Burgundy or Bordeaux?

If the colour is burgundy or bordeaux is a constant debate when it comes to shoes and what shoe polish to use. This article will try to solve this issue and give you a guide in how to choose the right shoe polish for your shoes. To do that we must first look at how these colours are described and where the names came from. 

Burgundy and bordeaux are both usually described as a red color tending towards brown with purple undertones. Many debate that the two colours varies in nuance and have different hues but they were both created to describe the same colour, the colour of wine, which is also how they got their names. 

The name “burgundy” originates from a French wine region with the same name, but that doesn't mean that the name was accepted by everyone. The french themselves used the name of another wine region in France, Bordeaux, to describe the colour. 

So from the beginning burgundy and bordeaux is just two names for the same colour used in different countries. Today different brands usually choose one or the other to name their products. This combined with that the colours between different brands can look different has only contributed to the confusion surrounding the burgundy or bordeaux debate. 

Crockett & Jones have chosen to call their shoes in a purple-brown-reddish colour for burgundy. For this colour we have 4 different shoe polish colours from Saphir Médaille d’Or to choose from. The right polish for you depends on the result you want after you have polished your shoe. 

If you want your shoe to keep the nuance it has you can use Saphir Médaille d’Or Crème 1925 no. 02, their neutral colour. It will only nourish the leather and create a beautiful shine as well as a protective surface. 

If you want to maintain the shoes original colour you can use Saphir Médaille d’Or Crème 1925 no. 08, burgundy. It gives you the same nourishing and protective effect as the neutral creme but also revitalise the colour of the leather. 

If your shoes is made in cordovan leather you can use the Saphir Médaille d’Or Cordovan Shoe Polish no. 71 which is in a similar colour as Créme 1925 no. 08. The difference with this polish is that it especially made for cordovan leather. It has a lower amount of beeswax and a higher amount of carnauba wax to provide extra protection and shine.

If you want your shoes to go more towards red in colour you can use Saphir Médaille d’Or Crème 1925 no. 12 which has the colour named “hermes red”.  If you want the colour to go more toward brown you can use the colour “mahogany” which is no. 09. 

These colours, except “hermes red”, are also available in Saphir Médaille d’Or Pâte de Lux. The difference between them is that Pâte de Lux gives more shine to the leather and less nourishment while Créme 1925 nourishes the leather more and gives a more discreet shine. Pâte de Lux can also be used more often on your shoes than Créme 1925. To alternate the use of both products on your shoes would give them the best possible protection, nourishment and shine.  

If you only want a vax to give your shoe a good shine you can use the Mirror Gloss in no. 08, the burgundy color, from Saphir Médaille d’Or. Works great to get a beautiful spitshine in combination with a bit of water. 

Hope you found this article helpful, and don’t forget to check out the products here on our website or in store!