What is a Continental Wallet?

by Igor Monte updated 09-04-2025
two examples of red leather continental wallets

A continental wallet is easy to identify because it is long and rectangular, whereas a bifold or similar style is almost square in shape.

They often have a snap or zip-around closure for added security.

They have a good deal of storage space too, but are slim and easily stowed in the inside breast pocket of a blazer, jacket, or coat.

If you're interested in a luxury wallet, the Von Baer range is for you (see them here).

Next, we go into the details:

Two Good Examples of Continental Wallets

W2 Leather Purse
W2 {#product.type#}W2 {#product.type#}
MaterialPremium Italian Nappa Leather
Detachable FeatureDetachable card holder
StorageAbundant storage space with compartments for cards, cash, travel documents, and even a smartphone
RFID ProtectionYes
Design OriginHandcrafted in Florence, Italy
Colors AvailableDeep Red, Classic Cognac, Solid Brown, Elegant Black
ZipperJapanese YKK Zipper
Card CapacityFits at least 8 cards
Additional FeaturesZipped coin pocket, two cash compartments, removable card and cash holder with magnet
PersonalisedOption to add initials, names, dates, logos, phrases, or personal messages
PackagingComes in an elegant gift box

Watch the W2 product video below:

Browse more images of the W2:

Von Baer W2 Lard full-grain leather purse in red held by a woman in a coffee shop, with her hand taking out a bank card. Von Baer W2 Lard full-grain leather purse in red held by a woman in a coffee shop, with her hand taking out a bank card.
Von Baer W2 large modern leather women's wristlet purse wallet - red - carried by female model. Von Baer W2 large modern leather women's wristlet purse wallet - red - carried by female model.
W2 W2
Von Baer W2 large Italian leather women's purse wallet - red - front view with card holder. Von Baer W2 large Italian leather women's purse wallet - red - front view with card holder.
Von Baer W2 large premium leather women's purse wallet - inside look with card holder attached. Von Baer W2 large premium leather women's purse wallet - inside look with card holder attached.
Von Baer W2 luxury large leather women's purse wallet - red with cardholder. Von Baer W2 luxury large leather women's purse wallet - red with cardholder.
Von Baer W2 large premium leather women's purse wallet - inside look - fits up to 12 cards. Von Baer W2 large premium leather women's purse wallet - inside look - fits up to 12 cards.
Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - close-up of 2 extra pockets. Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - close-up of 2 extra pockets.
Von Baer W2 large modern leather women’s purse wallet - red - front view in the hand of female model with cash. Von Baer W2 large modern leather women’s purse wallet - red - front view in the hand of female model with cash.
Von Baer W2 large high-quality leather women's purse wallet - red - inside close-up. Von Baer W2 large high-quality leather women's purse wallet - red - inside close-up.
Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - red. Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - red.
Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - red - rear view. Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - red - rear view.
Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet with detachable card holder - filled with cash - rear view. Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet with detachable card holder - filled with cash - rear view.
Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - card holder - front and rear view - filled with cards. Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - card holder - front and rear view - filled with cards.
Von Baer W2 large premium leather women's purse wallet - inside look - empty. Von Baer W2 large premium leather women's purse wallet - inside look - empty.
Von Baer W2 luxury large leather women's wristlet purse wallet - red. Von Baer W2 luxury large leather women's wristlet purse wallet - red.
Von Baer W2 large leather women's wristlet purse wallet - brown. Von Baer W2 large leather women's wristlet purse wallet - brown.
Von Baer W2 large leather women's wristlet purse wallet - black. Von Baer W2 large leather women's wristlet purse wallet - black.
Von Baer W2 large modern leather women's purse wallet - red - front view. Von Baer W2 large modern leather women's purse wallet - red - front view.
Von Baer W2 luxury large leather women's purse wallet - black - front view. Von Baer W2 luxury large leather women's purse wallet - black - front view.
Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - brown - front view. Von Baer W2 large leather women's purse wallet - brown - front view.
Von Baer W2 large modern leather women's purse wallet - red - front view in the hand of female model. Von Baer W2 large modern leather women's purse wallet - red - front view in the hand of female model.
W2 W2
Pros Cons
Premium Quality Material Size might be large for some
Elegant Practicality Slightly heavier than some purses
Abundant Storage
Versatility
RFID Protection
Durable Lining
Sustainability

Click To Show More Images & Detailed Review

Click To Hide Extra Details

W1 Leather Purse
W1 {#product.type#}W1 {#product.type#}

W1 Leather Purse Product Highlights:

MaterialPremium Italian Nappa Full Grain Leather
OriginHandcrafted in Florence, Italy
Leather QualitySoft, flexible, and pleasant to touch
LiningDurable and water-repellent polyester fabric
RFID ProtectionYes
StorageAbundant storage space
PersonalisedOption to personalize
SustainabilitySupports local communities and eco-friendly
Special FeatureTransparent pocket fits a picture sized 8.5 cm x 5.4 cm
ScentNatural leather scent

Watch the W1 product video below:

Browse more images of the W1:

von baer luxurious leather purse for women red filled with cards and cash in a cafe von baer luxurious leather purse for women red filled with cards and cash in a cafe
W1 W1
W1 W1
von baer w1 italian leather womens wallet dimensions von baer w1 italian leather womens wallet dimensions
w1 plus leather dark red front open w1 plus leather dark red front open
w1 plus leather dark red up open w1 plus leather dark red up open
von baer w1 quality italian leather purse wallet for women red rfid protected with cards von baer w1 quality italian leather purse wallet for women red rfid protected with cards
von baer w1 plus full grain leather red womens large purse wallet closures von baer w1 plus full grain leather red womens large purse wallet closures
von baer w1 plus full grain leather red womens large purse wallet von baer w1 plus full grain leather red womens large purse wallet
von baer w1 quality italian leather purse wallet for women black half turned von baer w1 quality italian leather purse wallet for women black half turned
von baer w1 quality italian leather purse wallet for women red rfid side view von baer w1 quality italian leather purse wallet for women red rfid side view
von baer w1 plus leather red womens large purse luxurious von baer w1 plus leather red womens large purse luxurious
w1 womens leather purse red cash cards lifestyle w1 womens leather purse red cash cards lifestyle
w1 plus leather dark red back w1 plus leather dark red back
w1 plus leather dark red front w1 plus leather dark red front
black w1 plus leather purse black w1 plus leather purse
W1 W1
W1 W1
Pros Cons
Premium Italian Nappa Leather Size Limitation for Phone
Made in Italy Might be bulky for some
Special Lining Limited color options
Sustainability
RFID Protection
Abundant Storage Space
Personalizable

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How Do These Features Help You?

Optimized organisation and Accessibility

example of the interior of the w1 leather purse

The continental wallet is excellent for organisation, laying out all of your items in an accessible, visible manner.

Especially for those with a fast-paced, professional schedule, the continental wallet is a great asset to your accessories wardrobe.

It features more card slots than a typical wallet and several other pockets, including places for multiple currencies and often a window pocket for quick ID display.

Some even feature USB drives and SD cards.

The design separates and secures the essentials while keeping them easy to retrieve and use when needed.

Whether you’re grabbing a coffee on the way to a work session or trying to get through rush hour transit as quickly as possible, a continental wallet can help ease your journey with efficiency and style.

Learn more about types of wallets in this post.

Enhanced Security

With any wallet, security is a high priority.

Von Baer continental wallets have RFID-blocking technology to thwart cyber pickpockets and also include a zipper closure to prevent the loss of cards.

If you need more information about RFID, click here.

Aesthetic Appeal and Professional Statement

example of the exterior of the w2 leather purse

The expression of your style and standards comes down, in large part, to the materials used to make the wallet.

High-quality, full-grain, or Nappa leathers are great choices.

These are durable and beautiful and can hold that beauty for many years.

At Von Baer, we recommend you choose vegetable-tanned full-grain leather, and that's what we use on all of our wallets - we discussed this in more detail here.

A luxurious finish with little subtle branding, precise stitching, custom hardware – all of this combines to exude a sense of quality, high standards, and exquisite style.

Worried about the price tag of a wallet? We wrote a guide on how much to spend, and if it's worth investing in a luxury wallet.

Perfect for Days Full of Meetings

women walking into a high rise building for a meeting

Some days consist of a string of meetings, sometimes peppered across the city.

These require transit, quick stops for food, and need you to have ID, credit cards, cash, and business cards on hand and kept secure.

A continental wallet will keep these things at your fingertips.

If you need more help ensuring you get a quality wallet, we wrote a great guide on it here.

What are the typical dimensions?

Continental wallets are usually larger than standard wallets, partially to accommodate foreign currencies as well as the smaller-sized American cash.

The two examples we showed above have the following dimensions:

  • W1: Width: 19 cm (7.48 inches) x Height: 9.5 cm (3.74 inches) x Depth: 2 cm (0.79 inches)
  • W2: Width: 20 cm (7.87 inches) x Height: 10 cm (3.94 inches) x Depth: 2.5 cm (0.98 inches)

Can these wallets accommodate different currencies?

Yes. Continental wallets suit a wide range of currencies of different sizes.

Dollars, British notes, French ones, and even larger receipts are easily accommodated.

How do I care for and maintain my wallet?

Regular care will extend the life and beauty of your wallet:

  1. A soft, damp cloth gently wiped over the surface is sufficient to clean the leather in most cases.
  2. It is highly recommended to use a quality leather conditioner when you first receive the wallet, and then to repeat this every four to six months after that. It takes about a minute.
  3. Finally, avoid fading and deterioration by storing your wallet away from direct sunlight.

We have a more detailed cleaning guide here.

Author: Igor Monte

Igor Monte is the co-founder of Von Baer. He's an expert in all things premium leather, from being an end-user right up to the design and manufacturing process. His inside knowledge will help you choose the best leather product for you.

We strive for the highest editorial standards, and to only publish accurate information on our website.

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