Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer
Chanel Fall 2011: Graphite Le Vernis
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis ($25.00 for 0.4 fl. oz.) is described as a “metallic silver,” and I imagine the inspiration came from graphite itself. A quick Google image search will turn up several results and this certainly resembles graphite–even in the finish. It truly gleams in the sunlight.
Against my warmer skin tone (with yellower undertones), the gold flecks of glitter seem to stand out and the result is the polish looking warmer rather than cool, which is actually is. I can see this leaning more on the silver side against cooler complexions. It’s a silvery-pewter with multi-colored glitter and shimmer that gives it a really gritty appearance, even though it doesn’t feel gritty (it’s not perfectly smooth, like a cream polish either). It has a very foil-like finish with a metallic sheen.
I used two coats, but when I started cropping the photographs, I could tell I didn’t wait long enough for each coat to dry–there is a little pulling of the glitter, which resulted in slight unevenness. Graphite is mostly opaque in two coats, and the formula was easy to work with as it flowed evenly. In the past, Chanel polishes have tended to last about a week on my nails with some minor tip wear (with a base/top coat).
This is a limited edition shade, and I couldn’t find a dupe from past reviews–there are pure silver foils but nothing as multi-faceted as Graphite.
Anyone find a dupe?
Graphite
LELimited Edition. $28.00.
See more photos & swatches!
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer
Chanel Graphite Le Vernis / Nail Lacquer
That just looks awesome!
OPI Your Royal Shy-ness is the closest thing I have to graphite (I own both). It has more silver to it and it is not quite as pigmented. It is like Graphite could be it bigger sister.
I love this so much more than I did when I saw it on the runway. Damn, catwalk lighting is misleading!
nice!!!
It looks like ‘lucerne-tainly look marvelous’ from the opi swiss collection! but slightly lighter xxx
I was thinking the same thing! Graphite also seems to be more multi-faceted.
oh this shade looks so gorgeous 😀 i love the dirty side of this polish alot. cant wait to call it mine.
I was waiting for this entry for the dupes section
Sad there isn’t dupes on this : (
This is such a unique color! Thanks for the review and photos. I’m definitely picking this one up.
Looks a lot like OPI’s Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous, which was from last fall.
I have a Hard Candy shade like that… It’s more of a periwinkle with gold glitter but from a distance it looks gray. It’s called Mr. Wrong.
I’m really trying to decide between Graphite and Quartz and I can’t make up my mind! I’m afraid I will make the wrong decision. Too much thinking going into a nail polish I know!
Quartz would be the more wearable one. I have all 3 of them. Quartz is the one that I would really get the most use out of it. It seems understated and it isn’t as loud as the other two but it really does look pretty on the nails. It has this nice sheen that makes it stand out. Graphite does look pretty but I would not use it as often. Peridot is a pretty unique shade but I think I would only use it once if at most so I’m thinking of returning it.
Thank you Susan! This actually helps a lot. I was initially leaning towards Graphite but I’m starting to think it’s not really suitable for the day, whereas I could probably pass off Quartz at the office. I was telling myself that since it’s a Chanel polish it would be ok to only use it now and then but I probably should get the one I will use more. I have Sephora’s OPI Already Famous though and I’m still concerend that it might be too close to Quartz……this really shouldn’t be this hard. But I’m treating it like it’s some HUGE decision to make!
Wow, it’s so gorgeous! *o*
I made a franken of this beauty:) I don’t feel like paying 25$ for a polish these days but I loved the color so why not make your own one:)
A dupe for this could be OPI’s Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous.
I actually painted my nails this color last night 🙂 I love it. Soo beautiful!
Maybe OPI Lucerne-tainly look Marvelous might be similar, but not exactly a dupe.
Gorgeous!
Beautiful!
Nice shade that reflects light…!! I am not sure how would it look on my nails…but its looking gorgeous on yours Christine!! 🙂
The texture of this polish is not appealing to me.
Oooh pretty! I probably won’t shell out the money for this one, since I just don’t wear greyish/silvery polishes as often as say, greens or purples. But it’s still very pretty. Thank you for swatching it!! 😀
I like the way it catches the light! I feel like I’ve been seeing more glitter and just textured finished in polishes lately. I wonder if companies are moving away from creams? Ah well I still like them.
All right!!! I’ve drunk the Kool-aid! $25.00 poorer, not including shipping.
Gasp! Beautiful!
Waiting for mine in the mail! Thanks for the teasers in the mean time.
Reminds me of Chanel Kaleidoscope, maybe even too much
I feel like this looks kinda like if OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous and Zoya Edyta had a baby. Gorgeous but I haven’t graduated to being able to pay more than $15 for a bottle of polish ^^;
Color Club’s Snakeskin is a dupe for sure
I always wait for the Revlon dupes of Chanel polishes to come out so it won’t break the bank, I hope they do a dupe of this!
I just bought this today, I swatched it in the store and am in LOVE!!!! LOOOOOOOOOOVE I say!
Thank God for Nordstrom Notes!! Bought for a cash value of $6 8~)
I’ve seen swatches and it look like Revlon Carbonite might be a pretty close dupe, not quite as unique but very close. However, the Revlon shade is limited edition for the fall, it’s already out but I live in Los Angeles and have not been able to find it anywhere. Good luck to those that do !
I don’t use Chanel polishes much any more, because I felt they dried out my nails, but for this I made an exception. It is one of the most beautiful nail colours I’ve ever seen. Totally unique and flattering – can’t stop looking at my hands!
I love the shade, but I must say I wouldn’t call it unique – Gabrini (the maker of my favourite nail polishes) had that shade since last year 😀 .
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in Celeb City is is very, very close to being an exact dupe of this.