Collonil 1909 Colourless Luxury Shoe Cream 050 – 100ml Crème de Luxe

Description

Collonil 1909 Colourless Luxury Shoe Cream 050 – the top of the Collonil range, in a 100ml jar

Some shoes deserve the good stuff. If you own a pair that cost real money – hand-welted Oxfords, a pair of boots you had resoled rather than replaced, a two-tone brogue you would rather not risk pigment on – this is the jar I would reach for. Collonil 1909 Supreme Crème de Luxe in 050 Colourless sits at the head of Collonil’s exclusive 1909 care series, and it is the colourless luxury shoe cream I use on my own best pairs.

It is built on valuable natural waxes and oils and it is made without solvents. That is not marketing froth. Solvent-free means nothing in the jar is fighting to evaporate, so the cream stays workable on the leather, feeds it properly rather than flashing off, and leaves noticeably more depth of shine than an everyday cream can manage.

Colourless is the shade that solves the awkward jobs. Tan and cognac leathers where a pigmented cream would deepen the colour, two-tone spectators, light-soled shoes, exotic leathers, or simply a wardrobe where you would rather own one jar than eight. It nourishes and protects without changing a thing about the colour you paid for.

Why choose Collonil 1909 Crème de Luxe 050 Colourless?

• The best cream Collonil make. The everyday Collonil creams are excellent value. The 1909 Crème de Luxe uses higher-grade natural waxes and oils, omits solvents altogether and produces a visibly deeper shine. It is the jar for your best pairs.
• Colourless changes nothing. No pigment means no risk of darkening a tan Oxford, no bleed onto a white welt and no worries on a two-tone shoe. It also means one jar covers every pair in the wardrobe.
• Solvent-free, so it genuinely feeds. Without spirits in the base, the oils stay in the leather instead of evaporating out of it. That is what keeps an expensive upper supple over years rather than months.
• A deep, honest shine. Natural waxes give a warm glow rather than a plastic gleam, and the finish takes a mirror shine on the toe cap if you want to build one with wax on top.
• A 100ml jar is a long-term relationship. Used the way a good cream should be used – a fingertip at a time, thinly, on clean leather – this jar will still be going strong in several years.

How to use Collonil 1909 Crème de Luxe 050 Colourless

1. Brush the shoes clean with a horsehair brush and make sure they are properly dry. If they came in from the rain, let them dry at room temperature first, ideally on cedar shoe trees.
2. Take a small amount of cream on a cloth or an applicator brush – less than you think you need.
3. Work a thin layer into the leather with small circular motions, covering the whole upper including the tongue and the heel counter.
4. If the leather drinks it up quickly, add a little more. Thirsty leather will take two thin coats happily.
5. Let the cream be absorbed for about fifteen minutes.
6. Buff thoroughly with a soft cloth or a polishing brush until the surface comes up warm and even.
7. For a mirror finish on the toe cap, follow with a thin coat of wax polish once the cream has settled.

My tip: the brushes make more difference than people expect

A round applicator brush to put the cream on and a goat hair polishing brush to bring it up will get more shine out of this jar than any amount of extra cream. Collonil make both in the 1909 range and they are worth having. Beyond that, the rules are simple: thin coats, clean leather, and patience while the cream is absorbed. And keep this one for smooth leather only – suede, nubuck and textile uppers need a spray, not a wax cream, however luxurious the jar.

Specifications

• Volume: 100ml jar
• Shade: 050 Colourless – neutral, no pigment
• Type: Luxury shoe cream with natural waxes and oils, solvent-free
• Suitable for: All smooth leather, including fine calf, high-gloss and two-tone shoes
• Not suitable for: Suede, nubuck, velour and textile uppers
• Finish: Deep natural shine, takes a wax mirror finish on top
• Brand: Collonil 1909, made in Germany
• Range: Collonil 1909 exclusive care series
• Price: £13.99

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from an ordinary Collonil shoe cream?

The everyday creams are very good and very reasonably priced. The 1909 Crème de Luxe steps up on all three counts that matter: higher-grade natural waxes and oils, no solvents at all, and a deeper, warmer shine. If you have one pair you really care about, this is the jar for that pair.

Will colourless cream still hide scuffs?

It will not, and that is the trade-off. With no pigment in it, a pale scuff stays pale. What it does do is feed and protect without touching the colour, which is exactly what you want on tan, cognac or two-tone leather. For covering damage you want a pigmented cream or a recolourant.

Can I use it on my leather bag or jacket?

Yes, on smooth leather bags, jackets, belts and luggage it works beautifully, and being colourless there is no transfer risk onto clothing. Work it in thinly, let it be absorbed and buff it well – and as with shoes, test a hidden corner first if the leather is unfinished or very pale.

Where can I buy the Collonil 1909 Colourless Luxury Shoe Cream 050 in the UK?

You can order the Collonil 1909 Colourless Luxury Shoe Cream 050 directly from Shoespecialist.co.uk. We offer free delivery on orders over £50, same-day dispatch when you order before 5pm, and a 60-day return policy.