Rimowa Just Brought Back a Mid-Century Suitcase Not Seen Since the 1960s

While other brands have popped up over the years with their own versions, Rimowa remains the originator of the aluminum suitcase. When most people think of aluminum luggage, it’s Rimowa that comes to mind, and most would agree that the German luxury brand still makes the best.

There’s no question that a pristine Rimowa case, with its trademark grooved aluminum exterior, is a thing of beauty. But we’ve long maintained that the suitcases actually look better once they get a little beat up, wearing their traveling battle scars proudly as a reminder of all the places they’ve been. Rimowa seems to recognize this, too, as the brand’s latest luggage comes pre-dinged from the factory. Well, sort of.

Hammerschlag = Hammer Hit

Here’s what Rimowa did not do: The brand didn’t just take a sledgehammer to its luggage willy-nilly. This is still a luxury lifestyle brand, which means we should expect products with precise, well-thought-out designs. And that’s what we’ve got with the new Hammerschlag collection.

Up close, the hammered aluminum has a somewhat scaly appearance.Rimowa

Hammerschlag is German for “hammer hit,” and the pieces in the new collection have had their typical grooved exterior replaced with a hammered aluminum shell. The design doesn’t look randomly worn like a used Rimowa, but that’s not what the brand is going for. Instead, the luggage features a textured, scaly exterior that suggests hand-craftsmanship and luxury, arguably even more so than your average Rimowa case.

What’s old is new again

Mega fans of the brand may recognize the Hammerschlag collection not as a new offering but as a revival from Rimowa’s back catalog, and they’d be correct. The original Hammerschlag Hand-Carry Case debuted in 1966, and the reboot contains a number of vintage styling cues beyond the hammered exterior that recall that mid-century offering.

The two-piece collection, consisting of a new version of the original Hand-Carry Case and a wheeled Cabin carry-on, features brown leather handles complete with the unique metal bridge seen on the original case. The new cases also have more luxe interiors than what you’ll find inside a typical Rimowa and feature a mix of olive twill and brown leather dividers, along with vintage-inspired hooks.

Rimowa’s original Hammerschlag case from 1966 was decidedly less luxurious than the modern version.Rimowa

In addition to a new Hand-Carry Case, today’s Hammerschlag collection also features a Cabin roller.Rimowa

Your wallet will also get hammered

The Hammerschlag is limited to 966 pieces for the Hand-Carry Case and 1,898 pieces for the Cabin. The combination of exclusivity, better materials and the increased level of craftsmanship makes both pieces quite pricey — even by Rimowa standards.

The Hammerschlag Hand-Carry Case is priced at $2,360, while the more mainstream Hammerschlag Cabin clocks in at $2,850. It’s worth noting that’s nearly double the price of Rimowa’s already-expensive Original Cabin grooved aluminum carry-on roller, which retails for $1,430. Whether that price increase is worth it is up to you, but we’ll probably just continue beating up our standard Rimowa cases.

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