Hermes Kelly Depeches 25 Pouch Handmade In Epsom Calfskin Leather Silver Hardware 89 Noir

Black Epsom on a slim folder is the closest thing leather has to a well-cut document wallet – matte, precise, with the silver turn-lock sitting flush on the strap. Just under eight inches tall, it disappears under an arm and takes up almost no space on a crowded table, which is exactly what you want when the table is covered in other people’s laptops.

The interior is one flat compartment with card slots and room across the width for an A5 notepad, documents or a compact camera with a pancake lens. I have also carried it as a clutch for an evening: phone, cards, keys, a cloakroom token, and it sits on a lap or a table without sliding, because the Epsom base is smooth but the shape is flat and stable.

Honest caveats: black shows dust immediately, so keep a cloth nearby, and every scuff on Epsom appears as a lighter line – a fact that is truer on black than on any other colour. The strap closure also demands a moment of care rather than a careless zip tug, which is the nature of a turn-lock.

What you get back is the most versatile finish in a small leather good: appropriate at a board meeting, a dinner and a weekend visit, without ever being the wrong choice. If this one went missing, it is the piece I would replace the same week.