Alligator/Croc print leather vs genuine alligator/croc

[lee_44106]

So far, the only useful pieces of info are:

-higher price
-a stamping that says "genuine alligator"

Everything else is just unreliable.

 

[chronic]

IIRC, genuine croc items have small dot imprints on each scale.

 

[Aaron01]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

No, true alligator wallets use real alligators.
Then there's the quality of the gator skin itself, with the belly being most desirable.
Metal corners are finishings typical of luxury houses such as Asprey, Hermes and the like, but by themselves do not denote genuine alligator.

No no, I didn't mean it denoted genuine alligator skin, just that it's proper for real alligator wallets to have metal corners.

 

[Tomasso]

Embossed calf has a repetitive pattern, where natural skins do not.

 

[lee_44106]

Originally Posted by chronic

IIRC, genuine croc items have small dot imprints on each scale.

False. This is a sign of the caiman, which is a cheap alternative to genuine alligator. The small dot you are referring to is a scale from calcium deposit. Unless you are referring to the ISO pores, the integumentary sensory organ pores.

Here's something I found that may be useful.

http://alligatorfur.com/alligator/croc.htm



It looks like this topic has generated few responses. At this point I'm thinking general lack of knowledge on the part of the forumites

or else little interest in this topic, which I cannot believe.

 

[TheFoo]

^^^ Crocodile is not inferior to alligator as a rule, although much of it is. Some is equal or superior, and I think you'll find the little dots on the hide even if it isn't a Caiman.

 

[RJman]

I thought that the little dots on the hide are a sign of it being crocodile porosus, which is a good species of croc skin to have...

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by RJman

I thought that the little dots on the hide are a sign of it being crocodile porosus, which is a good species of croc skin to have...

I thought all crocodile hides had the little dots. Eh, the point is crocodile doesn't necessarily suck.

 

[rach2jlc]

Okay, so obviouvly I'm trying to get as much mileage out of my great vintage find as I can, but it's come in handy lately. I'm with mafoofan and RJ that YES, good crocodile will have the spots (pores):

 

[lee_44106]

Integumentary sensory organ pores (ISO pores). Crocodiles had them when alive, little hair sticked out of them.

 

[rach2jlc]

^Exactly. I think the confusion has arisen by the earlier post of "little dots" which you mentioned were a sign of caimen... but I think that poster was talking about the ISO pores.

Anyway, I think we're all back on the same page now.

 

[John Ellis]

Simple answer. Try them on. Real Croc is incredibly soft and comfortable from the first wearing. They seem to cling to your feet. It's a bit like quality: hard to describe but you see the difference immediately. Calf printed is going become comfortable after a few wearings but doesn't have that instant comfort feel.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

^^^ Crocodile is not inferior to alligator as a rule, although much of it is. Some is equal or superior, and I think you'll find the little dots on the hide even if it isn't a Caiman.
I generally prefer the look of crocodile especially for large-scale things like shoes, bags and wallets. Alligator can be nice be belts. Turtle skin also looks quite nice done up as a bag.

 

[sartorialism]

So, would you say these are real or embossed? I can't tell.

 

[DWFII]

Proof would be in the touch but I'd say genuine.