Burgundy

Era

classic-nyc-onward

Era code

E3-E5

Confidence

tentative

Status

published

Burgundy

Lead

Burgundy is a deep wine-red Coach color appearing across multiple NYC-era and transition-era models [yourgreatfinds-collectors-guide, vintagecoachie]. Some catalog and dealer references use Bordeaux for what appears to be the same or an adjacent dark red Coach color; whether Burgundy and Bordeaux are two names for one color, two distinct colorways, or successive era-specific names is currently unresolved. Where both names appear in this archive, they should be distinguished by the documenting source rather than collapsed.

Description

Burgundy reads as a deep, muted wine red on glove-tanned cowhide — darker than oxblood, less brown than mahogany, with cooler purple-red undertones. Because Coach’s NYC-era leather was drum-dyed through (the cut edge shows the same color as the surface — see authentication/leather.md), Burgundy develops darker mahogany-leaning undertones with patina rather than fading or rubbing off. Worn examples typically deepen toward near-black-red at high-handling points (handles, corners, flap edges).

The color name has been Coach’s own usage; non-Coach “burgundy” leathers should not be assumed to match.

Models documented in Burgundy

The Phase 0 model canon (research/D-models.md) does not surface Burgundy on a specific style number. Burgundy is referenced in the British Tan entry as one of the most-recognized Coach color names alongside Black and Mahogany, but per-model Burgundy documentation remains to be compiled from catalog scans and dealer listings [yourgreatfinds-collectors-guide].

This list is open and should be expanded as catalog scans, dealer listings, and forum-documented examples are added.

Authentication

• Burgundy is a Coach color name, not a generic descriptor — a listing description that says “wine,” “maroon,” or “dark red” should be matched to a specific Coach color name before being treated as Burgundy
• Drum-dyed-through is a leather authenticity signal, not a color signal: a Burgundy bag should still pass the standard edge-color check (see authentication/leather.md), with the cut edge reading the same deep wine red as the surface
• Reproductions and counterfeits sometimes match the surface color approximately while missing the cool undertone or showing contrasting under-color at scuffs; authentic Burgundy should darken with handling, not lighten or fade pink

Era anchoring

Burgundy appears across multiple Coach eras (NYC era through the transition era and into Coach Originals re-releases). It is not useful as an era anchor on its own: the same color name persists across decades, so Burgundy alone does not date a bag. Combine with creed wording, serial format, hardware, and country-of-origin (see authentication/) for era placement.

Open verification items

1. Burgundy vs Bordeaux — are these one color under two names, two distinct colorways, or successive era-specific names for the same shade? Catalog scans showing one or both names against a dated page would settle this. Currently tentative.
2. Catalog-anchored color introduction date — when did “Burgundy” first appear as a Coach color name? An early NYC-era catalog page would settle this.
3. Decade-specific formula differences — community sources occasionally note that dark-red Coach leathers look different across decades (pre-1985 Sara Lee era vs post-1985, Costa Rican leather vs U.S.-tanned). No primary source confirms a formula change; flag for inspection of dated examples.
4. Per-model Burgundy documentation — populate the “Models documented in Burgundy” section as dealer listings and catalog scans surface specific style numbers in this color.

Sources

• yourgreatfinds-collectors-guide — primary dealer-compiled source for Coach color and model offerings (Tier 3)
• vintagecoachie — collector reference (Tier 3)
• coachbagrehab-dating — leather and color context (Tier 3)