Reverse Engineering Start Date: May 30, 2025
This is the deconstruction log for the Bruce Studio Chanel 31 Bag 25P – Small
It’s a long-form post. The complete journey is split into:
Deconstruction → Production → Finished Product Showcase & Comparison
Chanel 31 Bag 25P (Small Size)
Retail Price: 44,500 RMB
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The unit purchased is from the 25P season (Note: Leather characteristics vary between seasons).
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I chose the Small size for this project because it is better suited for hand-carrying and has superior functional capacity.
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If you are unsure about the dimensions, I recommend visiting a boutique to try it on in person before ordering.
Leather Characteristics of the 25P Season
Pre-Teardown Prep
Product Overview
25P Leather Grain Details
Pre-Teardown Weight Test
Weight: 495g (Empty bag)
The Teardown
Turnlock Assembly:
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Chanel Faceplate
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Lock Post
Lock Post Components:
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Post
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Backplate
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Screws
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Internal Stabilizer
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Lock Post Material: Solid Copper
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Backplate & Screws: Solid Copper
Chanel Faceplate
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Material: Solid Copper
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Branding: Laser engraved
Faceplate Screws
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Material: Solid Copper
Nameplate & Zippers
Internal Nameplate
Nameplate Engraving
(Showing three different angles to capture reflections)
⚠️ The Nameplate Engraving Logic:
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This nameplate utilizes two distinct engraving processes.
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Top Logo: As seen in Fig. 1, the "CHANEL" logo is Stamped (Pressed).
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Bottom Origin: As seen in the high-res Fig. 2, the "Made in France/Italy" text is Laser Engraved.
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Using two different techniques on one plate means two separate production stages. The blanks are likely mass-produced with the stamped logo first, then sent to the final assembly country (France or Italy) to be laser-etched with the specific origin, then polished, plated, and installed.
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Note: This is why you will always see slight plating color variances between hardware from different production regions.
Nameplate Material: Solid Copper
The Zipper Puller
Zipper Head:
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The zipper is riri.
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The head is a Chanel-exclusive design. It cannot be bought Retail material; it must be custom-developed.
Zipper Tape:
- The tape is riri.
- Plating Variance: There is a noticeable color difference between the zipper plating and the rest of the hardware. This is because zippers and hardware come from different specialized suppliers. This is a correct retail trait.
Hardware & Chain Construction
Laser-Etched Authenticity Plate
Rivets:
One set on each side (two sets total).
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Material: Solid Copper
Chain Connectors:
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Material: Solid Copper
⚠️ The Industry Barrier: 99.99% of the FK batches you find on the market will use Alloy or Steel for this part because manufacturing it in Copper is extremely difficult.
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Alloy or Steel versions use a Casting process.
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On the ZP (Retail), the manufacturing process is Forging.
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You can easily tell the difference by the engraving; the character traits of a forged piece are completely different from a cast piece.
Main Chain:
Once the connectors are removed, the chain can be detached.
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Chain Length: 142 links total (excluding the D-rings).
Deformed D-Rings:
These connect the two chains.
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Material: Solid Copper
Lobster Clasp:
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Material: Solid Copper
Internal Construction Glimpse
I’m doing a preliminary check of the interior. During the production phase, I will strip everything down to the last layer to verify the exact specifications of the internal stabilizers and interfacing used.
That wraps up the deconstruction phase.
As a reminder, the complete journey for this project is broken down into:
Deconstruction → Production → Finished Product Showcase & Comparison.
If you want to view the other sections, please head over to the respective posts.