What is a Continental Wallet?

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

How Do These Features Help You?

Optimized Organization and Accessibility

The continental wallet is excellent for organization, 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

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

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.