Are Coach's retro re-releases the same quality as the originals?

No, they’re not. The leather is thinner, the finishing is more plasticky, and the stitching doesn’t feel as solid. The new “retro” line uses corrected-grain leather with a coating that won’t develop the same patina as the full-grain glove-tanned leather from the 1990s. If you want genuine 1990s quality, buy vintage—it’s often cheaper and actually better made.