Named after the date of its launch in February 1955, the Chanel 2.55 bag was dreamed up by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel to give its wearer a hands-free independence. Drawing inspiration from soldiers' packs, the 2.55 revolutionised the shoulder bag by adding a long chain shoulder strap - a design first that liberated women from the restrictions of stiff top handles. With the practicality of the 2.55 came a new era of freedom.

Every 2.55 bag is woven throughout with the personal stories from Coco’s life, and the Chanel 2.55 wallet is no different. Whether it’s the Chanel 2.55 flap wallet or Wallet On Chain, the signature rectangular clasp - named the Mademoiselle lock after Coco’s decision to not marry - and the diamond quilting, inspired by her love of equestrian sports, are hard to miss.

Material: Aged calfskin, lambskin, caviar, patent
Price Range: From S$640 for a card holder to more than S$4,000 for a Wallet On Chain

Named after the date of its launch in February 1955, the Chanel 2.55 bag was dreamed up by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel to give its wearer a hands-free independence. Drawing inspiration from soldiers' packs, the 2.55 revolutionised the shoulder bag by adding a long chain shoulder strap - a design first that liberated women from the restrictions of stiff top handles. With the practicality of the 2.55 came a new era of freedom.

Every 2.55 bag is woven throughout with the personal stories from Coco’s life, and the Chanel 2.55 wallet is no different. Whether it’s the Chanel 2.55 flap wallet or Wallet On Chain, the signature rectangular clasp - named the Mademoiselle lock after Coco’s decision to not marry - and the diamond quilting, inspired by her love of equestrian sports, are hard to miss.

Material: Aged calfskin, lambskin, caviar, patent
Price Range: From S$640 for a card holder to more than S$4,000 for a Wallet On Chain

The Chanel Boy wallet is a reinterpretation of the Chanel Boy Bag, an edgier cousin to the 2.55.

With its bolder, boxier frame and its tough-luxe brick lock clasp, the Boy Bag first made waves when it was launched in the Chanel Fall/Winter 2011 collection. Named after Arthur "Boy" Capel, the great love and muse of Coco's life, the Boy Bag departed from Chanel's more classic styles and embraced a rock 'n' roll spirit that made it an instant hit among It girls.

Like the Boy Bag, the Chanel Boy wallet embodies its experimental spirit. While it’s most often seen in Chanel’s classic diamond quilting, it can also come in other patterns such as the sleeker chevron quilting, or 'reverso' quilting, which 'reverses' the Boy Bag's usual quilting pattern by having an unquilted body and a quilted frame.

Material: Aged calfskin, lambskin, caviar, patent
Price Range: From S$640 for a Chanel card holder to more than S$4,000 for a Wallet On Chain

Perfect for minimalists on the go, the Chanel Wallet On Chain (WOC) is a miniature classic first launched in 1997. A compact way to store your essentials, the WOC contains six card slots, zipped pockets and a middle open compartment, so that you'll never have to sacrifice style for simplicity.

The genius of the WOC lies in its versatility. How exactly do you wear a Chanel Wallet on Chain? The possibilities are endless. With its 24-inch chain strap, it's the perfect accessory for every occasion - whether as an evening clutch with the strap tucked in, or as an everyday crossbody wallet slung against your favourite distressed jeans.

As the WOC is a popular silhouette among Chanel’s bag lineup, it has been adapted into a range of styles, including the Classic Flap, the 2.55, the Half Moon, the Camellia, among others. Its high demand speaks to its popularity as an affordable gateway into the world of Chanel.

Material: Aged calfskin, lambskin, caviar, patent, goatskin, denim
Price Range: From S$4,300

Put caviar leather at the top of your shopping list if you're on the lookout for a hard-wearing Chanel caviar wallet that can withstand wear and tear. Well-sought after for its more scratch- and water-resistant surface, as compared to more delicate leathers like lambskin, the pebbled finish of caviar leather can definitely handle a bit of abuse.

With its butter-soft texture and vivid depth of colour, it's little wonder that lambskin leather is among the most coveted leathers for Chanel bags and wallets. But for all its luxurious characteristics, Chanel lambskin leather is considered delicate, and its untreated texture makes it more prone to damage than other leathers.

Sophisticated and chic, Chanel's signature quilted calfskin leather is a great choice that lands in between caviar and lambskin leather. Similar to lambskin, it's smooth with a fine grain, while being slightly more durable.

If you're looking for a Chanel wallet with a more ragged, vintage appeal, then aged calfskin leather should be your go-to choice. Not only does it stand up to Chanel caviar leather in terms of toughness, but it's also easy to clean and maintain.

Here's a bag tip from us: if it shines, chances are the bag will require more maintenance than you might expect. The same goes for Chanel's patent leather. Its glossy, highly treated finish is vulnerable to dents and stains, which may be hard to remove over time. Opt for a darker colour which will make signs of wear and tear appear less obvious.

Observe the overall shape of the wallet. Counterfeit Chanel wallets are usually constructed with less attention to the wallet frame and can feature a more rounded curve of the wallet flap or more rounded corners.

Check the Chanel label. A genuine Chanel logo is 3.3cm and should be embossed into the leather.

Verify the authenticity card. If the Chanel wallet was made in 1984 to 1986 the authenticity code should feature 6 digits, if it was made between 1986 and 2004 it should feature 7 digits, and if it was made from 2005 onwards it should feature 8 digits.

Check the Chanel lock or clasp. Like Chanel bags, Chanel wallets come with various clasps, so it's best to check if the wallet lock accurately reflects the Chanel bag style. For example, if it's a Chanel 2.55 wallet, it should feature the rectangular Mademoiselle lock without any logo.

Examine the quilting pattern. Quilting is an important part of every Chanel wallet. Each quilted square should ‘pop out’ slightly due to its neat, tight stitching. The stitching should also line up perfectly.