often cheaper than boutique.

Chanel Wallet on Chain Pre-Owned (pre-owned designer bags, $2,400–$3,600): buy. WOC pre-owned.

Chanel Classic Flap Jumbo Pre-Owned (pre-owned designer bags, $6,500–$9,500): buy. Jumbo flap pre-owned.

Chanel Mini Rectangular Pre-Owned (pre-owned designer bags, $4,500–$6,500): buy. Mini rectangular.

Chanel Boy Bag Old Medium Pre-Owned (pre-owned designer bags, $3,800–$5,500): consider. Boy Bag with thick chain and boy clasp.

Chanel Classic Flap Bag Medium (shoulder bags, $10,800–$11,800): consider. Quilted flap with CC turn lock and interlaced chain strap.

Chanel 22 Bag Small (shoulder bags, $6,700–$7,400): consider. Soft quilted hobo with a chain strap.

Chanel 25 Small Bag (shoulder bags, $6,800–$7,600): consider. Soft quilted bag with drawstring top.

Chanel Classic Flap Jumbo (shoulder bags, $11,500–$12,500): consider. Jumbo Classic Flap new.

Chanel Boy Bag New Medium (shoulder bags, $7,000–$7,800): consider. Boy Bag.

Chanel 19 Large (shoulder bags, $7,200–$8,000): consider. 19 Large.

Chanel Classic Flap Small (shoulder bags, $10,000–$11,000): consider. Small Classic.

Chanel Classic Flap Maxi (shoulder bags, $12,000–$13,000): consider. Maxi.

Chanel Silk Scarf (silk scarves and shawls, $650–$800): consider. Printed silk.

Chanel Coco Handle Small (top-handle bags, $6,500–$7,500): consider. Lizard handle flap.

Chanel Coco Handle Medium (top-handle bags, $7,000–$8,000): consider. Lizard-handle flap.

Chanel Kelly Top Handle (top-handle bags, $6,500–$7,500): consider. Top handle flap.

Chanel Classic Flap Medium Caviar (top-handle bags, $10,800–$11,800): consider. Caviar Classic Flap.

Chanel Deauville Tote Large (luxury tote bags, $4,800–$5,800): consider. Deauville.

Chanel Cashmere Cardigan (women’s cashmere knitwear, $3,000–$4,500): consider. Cashmere cardigan with CC buttons.

Chanel Cashmere Sweater Pre-Owned (women’s cashmere knitwear, $1,200–$2,000): skip. Cashmere with CC.

Chanel Tweed Coat (women’s luxury coats, $9,000–$14,000): consider. Tweed coat.

Chanel Combat Boot (women’s designer boots, $1,600–$1,900): consider. Lambskin combat boot.

Chanel Ballerina Flat (women’s flats and loafers, $1,000–$1,200): buy. Cap-toe ballet flat with CC and grosgrain.

Chanel Mary Jane Flat (women’s flats and loafers, $1,100–$1,300): consider. Mary Jane flat.

Chanel Leather Jacket (women’s leather jackets, $8,000–$12,000): consider. Quilted leather jacket.

Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum (luxury perfume for women, $140–$190): buy. Aldehydic floral first launched in 1921.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle EDP (luxury perfume for women, $140–$190): buy. Fresh oriental with orange and patchouli.

Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (luxury perfume for women, $130–$180): buy. Grapefruit and jasmine.

Chanel Les Exclusifs Coromandel (luxury perfume for women, $250–$380): buy. Patchouli and incense.

Chanel N°5 Parfum Extrait (luxury perfume for women, $350–$550): buy. N°5 parfum extract.

Chanel CC Sneaker (women’s luxury sneakers, $1,100–$1,350): consider. Fabric and suede sneaker with CC.

Chanel Trainer Low (women’s luxury sneakers, $1,200–$1,400): consider. Low trainer.

Chanel J12 33 (women’s luxury watches, $6,500–$7,500): buy. Ceramic J12.

Chanel Première (women’s luxury watches, $4,500–$6,000): consider. Chain bracelet watch.

Chanel J12 Diamond Bezel (women’s luxury watches, $14,000–$18,000): consider. Diamond-bezel J12.

Chanel Butterfly Sunglasses (women’s designer sunglasses, $550–$700): consider. Butterfly frame with CC.

Chanel Pearl Sunglasses (women’s designer sunglasses, $700–$900): consider. Pearl-detail frames.

Chanel Tweed Jacket (women’s blazers and tailoring, $7,000–$11,000): consider. Bouclé tweed jacket.

Chanel Classic Card Holder (women’s wallets and card holders, $750–$900): buy. Caviar card holder.

Chanel Classic Long Flap Wallet (women’s wallets and card holders, $1,800–$2,200): buy. Long flap wallet.

Chanel or another house?

Buy the piece, not the logo. Compare Chanel shoulder bags with the alternatives in our best shoulder bags list before you decide.

Authenticity, warranty and service

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.

How we make the call: we read the house’s own product details and care guides, compare materials and construction, follow owners’ long-term experience and track the usual retail and resale prices. A piece gets “Buy” only if we would tell a friend to spend that money on it. No fashion house can pay for a verdict.