I Tried All Polène Bags. Here’s What You Should Buy
If you’ve been eyeing Polène bags, you’ve probably wondered two things: which bag is actually worth it, and whether it’s cheaper to buy in Paris. In this guide, I compare the most popular Polène bags.
Why Polène bags are cheaper in Paris
Polène is a Paris brand, and many styles have lower EU pricing than US pricing. If you’re a non-EU resident, you may also be eligible for a VAT refund when leaving the EU.
Important: the VAT rate in France is 20%, but travelers typically don’t get the full 20% back—after processing fees it’s often around ~12%.
US vs Paris Polène bags price comparison (with estimated VAT refund)
How I calculated
- US prices: Polène US site (USD).
- Paris prices: Polène France site (EUR).
- Exchange rate used: €1 ≈ $1.1679 (reference).
- Estimated VAT refund: ~12%.
Note: Prices change, editions vary (smooth vs textured), and your final savings can be affected by customs duties in your home country.
| Bag | US Price (USD) | Paris Price (EUR) | Paris pre-refund (USD) | Paris after ~12% VAT refund (USD) | You save (USD) | You save (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyme (regular) | 560 | 420 | 490 | 431 | 128 | 23% |
| Cyme Mini | 490 | 380 | 443 | 390 | 99 | 20% |
| Mokki | 760 | 540 | 630. | 554 | 205 | 27% |
| Mokki Mini | 660 | 480 | 560 | 493 | 166 | 25% |
| Numéro Neuf | 610 | 440 | 513 | 452 | 157 | 26% |
| Numéro Neuf Mini | 540 | 390 | 455 | 400 | 139 | 26% |
| Nodde Seau | 490 | 380 | 443 | 390 | 99 | 20% |
| Nodde | 580 | 420 | 490 | 431 | 148 | 26% |
| Numéro Dix (textured/grainé) | 620 | 450 | 525 | 462 | 157 | 25% |
| Tonca | 580 | 420 | 490 | 431 | 148 | 26% |
| Numéro Un (Trio) | 580 | 420 | 490 | 431 | 148 | 26% |
| Numéro Un Nano (Trio) | 470 | 340 | 397 | 349 | 120 | 26% |
| Béri | 490 | 380 | 443 | 390 | 99 | 20% |
| Osmo | 610 | 440 | 513 | 452 | 157 | 26% |
My “best Polène bags” picks (real-life categories)
Best everyday bag
If you want a bag you’ll actually reach for constantly: Cyme (Regular or Mini).
Best work option
If you carry more (planner, pouches, daily essentials): Mokki (or Cyme Regular if you prefer a lighter silhouette).
Best hands-free crossbody
For travel/errands days: Béri or Numéro Un Nano.
Most “quiet luxury” look
For an elevated, sculptural vibe: Tonca or Osmo.
(Add your personal ranking notes here — opening, comfort, what fits, what you’d skip.)
If you love handbags, check my selection of the best French handbags to buy
VAT refund in France: the simple version
To qualify for tax-free shopping in France, you generally need:
- To be resident outside the EU, and
- Purchases over €100 in the same store, same day, and
- To validate the form at PABLO when leaving the EU.
