The house standard
Grading method
Every pair enters the archive at 10/10. Points are deducted — never awarded. A shoe graded 8/10 has lost exactly two points against the checklist below, and the reasons are recorded on its listing. Grading is done in daylight, by hand, by two people who must agree.
What we deduct for
- 01
Upper
Creasing, scuffs, discolouration or stains on leather, mesh or suede.
- 02
Outsole
Tread wear, heel drag, dirt trapped in the grooves.
- 03
Midsole
Yellowing, oxidisation, paint loss, glue separation.
- 04
Insole
Footbed imprint, flattening, branding wear.
- 05
Laces & hardware
Fraying, eyelet wear, missing aglets or original laces.
- 06
Shape & structure
Heel collapse, toebox slump, sole flex fatigue.
- 07
Odour & hygiene
Every pair is cleaned and deodorised before listing.
The scale
10/10 · Deadstock
Almost brand new. No visible flaws anywhere.
9/10 · Near mint
One minor flaw. Looks new from arm's length and up close.
8/10 · Excellent
Two flaws. Light creasing or faint sole wear.
7/10 · Very good
Three flaws. Clearly worn, structurally perfect.
6/10 · Well worn
Four flaws. Honest wear, priced accordingly.
Authenticity is separate
Condition and authenticity are two different checks. Every pair is run through our Gemini-powered authenticity test alongside a manual review of stitching, tooling, tags and model numbers. The result is printed on the listing as a plain pass or fail. We do not list a pair that fails as authentic.