Shell Cordovan Wallet

Does anyone out there own a shell cordovan wallet? I am wondering if, over time, they develop a nice patina like calfskin wallets do...my Ghurka is 7 years old and has a lot of character. Does shell do the same thing?

Here are some pics of some wallets I saw in a store today. The prices seem pretty reasonable, although the brand is "DaVinci" and I don't know anything about them. Sorry about all the reflections from the glass case.

Check out the Brooks Brothers website, they also have shell cordovan accessories, and these are made in Japan. I wonder if the source of the shell cordovan is the Japanese company that process it, and not Horween in Chicago.

I'd like a shell checkbook wallet, too, but I'm not going to drop that kind of money on something that my wife carries around most of the time. A pity, really.

Originally Posted by lee_44106

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Check out the Brooks Brothers website, they also have shell cordovan accessories, and these are made in Japan. I wonder if the source of the shell cordovan is the Japanese company that process it, and not Horween in Chicago.

I picked up a BB shell belt and it's not that great - made in some dodgy place like Canada. I'd stick with Alden for shell accessories.

Originally Posted by tattersall

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I picked up a BB shell belt and it's not that great - made in some dodgy place like Canada. I'd stick with Alden for shell accessories.

The list of non-dodgy places apparently gets smaller every day.

^ FWIW the BB shell belt is made from Horween stock.

I would be careful about cordovan in Japan. I have seen cordovan sold there that looks like it has been sprayed with a plastic coating, something a bit like what happens to corrected grain leather....I think it was called "wet cordovan" "drip cordovan?" or something like that. Takeya, a Japanese discounter that I love, has cordovan that just does not look right to me. If you are in Tokyo, you should go look at Lakota House to see if you note any difference between what you see at Suzuwaya and the Horween cordovan wallets on offer there.

Originally Posted by Bic Pentameter

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I would be careful about cordovan in Japan. I have seen cordovan sold there that looks like it has been sprayed with a plastic coating, something a bit like what happens to corrected grain leather....I think it was called "wet cordovan" "drip cordovan?" or something like that. Takeya, a Japanese discounter that I love, has cordovan that just does not look right to me. If you are in Tokyo, you should go look at Lakota House to see if you note any difference between what you see at Suzuwaya and the Horween cordovan wallets on offer there.
Thanks for the tip! Yes, I'm near Tokyo so I'll check them out.

Originally Posted by tattersall

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I picked up a BB shell belt and it's not that great - made in some dodgy place like Canada. I'd stick with Alden for shell accessories.

Originally Posted by Wrenkin

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The list of non-dodgy places apparently gets smaller every day.

Originally Posted by Bic Pentameter

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I would be careful about cordovan in Japan. I have seen cordovan sold there that looks like it has been sprayed with a plastic coating, something a bit like what happens to corrected grain leather....I think it was called "wet cordovan" "drip cordovan?" or something like that. Takeya, a Japanese discounter that I love, has cordovan that just does not look right to me. If you are in Tokyo, you should go look at Lakota House to see if you note any difference between what you see at Suzuwaya and the Horween cordovan wallets on offer there.

If I remember correctly, RIDER was the one who wrote about seeing and testing samples from both the Japanese company and Horween (if it wasn't RIDER, sorry whoever it was). The reviewer said that the Japanese shell was both a little thinner and shinier; it was also a bit more water resistant. I'm not sure this is a sign of its being lower in quality, just different.

Originally Posted by Teacher

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If I remember correctly, RIDER was the one who wrote about seeing and testing samples from both the Japanese company and Horween (if it wasn't RIDER, sorry whoever it was). The reviewer said that the Japanese shell was both a little thinner and shinier; it was also a bit more water resistant. I'm not sure this is a sign of its being lower in quality, just different.

I am a big fan of many things Japanese, and can agree that different does not always mean inferior. (For all I know, some of the stuff I saw in Japan may have been from Horween, although it was not clearly labeled as such.) Still, what I saw and bought in Japan was less attractive than Alden shell cordovan items I have seen.

I wonder if it may not be something other than the horse hide membrane we refer to as "shell cordovan." I have seen items in Japanese shops identified as "shell cordovan," and (that items were clearly not calf) identified as "cordovan."

The picture included by the original poster describes the wallets and day planner covers as "cordovan," but not "shell cordovan."

Bic

I am still in the market for a cigar case of shell cordovan.

Anyone have an answer for OP's question regarding the aging characteristics of Shell Cordovan in a wallet?

pretty much the same as calf, goes darker and softer - nothing too special or different

I have one made out of Horween shell from makr.com. I've had it for five months now and it's aging very well and developing a patina more quickly than the leather wallets I've owned in the past.

Looking for opinions on this wallet as I'm considering returning it. Brooks Bros. shell wallet (not the Japanese "oil shell" one). I found this one on their site but the catalog pic was exterior only and not much of a description but I ordered it anyway. The shell is more like the shell I'm used to seeing as opposed to the shiny shell used in the the made in Japan version. The made is Japan version is nicely made, more refined IMO but looks a little shiny and not like shell shoes. This one is made in Spain, looks and feels like shell used for shoes and a little less refined. The color is comparable to #8. What do you think? Keep or return? It cost the same as the Japanese wallet. I ordered it with the 25% off + 15% kicker, free shipping promo they just had.