How to identify cordovan leather?

GimpArm · Jun 4, 2011

I've seen numerous posts about people asking whether a shoe they post a photo of is cordovan leather or not and people can identify them. How are you magicians doing this? Is there some kind of a definitive way to tell or are these just very informed guesses?

Achilles_ · Jun 4, 2011

I am by no means an expert, far from it. But from what I understand it doesnt crease like leather, and it looks almost plastic like compared to regular leather.

Chris Waffles · Jun 4, 2011

Originally Posted by Achilles_

I am by no means an expert, far from it. But from what I understand it doesnt crease like leather, and it looks almost plastic like compared to regular leather.

Achilles is right--shell cordovan leather does not form creases (or microcreases) like calf does, instead forming ripples. If you are able to handle the leather, one way to identify shell is that scratches that would leave a permanent mark on calf are easily removed with a quick polish on shell.

GimpArm · Jun 4, 2011

Can someone post a side by side comparison so I can see what you're talking about?

Thanks!

Chris Waffles · Jun 4, 2011

This video, shown on Put This On, should give you a better idea of what to look for. Watch the first one and skip to around the 8:00 mark.

http://putthison.com/post/5219725232...thers-are-made

commodorewheeler · Jun 4, 2011

Originally Posted by Achilles_

I am by no means an expert, far from it. But from what I understand it doesnt crease like leather, and it looks almost plastic like compared to regular leather.

I wouldn't say that it looks "plastic-like" at all, but it does have more of a shine than most leather does.

The best way to tell is to look where creases form on the upper of the shoe. If there are micro creases, than the upper is definitely leather. If the creases look like ripples, with no micro creases, then it is shell cordovan.

Larson McCord · Jun 4, 2011

These are shell cordovan, notice the humps. You can't see it exactly but there are no creases which appear in calf.

Superfluous · Jun 4, 2011

when you'll see it, you'll know. It's pretty obvious.

Stylego · Jun 4, 2011

I'm fairly new to high end shoes. I knew nothing of shell cordovan prior to when I started nosing around here last winter. When I finally found a cordovan shoe (KC isn't a hot bed of footwear fashion) it jumped right out at me. Almost can't miss it.

GimpArm · Jun 4, 2011

Ok, I see the difference and I think I'll be able to spot them in the wild now.

Reevolving · Jun 4, 2011

The leather is hard as ****. If you hit your face with it, there would be as much "give" as a plank of wood. It is almost like hard plastic. You could almost hammer a nail with it. Almost.

miurasv · Jun 4, 2011

Originally Posted by Reevolving

The leather is hard as ****. If you hit your face with it, there would be as much "give" as a plank of wood. It is almost like hard plastic. You could almost hammer a nail with it. Almost.

Does the hardness make it uncomfortable?

Prada_Ferragamo · Jun 4, 2011

Originally Posted by Stylego

I'm fairly new to high end shoes. I knew nothing of shell cordovan prior to when I started nosing around here last winter. When I finally found a cordovan shoe (KC isn't a hot bed of footwear fashion) it jumped right out at me. Almost can't miss it.

Obviously you haven't met me yet.

Chris Waffles · Jun 4, 2011

Originally Posted by miurasv

Does the hardness make it uncomfortable?

Only if you smack yourself in the face with it.

miurasv · Jun 4, 2011

Originally Posted by Chris Waffles

This video, shown on Put This On, should give you a better idea of what to look for. Watch the first one and skip to around the 8:00 mark.

http://putthison.com/post/5219725232...thers-are-made

Thanks for posting the above link to www.putthison.com videos. I enjoyed watching them all. Shell Cordovan has got to be the leather in my next shoes.

How to identify cordovan leather?

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