The Brunello Cucinelli Spectre bag is a plain leather Boston, and Daniel Craig’s Bond carries it in Spectre without ceremony. It does what a travel bag should: holds a few days of clothes and gets out of the way. Luggage of this kind draws little attention, which is the argument for it. This is a bag for the man who packs once and packs well.
In the film
Bond carries the bag in Spectre (2015) when he arrives in Austria, and it can briefly be seen as he walks through the snow towards the Höffler Klinik. It is in shot only for moments, so most viewers will have barely noticed it. The model on screen is the Brunello Cucinelli Cowhide Boston bag, product code MBLLU224.
The details of the Brunello Cucinelli Spectre bag
Calf-skin leather. The bag is 100% calf-skin leather, which the film catalogue lists as cowhide. Leather copes with snow and rain far better than suede, which suits the Austrian scenes.
56cm by 32cm by 24cm. It is wide for a Boston, and that width is what makes it useful. A weekend’s clothes fit without being crushed. It is too large for most airline under-seat limits, so think of it as a bag for the hold, the boot of a car or the luggage rack of a train.
The Boston shape. A Boston is a deep, rounded holdall with a wide opening, which makes it easy to pack and easy to find things in. It is a practical shape rather than a fashionable one, and that is the case for it.
The price. The bag originally sold for US$3,465 (€2,780). That is serious money for a holdall, though a good leather bag outlasts most of what goes inside it.
Using it now
The first thing to say is that this bag is out of production. Brunello Cucinelli no longer sells it new, so it is found second-hand and the button below is a search of eBay for it. Buy only from listings that show the product code, clear photographs and proof of origin, and be cautious of anything described as screen-used unless it comes with documented provenance.
If you cannot find it, the idea transfers. Look for a leather Boston or holdall of around 50 to 56cm in good calf, in a single restrained colour and without a logo on the outside. That is a less costly route to the same look, and it is the spirit of the bag rather than a copy of it.
How we would use it. As a weekend bag for a country house, or a few nights in the mountains. It works with a navy overcoat and a roll-neck, and equally well with a tweed jacket and boots. We would not take it to a city meeting, where a briefcase does the job better, and we would not overfill it. A Boston bag keeps its shape only if it is packed with some restraint.
Care. Calf wants little: wipe off wet and salt after snow or rain, let it dry away from direct heat, and condition the leather once or twice a year. Store it stuffed with tissue so the top holds its curve.
Fit with the rest of the kit. It sits well beside the other pieces from Spectre. If you are building a travel wardrobe around it, our bags and luggage will show you what pairs with it.
In the same spirit
Two current weekend bags from our catalogue sit close to the idea. They are alternatives in the spirit of Bond’s bag, not what he carries: the J.Crew Abingdon weekender bag and the Bennett Winch S.C. holdall.
Specifications
| Product code | MBLLU224 |
|---|---|
| Style | Boston bag / holdall |
| Size | 56cm wide, 32cm high, 24cm deep |
| Material | 100% calf-skin leather (listed as cowhide) |
| Maker | Brunello Cucinelli |
| Original price | US$3,465 / €2,780 (original retail price). Out of production; found second-hand |
For the maker’s current luggage and accessories, see Brunello Cucinelli’s own site.
Questions
Is this the exact bag Bond carries in Spectre?
Yes. The Brunello Cucinelli Cowhide Boston bag, product code MBLLU224, is the model recorded on screen. Bond carries it on arrival in Austria and on the walk through the snow towards the Höffler Klinik.
Can you still buy the Brunello Cucinelli Spectre bag?
Not new. The bag is out of production and is found second-hand. Look for well-documented listings that show the product code, MBLLU224.
How big is the Brunello Cucinelli Boston bag?
It measures 56cm wide, 32cm high and 24cm deep. That is roomy enough for a long weekend, and too big for most airline under-seat limits.
What did the Spectre bag originally cost?
Its original price was US$3,465 (€2,780). That is a historic figure rather than a current RRP, and second-hand prices vary, so check with any seller before you pay.
For more of what Bond carries and wears, see the Bonds.
