Chanel Diwali Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer ($30.00 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is described as a “mix of pale gold and luminous silver.” Which would be pewter, really, except it’s more of a muted champagne gold chocked full of shimmer. The finish is metallic foil. Chanel Delight has a comparable finish but it’s very bronzy in comparison. OCC Cruising is very gold. Urban Decay Superfreak is similar but a little lighter–less golden. Dior Timeless Gold is more pewter, so it has less gold and more silver in it. China Glaze Midnight Kiss is much more golden. Illamasqua recently came out with Swinger, which I do have to review but haven’t photographed or swatched it (still in its box so no fingerprints get on it!), that may be similar as well.

It’s pretty much opaque in one coat, and I only used one coat in the swatches because it was so, so opaque, I wanted to be sure to capture and convey it to you.  There are visible brush strokes, but they’re more minimized than they usually are in this type of a finish. It’s impressive, only because it’s hard to achieve, but they’re still there–I did feel like they were easier to control and get to look straight.  It dries down to a semi-matte finish, though it still reflects because of how shimmer-loaded it is.  The consistency wasn’t thick, but it wasn’t thin; it could have been a smidgen thinner I think. I’d have preferred to have more control with a thinner formula and need two coats. I typically get a week of wear with Chanel’s formula; no chipping but minimal tip wear.

Chanel Diwali Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Diwali Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Diwali Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Diwali Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Diwali Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer

Chanel Diwali Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer