Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier Navy Blue Shoe Cream 06 – 75ml

Description

Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier Navy Blue Shoe Cream 06 – 75ml — the Crème 1925, in a true navy

Navy shoes fade in a way that is easy to miss until you put them next to a new pair. They do not scuff dramatically or crack early. They simply lose depth, until a rich marine calf reads as a slightly sad charcoal and the creases across the vamp look chalky. The Pommadier is the cream I reach for when a good navy pair deserves better than that.

Officially this is the Crème 1925, named for the gold medal Saphir won in Paris that year, and it is still made in France by Avel. The formula is built on seven natural waxes, including beeswax, carnauba and montan, together with mink oil and shea butter oil. There are no silicones and no resins in it, which matters more than it sounds: silicones seal leather so it can no longer take anything in.

This navy blue Pommadier shoe cream feeds first and colours second, which is exactly the right order. The pigment tops the shade back up while the oils go deep enough to keep the fibres supple for years rather than weeks.

Why choose the Saphir Pommadier in navy blue?

• Seven natural waxes. Beeswax, carnauba and montan among them, which is what gives the Pommadier its depth of nourishment and the soft, honest sheen it buffs up to under a brush.
• Mink oil and shea butter oil. These penetrate rather than sit on top, restoring flexibility to leather that has dried out and preventing the fine cracking that follows.
• No silicones, no resins. Silicone seals the surface so the leather can never absorb anything again. Saphir leave it out, which is why a pair fed with Pommadier keeps responding to care.
• A true navy, not a near-black. Shade 06 restores marine blue without dragging the colour towards black, which is the usual failing of dark blue creams and very hard to reverse.
• Gold medal, Paris 1925. The Crème 1925 has been made to the same principles for a century, and it is still the reference point that other shoe creams are measured against.
• A little does a lot. A 75ml jar treats a pair every fortnight for well over a year. Judged by the wear, it is one of the cheapest things you can do for good shoes.

How to use the Saphir Pommadier navy blue shoe cream

Cream first, wax after, is the order that professionals work in. The cream feeds and colours, and any wax polish you add afterwards sits on top for shine.

1. Brush the shoes with a dirt brush so sand and grit are removed rather than polished back into the leather.
2. Clean and condition first if the shoes are dirty, using a leather cleaner or a lotion, then let them dry at room temperature.
3. Take a small amount of cream on a polishing cloth or a dauber brush. Small amounts, taken often, work far better than one large scoop.
4. Work it into the leather in circular motions, paying attention to the creases across the vamp where the colour thins first.
5. Leave the shoes to rest for 15 to 20 minutes so the oils and pigment can settle into the leather.
6. Buff with a horsehair brush and finish with a soft cloth. Add a wax polish afterwards if you want a higher shine on the toe.

My tip from behind the counter

Resist the urge to load the cloth. The Pommadier is rich enough that a fingernail of cream will do a whole shoe, and anything more simply sits on the surface waiting to be brushed off. If your navy pair has gone properly grey in the creases, work a little extra into those creases with the shoe flexed over your hand, so the cream reaches into the folds rather than bridging over them.

Specifications

• Volume: 75ml jar
• Type: Pigmented nourishing shoe cream, the Crème 1925
• Shade: 06 Navy Blue, listed on some pages simply as blue
• Key ingredients: Seven natural waxes including beeswax, carnauba and montan, plus mink oil and shea butter oil
• Free from: Silicones and resins
• Suitable for: Smooth leather shoes, boots, bags and leather goods
• Brand: Saphir Medaille d’Or, made in France by Avel

Frequently asked questions

Is shade 06 navy blue or just blue?

It is navy. Saphir list 06 as navy blue on their own colour chart, and it is a deep marine tone rather than a bright royal blue. Some product pages shorten it to blue, which is what causes the confusion.

What is the difference between Pommadier and a wax polish?

The Pommadier is a cream. It feeds the leather and carries pigment deep into it. A wax polish sits on the surface and builds shine. Use the cream first, let it rest, then add wax on the toe if you want a mirror finish.

Why does it matter that there are no silicones?

Silicone leaves a film that seals the surface, so the leather stops absorbing oils and creams. It looks fine for a few weeks and then the leather starves underneath. Saphir avoid it entirely, which keeps the leather feedable for life.

Where can I buy the Saphir Pommadier in navy blue in the UK?

You can order the Saphir Pommadier in navy blue 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.