Hello, everyone, and welcome to another of my reviews. In this article, I’ll briefly review the Gulliver Coin Slot Bifold wallet from the local accessories label Gnome and Bow.
I’ve previously reviewed Gnome and Bow’s wallets, but that was almost 7 years ago. Needless to say, the brand has introduced new offerings during this time, and I decided to have a look at one when my old wallet got worn out. Let’s see if the Gulliver wallet from Gnome and Bow is any good.
Gnome and Bow – Gulliver Wallet Review
For those uninitiated with the brand, Gnome and Bow makes literary-inspired accessories, including the Gulliver Bifold Wallet, named after the iconic novel Gulliver’s Travels.
As such, it’s appropriate that the wallet comes in a box that resembles a book. Opening the “book” reveals a dust bag with the wallet nestled inside. It’s clear that detailed thought has been paid to the packaging, which is often an afterthought for most brands.
My first impression of the Gulliver Bifold Wallet was that it looked very similar to the previous Elwyn Coin Billfold Wallet that I reviewed almost 7 years ago. It’s clear that Gnome and Bow doesn’t believe in revolutionising its product and prefers a gentle refresh.
In fact, the only discernible difference that I could tell is that the Gulliver uses waxed full-grain leather, as opposed to the Elwyn. This gives the Gulliver Bifold Wallet a sleeker, more atas look, as opposed to the more rugged aesthetic of the Elwyn.
It’s worth noting that the entire wallet is made of full-grain leather, which is fairly uncommon in the industry (most brands cheapen out by opting for a softer material like microfibre on the inside). As a reminder, leather generally comes in three different grades – genuine leather, top-grain leather, and full-grain leather, in ascending order of quality (and price) – so it’s nice to see Gnome and Bow not cutting corners here. Full-grain leather will also patina beautifully over time, giving the wallet a lovely aged look. Furthermore, full-grain leather is known for its durability, so you won’t have to worry about the leather peeling off, especially with the right leather aftercare.
The Gulliver Bifold comes in two variants: a coin pouch version and the coin slot model pictured above. Between the two, I opted for the coin slot wallet, as it has 8 quick-access card slots, as opposed to only 4 slots for the coin pouch variant.
I have quite a number of cards, so the additional card slots will certainly come in handy. Coupled with the two wide slots below, Gnome and Bow says that the wallet can store 10-18 cards in total. I personally fit 12 cards in the wallet (2 each in the wide inner slots), and found the wallet to still be fairly svelte and not overly bulky. In addition, the wallet also has an RFID blocking lining to protect against credit card fraud and identity theft.
In any case, there is still a coin slot for those pesky coins. I appreciate the nifty hidden nature of its design, which is another new element of the Gulliver wallet (as opposed to the Elywn). It may not be as accessible as the conventional coin pouch, but it gets the job done.
Elsewhere, the Gulliver Bifold wallet also features several nice details, such as handstitched detailing on the corners and a herringbone lining for added sophistication.
I particularly like the herringbone lining, which has since become a staple of Gnome and Bow’s leather offerings. It reminds me of tailoring fabrics, which happens to be an area that interests me. Additionally, the Gulliver Bifold wallet has two bill compartments, allowing you to organise your notes (large and small, local and foreign, etc).
As the icing on the cake, Gnome and Bow also allow customers to personalise their leather items. For the Gulliver Bifold wallet, personalisation options are available in silver or gold font (up to 15 characters) for both the interior and exterior of the wallet.
The personalisation makes Gnome and Bow’s offerings great options as meaningful gifts, especially for loved ones. However, I do feel that the price add-on (S$48 per personalisation) is a tad steep. To put that into context, you could buy a nice cardholder or a bracelet from the brand for virtually the same amount.
Conclusion – so the Gnome and Bow Gulliver Bifold Wallet “shiok” or not?
Overall, though, I believe the Gnome and Bow Gulliver Bifold wallet is one of the best wallets in the sub-S$200 category. First, you will be hard-pressed to find wallets that use full-grain leather on the interior and exterior for less than S$200. Second, the Gulliver Bifold wallet is also more refined than mainstream alternatives (from Picard, Braun Buffel, etc.), with a gorgeous herringbone lining and hand-stitched corners. Thirdly, I also like the tucked-away coin slot, as well as the impressive storage capacity of the wallet. To top it off, the Gulliver Bifold wallet also comes in thoughtful packaging that reflects the brand’s raison d’etre. My only knock is the hefty price tag for personalisation – around S$25 per personalisation would be more appropriate.
Those interested in purchasing the items can use the promo code “WAHSOSHIOK” to enjoy 10% off all Gnome & Bow products on their web-store. After the promo code, the Gulliver Bifold wallet can be had for just S$178, making it good value for money. For bargain hunters, the promo code is even applicable to the brand’s sale items, such as the aforementioned cardholder and bracelet.
View the Gulliver Coin Slot Bifold Wallet here.
View the full range of Gnome and Bow’s offerings here.
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P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
