How to Tell if Your Leather Good Is High-Quality

Do you have plans to buy a leather product? If you do, you should know that there are different types of leather. Yes, not all types of leather are equal. 

If you have the money, it’s best to shell it out for genuine leather. Be careful when buying leather goods as a lot of fake leather goods are out there. 

The best way to tell if you’re buying high-quality leather is by being able to identify it. Read on to learn how to do this. 

Check the Leather Grade

One of the first things you should do is check the leather grade. Genuine leather can vary by leather grade. The grade determines the process used to bond the leather. 

It’s ideal to look for high-grade leather. These include top-grain leather and full-grain leather. The latter is better as it tends to last longer. 

What about lower grades of leather? These include bonded leather. Most goods that have this type of leather are glued together. 

Inquire About the Leather’s Country of Origin

Another way to identify high-quality leather is by asking for the leather’s origin. The highest quality leather tends to come from European countries. Think of France and Italy. 

Other countries can make leather goods, but they may use cheap hides. They may not make their leather goods with care. 

Smell the Product

Try doing the smell test. It sounds silly, but real leather will smell like the real deal. Search for a natural, musty smell. 

If the product smells like plastic, it’s a red flag. Real leather doesn’t smell like chemicals. Fine leather has an unmistakable rich smell. 

Feel the Product

The next thing you can do is feel the product. Does it feel like plastic or feel like it was made with a machine? These are signs that the leather is of poor quality. 

Does your product have blemishes? Blemishes can signal the product consists of bonded leather. This is a process that uses various leather straps to make a product. 

As you feel the product, check the stitching. A high-quality leather product should have straight-line stitches. 

Proceed to check the product’s edges. High-quality leather products have perfect edges. This tells you the leather is durable. 

There’s a good way to find out if the leather is durable. Run your thumbnail across the edging. If the paint feels lifted, it’s a sign the quality of the leather is low. 

Let’s say you want to buy handmade leather belts. Before you buy your belts, you need to pay attention to the leather brands. Make sure you use these tips to identify the quality of the leather. 

Identifying High-Quality Leather

If you like leather goods, you must focus on the leather’s quality. You can use this guide to help you identify high-quality leather. Once you consider these factors, you’ll know where to buy leather of the highest quality. 

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