Hermes R.M.S. Card Holder Handmade In Evecolor Calfskin Leather Enamel Fittings Hardware 71 Bleu France 2Z Blue Nuit

Deep blues are the hardest colours to photograph and the easiest to live with. The R.M.S. in 71 Bleu France and 2Z Blue Nuit looked almost black in my hallway that first evening; by the window the next morning it opened up into two distinct navies. If you own only one card holder, a blue like this is the practical choice — it goes with the coat you already wear.

The footprint is honest and compact: a shade over ten centimetres in length, seven across, and thin enough to forget in a jacket. My travel load sits well inside it — passport card, two credit cards, a metro ticket and a spare key card, all held with enough tension that nothing slides out when I shake the pocket upside down.

Evecolor holds saturated colours beautifully; this is the firm, fine-grained calfskin the brights and the deep tones both rely on. After a winter of use the surface has kept its low sheen and picked up only the softest of marks along the fold. The enamel fittings match the mood rather than the metal trend of the season, which is why I think this pairing will still look right in a decade. The navy has not faded a shade in a full winter of use.

One caveat: dark smooth leather shows dust and pocket lint more than people expect. Thirty seconds with a cloth and it is back. That is the full extent of the upkeep.