For example, full-grain leather is the highest grade of leather. The surface is sanded to get rid of inherent imperfections. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. You may be wondering, how can I tell if the couch I want is real leather? Whether you're in the market for a new leather jacket or sofa, you should be able to distinguish the difference between fake and real leather. Firstly you should take a look at the furniture tag and see if this identifies the materials which are used in order to manufacture your leather. Leather is quite resistant to fire. Fake leathers, and cheap quality leathers have a smooth plasticy feel to them, and when they are bent at extreme angles, you can see they have a slight tendency to crack.If it has an artificial looking shine, that is a good warning sign as well. Top grain is the second highest grade of leather. Thirdly take a closer look at the seams on the underside of the sofa and how they appear. The fifth point or rather task for you is to “sniff” because if it is real leather you will be able to notice its distinctive smell and this is something which cannot be duplicated in a fake leather sofa design. It is important to check the label on the sofa before you purchase it. You can get free shipping on our products when you spend at least $25. A quick tip how to tell if something is leather. It can help save you a costly mistake and money at the same time. Because of its thickness, real leather can be hard for manufacturers to work with but will be the most durable. Unfortunately, leather sofas tend to be much more expensive than other types of sofas, and this can make it difficult or impossible for some people to afford them. Real leather is worth the effort Have a look at our guide to buying a real leather sofa for more information. The spot should gradually disappear into the leather after a short period of time. Real leatheris a natural material made from real animal skin. Usually, to obtain top grain leather, the top layer of skin from blemished hides is split. Burn it! If you see “100% real leather,” “full/top grain leather,” or “genuine leather,” you’re headed in the right direction. The modern climate pits cheaper, imported leather furniture against domestic leather furniture with all the bells and whistles. Lastly, real leather will feel warm, while fake leather feels cool. Bonded leather is made with bits of genuine leather that fall off … If you see the words "synthetic" or "polyester" on the label, that means the product isn't made from real leather. There are many people who think bonded leather is genuine leather, and manufacturers sometimes label bonded leather as real. It's surface structure will not be completely uniform and will include blemishes and imperfections. Privacy & Cookies | Terms & Conditions | Shipping & Returns | © Furniture Clinic Limited 2020. Full grain leather is the top layer of the animal hide that has natural imperfections. This is a compressive read that will outline from start to finish how to be sure what you are buying is real top grain leather along with other furniture buying tips. There are a number of noticeable differences between real leather chesterfield sofas and cheap leather sofas which are in fact fake leather. How do you tell the difference between leather and vinyl? Knowing how to identify a real leather sofa can make sure you don’t pay over the odds for fake leather sofa. The Moisture Test One of the easiest ways to tell if leather is genuine is to place a single drop of water on it. Watch out for scratches. Known as the moisture test, this is intended to check and see if the leather absorbs or repels the water droplet. White and beige leather are notoriously vulnerable to stains. In case it persists, ask a professional leather specialist to clean the spot to avoid any potential damage to the leather itself. This is what genuine Best Leather Sofa is made out of technically it’s real leather because it came off the same cow and the exact spot as the full grain leather. You can wave a lighter against real leather and the leather won't burn. Is it soft and pliable or does it feel extremely cold and smooth. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. You may be able to tell just by touching the piece whether the leather is real or fake. The leather experts are here to help you make an informed decision. If you don’t see any pores, you’re dealing with fake leather. These include any of the following - faux leather, pleather, leatherette, naugahyde, corfam, ultrasuede, fabikoid, permeable leather, artificial leather or American leather cloth. (Hints of imperfections are a good sign in leather.) Meanwhile, fake leather feels cold when you sit on it. Look for a tag on the sofa that lists what materials are used in the sofa. Being able to tell the difference between bonded leather and genuine leather will be helpful when shopping for furniture. With a myriad of designs, hues, and leathers available, you’ll have no trouble finding a real leather sofa (or creating a … But the problem is that it’s not strong. Assuming the leather is real and genuine, it should absorb the water droplet. If they are smooth and plastic then the fabric isn’t real leather you have unfortunately got yourself a fake. Of course, it’s usually easy to distinguish genuine leather from fakes just by looking at the price. You may be able to tell just by touching the piece whether the leather is real or fake. Pigmentation or staining gives the leather an attractive look. Another method that can be used, is to use a finger tip and press on the surface of a cushion or area where the leather is applied over a soft padding. These include, genuine leather, aninline, nubuck, pigmented, sauvage, suede or bycast leather. With so many leather sofas on the market currently it is sometimes hard to distinguish between man-made leather sofas and real leather sofas. There are a variety of terms which furniture companies use to describe the material that they used. Therefore, when you buy one of our real leather sofas you can be certain that is just what it is. These include, genuine leather, aninline, nubuck, pigmented, sauvage, suede or bycast leather. Go to a high-end furniture store that either specializes in leather furniture or has a large inventory. Keep in mind that the average hide is 3′ by 6′ so if you see a huge sofa covered in one single piece of leather you can be certain it’s a fake. Bonded Leather Isn’t “Real” Leather. Buying leather furniture is an investment in style, comfort, and durability. In the end, we know there is a customer at every price point for leather furniture. Whenever you sit on the sofa, it should give a warm feeling, which tends to say it is made of real leather. Purchase your sofa from Winchester Leather and you are guaranteed proper leather that looks, feels and smells just as it should. Secondly if you haven’t found any of the above names on the tag then look at what is and if you have any of the following you can breathe because your sofa is real leather. But with so many grains, coatings, and textures available, it can often become confusing as to which type would work best for your sofa. Be wary of any product that doesn't specifically claim to be real leather. The tag will be able to tell you whether the leather is real or not. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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