Note: this is an extremely polarised review. Please read ahead, it contains two edits so far, mirroring my experience with this bag.



Let me start by saying this bag presents with fantastic craftsmanship. All the seams are intact and the quality of materials is great.



However.



It is NOT 35cm wide. Most I can say it's 34.5cm and that's using a metal measuring ruler. Why does a half centimeter matter? Well, it's the difference between my Macbook Pro 15'' Retina fitting inside it fine and fitting inside only on a diagonal, distorting the bag form overall and making you unable to store anything else in the main pocket.



Also, whilst storing an A4 notebook is fine, you can't store an A4 folder that would contain A4 papers and that's unacceptable. Nobody runs around with loose A4 sheets without folders containing them. I feel the bag overall is let down by the dimensions that make it into an oversize purse rather than an appropriate messenger bag. The pictures make it appear to be just right, well, it is, if you're 160cm tall.



Quite unhappy with this because it can't hold what I want to put in it, despite the impressive craftsmanship I will return it, most likely the same day I have received it.



Mind you, if you're using a 13'' laptop and A4 notebooks - yes, it will work for you. I am just upset about that 1/2 cm that would have made it a great bag as opposed to a bipolar item that will only take some items. Half centimeter. Awful.



Edit: tried fitting my Rhodia A4 notebook in this thing. It doesn't fit, as per attached photo. I'm sorry, but I haven't seen a more misleading and infuriating product in a really really long time. If 0 stars were available, that would be my rating.



Edit 2: after staring for a couple hours at this bag I was still undecided whether to return it or not. It looks just _THAT_ amazing. It can fit A4 paper sheets, however A4 notebooks ended up like in my picture.



However, this is leather, after all. So I've stuck in it a Collins World Atlas that snuggly fit inside, pushing the lateral pieces to stay straight. I left it like that for a couple of days on top of a desk in my home and then removed the Atlas and tried again with the Rhodia A4 notebook. This time, it fit without it being bended awkwardly. I have thus decided to keep the Visconti bag.



HOWEVER. Please do note that if you excessively fill it with stuff, it will not close. Don't force it. Just try to not carry a lot in it. It has little padding, so it is unadvisable to carry a laptop in it anyway. You may get away with a nice sleeve to your slim 13 inch ultrabook to keep it cushioned, however always be mindful carrying delicate electronics in this bag.



My initial review title was "Very well made but unable to hold anything useful". I have since updated it to more thoroughly reflect the purpose of this bag. I will up my review star number to four, as it still has the improper width stated, however I have to say I am happy with it. For a light daily carry it is not bad.



An example: 2 A4 notebooks, D&D starter edition, pen carrier, HP 11.5'' laptop, 2x smaller notebooks is about the max it can hold without having to resort to straining to close it properly.