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I have a bit of an obsession with trunks and boxes ever since I visited the Louis Vuitton workshop in Asnières. But what I don’t like about Louis Vuitton is the use of coated canvas, whereas at Pinel & Pinel, they make small trunks in leather.
Recently, JB told me he needed a watch box. Now that he has a small collection of automatic watches, he feels the need to store them in a single place so he can switch watches more often (and wind them more regularly too). It was perfect timing because a few weeks ago I spotted a tea box with 4 compartments that might suit him at Rougier & Plé (the same box can also be found on Amazon too). We went to buy the box together to make sure the size was right.
The clasp on this box was a bit cheap, so I bought a nicer one on Amazon (Amazon link) and kept the original hinges.
The main difficulty in making this box was skiving the corners. Sure, geometry knowledge are essential, but it’s basic knowledge. I struggled so much with the skiving that I started doubting my ability and dexterity. I had to remind myself of my technical prowess in skiving when I had good tools. So, I bought a marble slab (Amazon link) and took the time to sharpen my knife. I managed to reduce a 0.8mm thick leather down to 0.3mm by hand.
The exterior leather comes from Relma Paris. It’s a goatskin with a very nice pattern and a soft, smooth feel. Among all the goat leathers I’ve tried, this one is my favorite. It’s the second hide I’ve bought in this color. For my box, I used half a hide.
The interior leather is lambskin from Poussain Paris. It’s super smooth. I also used half a hide; the other half had already been used for another bag project. It’s very soft and squishy, and when it absorbs glue, it expands by a few millimeters. So the tricky part was cutting the exact dimensions to line the interior with a leather that shifted so much. I think I did a good job, even if it’s not perfect.
Once the inside and outside were fully covered in leather, the wooden dividers no longer fit. For now, I’m using cardboard covered in leather as dividers, but ideally, I’ll need a small wood saw to recut those wooden pieces to the right size. To be continued…
For the handle, I hesitated a lot between a drop-down/up handle, a fixed handle with two screws, or a 3D-style handle like the Hermès Kelly. In the end, I went with a slightly rounded handle sewn directly onto leather. It’s not the most luxurious option, and I think I’ll do better next time.
And here is the final result. JB is happy with it and that’s what matters most!
Here’s the cost breakdown: Box: €9; Leather: €45 (2x half hides); Clasp: €15.
Total: €69. Not including two days of work.
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