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HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GENUINE AND FAKE CROCODILE LEATHER

Posted by Rossie Viren on

HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GENUINE AND FAKE CROCODILE LEATHER 

If you’re in the market for a genuine crocodile handbag you may wish to know how to tell crocodile leather from stamped or embossed leather. Additionally, you might be wondering how to tell the difference between crocodile and fake crocodile leather . Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert to identify crocodile leather. Spend some time inspecting the leather and the distribution of scales to help you determine whether or not the handbag is made from genuine crocodile.

The skins of crocodiles and other reptiles are widely used for the manufacturing of leather goods such as bags, wallets, belts, eyewear cases, etc. The pattern of crocodile leather makes a product unique because it is impossible to find an absolutely identical pattern. Let's take a closer look at the properties of this exotic leather and how you can determine genuine skin.

1.  Determining if the Leather is Stamped or Embossed

Be wary of an abrupt transition in the size and shape of the scales. Crocodiles have scales that gradually transition from large, square shapes on their bellies to smaller, more rounded shapes on their sides. If the change is abrupt, if it switches more than twice in a single panel, or if there is no transition, the bag is likely made from stamped leather.

2.
Look for an irregular grain pattern. Look closely and carefully at the grain pattern on the handbag. The pattern of the grain on a crocodile leather handbag will have some irregularities, as each scale will be of a slightly different shape and size. There may also be small, uneven lines present at the base of the scales. If the grain pattern of the scales is very uniform, it has probably been stamped on.

 3.

Determine if it is crocodile by the feel and flexibility of the bag. Run your fingers over the bag and pay attention to the softness and flexibility of the leather. Crocodile bags are soft, smooth, and supple. Stamped or embossed leather bags are more rigid than genuine crocodile leather.

4.

The shape of the textured ‘cells’ of the natural crocodile skin is always different. There cannot be two identical "squares", the same as there are no two identical fingerprints. A nature crocodile does not have a similar size of scales all around. In fakes, patterns are usually repeated. Each crocodile is born with different skin texture. So every product made from authentic crocodile skin cannot be completely identical or duplicated. And this is also a feature that makes crocodile leather items worthwhile.

5. Identify fake crocodile skin by physical factors
In the process of determining the true value of crocodile skin, physical factors are not to be missed because the nature of genuine leather is very much expressed through the elasticity, thickness of the skin, hardness of spikes.

(1)Elasticity
The structure of the crocodile skin is a combination of the lower elastic skin layer and the vein layer, creating its natural elasticity. This leads to crocodile skin products are not easy to crack or crease when impacted such as bending, or pressing

While real crocodile skin has signs of elasticity, the fake leather is quite hard. On the outside, all crocodile skin looks sturdy. But surely the fake crocodile leather will not be able to fold or bend without leaving cracks or folds like real leather.

(2)Thickness
Those who have had the opportunity to see the real crocodile will know that reptiles have a layer of thorns and thick, supple skin. And when this type of leather gets into the factory, there’s no way to reduce its thickness without losing its quality.

While fake crocodile skin is mostly made from cowhide, it is usually thin and no matter how many layers are padded, they will not be able to have the natural thickness of the real crocodile skin. You can say that real crocodile skin will look thicker, deeper and not as flat as faux leather.

(3)Leather spines 
This feature is quite an effective way to check for products if it contains the spines. These spines are a bit flattened, but very hard, so you can press your finger against the pressure to feel their firmness. Imitation leather made from cowhide cannot imitate this, so the fake spines will look smooth and soft, as opposed to real spines.

(4) Skin surface structure
These are the signs of the differences, which can be observed directly with the eyes.

(5)  Gloss
Basically, the fake crocodile skin looks as glossy as pressed plastic, while genuine leather can be matte or shiny naturally. So if you bring crocodile leather purses and handbags to the direct light, you will see the gloss of imitation leather, in contrast to the real leather.The real crocodile skin leather will be more and more shiny after use it .But the fake will lost the shiny after use it for a times.

Pattern and texture
The crocodile pattern is soft and flexible, almost like the fingerprint of a person. Every skin surface shows the feeling there is no certain rule. Imitation alligator leather is molded from machines to produce coarse, rigid and shallow artificial vein lines.

With fake crocodile skin products, you will easily see many with the same color, the same texture. As for the genuine leather, no matter how similar, you can still tell the difference between them.

(6) Identify fake crocodile skin with water

Now, if you have tried the above methods and still have doubts or concerns. The following method will certainly ensure the accuracy rate of genuine leather. This is currently the best and easiest way to check the authenticity of the crocodile skin. All you need to do is apply a small amount of water on the surface of the product.After the real crocodile skin is processed , there will be wax or other chemicals on the skin , and the water droplets may not penetrate. You can choose a place near the side of the bag or belt to try or the seams of the texture where the place is easy to absord the water , or try again after rubbing it with your fingers several times. Know the true and false.

Let the water penetrate the skin, even you can rub it there to speed up the process. After about 1-2 minutes, the skin is exposed to water, if the skin color is as dark as black and the water was absorbed … leaving a dark water mark, which will return to its original shape after a few seconds.Congratulations! You are the owner of real crocodile skin products.

But for the black color, The crocodile leather factory have processed it with waterproof .so it wont to absorb the water.But all of the colorful will do, This is made for the different goup of people needs.The user who choose the colorful crocodile leather need to pay more attention during use it , it will change the color because of the sweat or accidentally pouring the things like juice or soup on it . once it changed the color ,the color will be like that forever .cant be changed any more .Only the black color is Waterproof and sweatproof and suit for daily use.

On the other hand, artificial leather does not have this particular property. The water is dripped onto the surface of the skin and will spill out immediately because the skin does not absorb it. 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO CARE OF CROCODILE LEATHER GOODS

The natural leather of these exotic animals is extremely durable and does not require special care. only follow a few simple rules:

Clean your crocodile leather goods once a week with a dry, clean cloth or paper towel;
If you store your wallet or purse for a long period of time, place the product in a attached fabric dust bag; storing crocodile skin products in plastic bags can damage the delicate leather;
Do not apply  creams, liquids, waxes or glues to the leather;
Do not leave products made of exotic leather in direct sunlight. 
Exposing crocodile skin leather to water and oil can cause damage to the finish, especially for high shiny crocodile skin products. so avoiding excess moisture is a must to keep leather looking like new for longer.

After the leather is dry, apply leather conditioner formulated for your crocodile leather to help protect the finish and keep it looking new. When applying the crocodile leather conditioner, be sure to follow the application instructions on the conditioner’s packaging.
When not in use, crocodile leather items such as boots or shoes should be kept in a cool, dry environment. 

For larger crocodile leather pieces, such as jackets, avoid folding them tightly. Crocodile skin, particularly caiman skin, has calcium deposits in it that makes the skin more rigid. Folding the skin too tightly at points that were not meant to be folded can cause damage, resulting in unsightly cracks or crease marks.


Whenever trying a new leather care product on a crocodile leather item (or any other exotic leather item), first test it on an inconspicuous part of the item first to see if it affects the finish adversely. For example, the inside sleeve or cuff of a jacket. This way, if the new product does cause some discoloration, it won’t be in a place where everyone can see it right away.


With proper care, crocodile skin products should remain beautiful and ready for use for years to come. Sharing general care tips such as these, and tips that are more specific to the crocodile leather products you buy, can help prolong the useful life of exotic leather goods.


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