When you are changing crocodile leather straps for your own products or watches, have you ever experienced a dazzling choice? The prices range from tens of dollars to hundreds of dollars, and all the pictures are processed by PS and look beautiful, and it is hard to see any difference. Why is the price difference so big? What is the foul? I will try to expand it a little.
Why crocodile leather straps are so expensive?
Crocodile leather straps are some of the most expensive straps on the market and they are highly sought after by watch collectors. This is because of the unique characteristics and benefits that come with using this type of leather. Here is a look at why crocodile leather straps are so expensive.
First, crocodile leather is extremely durable and long-lasting. It is much more resistant to wear and tear than other types of leather and will last you for years to come. This makes it the perfect choice for a watch strap that will be exposed to a lot of use and abuse.
Second, crocodile leather has a unique look and texture. It is incredibly smooth and supple and has a unique grain pattern that adds a touch of luxury to any watch. The unique pattern and texture of the leather also make it stand out from the crowd and makes it a great choice for a luxury watch.
Third, crocodile leather is very expensive due to the scarcity of materials. It is a limited resource and only a few tanneries are able to produce it.
mentioned the leather-making process, the tanning process of crocodile skin includes soaking and cleaning, chemical treatment, cleaning again, double bleaching, acid bath treatment, chrome tanning, cutting thickness, secondary tanning, drying, dyeing, etc.
There are not many leather factories that can make the quality good, which requires very professional technology and accumulation.
so makes it is one of the most expensive materials on the market.
Finally, crocodile leather is a symbol of status and wealth. It is associated with luxury and sophistication, which makes it a desirable choice for a watch strap for many collectors.
Overall, crocodile leather straps are highly sought after and expensive due to their unique characteristics and benefits. They are incredibly durable, have a unique look and texture, are a limited resource, and are associated with luxury and sophistication.
Good crocodile skin is rare and expensive, and there is another reason.
Crocodiles have harsh feeding conditions, slow growth rates, and are very irritable and like to attack each other. If the crocodiles attacked and hurt the belly skin, their skin is barely unusable.
All of these factors combine to make crocodile leather straps the perfect choice for watch collectors who want a strap that will last and make a statement.
Color rubbing American alligator leather
What are the types of crocodile skin?
There are many different species of crocodiles, but three are usually used to make watch straps.
One is the American alligator, also referred to as the Mississippi alligator, which is characterized by no air holes and a neat and beautiful bamboo pattern, making it very suitable for making watch straps.
Secondly, the Nile crocodile, which is generally used for making luggage but has a pattern on its belly that is also suitable for making watch straps.
Thirdly, Siamese crocodiles, also called Thai crocodiles, are more affordable than American and Nile crocodiles and have beautiful bamboo patterns on their bellies and small pores.
Where is the Material from of Crocodile leather straps?
The difference between species is mainly in the pattern and pores, but in fact, it is more important to see where they are from.
There are three well-known crocodile leather producers in the world:
HCP Group, which consists of several leather factories and is a subsidiary of Hermès; Heng Long Leather Factory in Singapore, a top stream supplier of crocodile leather, which was acquired by LVHM in 2011;
and France Croco Leather Factory in France, which was acquired by Kering Group in 2013.
In fact, all three of them provide Hermès with crocodile leather, and most of the original crocodile strap leather for watches also originates from these three factories.
American crocodile leather
As for the purchase cost, American crocodile leather is priced much higher than Nile crocodile and Siamese crocodile leather, and the production process is also divided into imported and domestic processes. The cost of imported American crocodile leather is about five times higher than that of domestic Siamese crocodiles leathers.
In order to cover up flaws or pores, the China local process will make the dye layer thicker and the leather surface more oily in response to market demand, but it will also lose its delicate texture. Of course, the durability of the two is roughly the same, just choosing the right cost-effective for your brands is ok.
What’s the Fishy about the Crocodile watch leather straps?
Understanding the above background, it is not difficult to guess the bad business to play those fouls.
It is more common to make Nile crocodiles or Siamese crocodiles as American crocodiles with China domestic techniques. After the strap is made, it can be said that most people can’t tell the difference, but the cost difference is huge.
Of course, there are more ruthless, with cowhide pressed out of the grain impersonating crocodile skin, even if it is embossed there are many people who can not distinguish.
Like Below straps, with complex artwork:
The top leather is a domestic pressed Nile crocodile bamboo grain, the leather surface is matte texture on the bright side, the bottom leather using imported American crocodile round grain. good softness dyeing process more stable. As the production process of the strap is largely the same, the durability under the same wearing environment is also basically the same
Double-sided Nile crocodile strap
Top leather using imported large factory process American crocodile bamboo grain, leather surface feel delicate, texture has a three-dimensional sense. The bottom leather is made of calfskin, which is comfortable to wear, and the leather surface has a certain waterproof treatment and is not easy to crack. The overall quality is close to the original strap.
Imported American alligator bamboo knotted strap
It is rare to see soft medium-gloss American crocodile bamboo grain leather on the market, the leather of this strap originated from France croco leather factory is relatively difficult to meet, try to make a sample and then did not hesitate to take this batch of leather. The advantages of the soft medium light strap are obvious, high brightness and soft texture, with a strong sense of advanced watch. The bottom leather is also made of calfskin
More premium feeling! Soft mid-gloss American alligator bamboo strap
How to tell the differences between fake and real Crocodile watches leather straps?
First look at the pattern,
there are some on the market is the crocodile skin pattern strap, which is pressed with the crocodile pattern on cowhide leather, the manufacturer wants to save costs by only using one set of mold, so When you buy it, you’d better check and comparisons, if the pattern style is the same, it is basically fake.
The pattern of real alligator straps is different, even if the same brand, same model and one batch, they are different patterns. Because the pattern of crocodile skin is just like the pattern of a human palm, it is completely natural and has natural differences, so the pattern of each crocodile skin is unique. The pattern of the strap is even more different when it is made from different parts of crocodile skin.
Real crocodile skin also has a lot of small and irregular texture, which is the natural wrinkles of the second growth of an adult crocodile, and there is no way to be imitated artificially, which is another characteristic of the natural skin texture that distinguishes it from the machine pressed texture.
The real crocodile skin has “bamboo knot pattern”, a so-called “bamboo knot pattern”, which is similar to the longitudinal and fine fissures arranged between the bamboo knots, very small and irregular, which is also a distinctive feature of the natural skin grain to distinguish it from the machine pressed grain. However, the machine-pressed grain is a rigid and stiff grain, and on both sides of the grain are “lumpy” black stripes imitating the keratin of crocodile skin.
Next, feeling,
the new alligator strap is soft, flexible, and not stiff. The new cowhide strap texture is a little tough, with no elasticity like a crocodile strap. In addition, the crocodile strap looks more high grade
Finally, look at the workmanship,
after all, crocodile leather is used by the top watch accessories, their workmanship is fine, basically made by hand, the logo is also stamped on, the fake crocodile with a rough process, always use the gluing stick process.
Always remember: the money is divided into goods, if the workmanship is too rough, then nine out of ten is fake.
How to maintain the Crocodile Leather straps?
Alligator leather straps are consumables, and the general use life of a properly maintained watch is only about two years, so this step of maintenance care is vital;
Firstly, don’t touch sweat, chemicals, water, corrosive liquids, etc., which easily erode the strap over time.
When it rains or swims, keep it sealed when not wearing the watch, especially in areas with humid air.
If the strap has an unpleasant smell, you can gently brush it with a small brush dipped in a small amount of soapy water and then wipe it dry.
you should regularly wipe the strap and apply some Lanolin to prolong its lifetime in daily time.
How to find the proper Crocodile supplier?
For those who are looking for a crocodile skin supplier, there are some tips to consider.
First, you should look for a supplier who has experience working with crocodile skin. Experience is key to ensuring the quality of the material and that the supplier knows how to handle it properly.
Second, you should look for a supplier that offers a wide selection of crocodile skin materials. This will give you the opportunity to choose from a variety of colors, patterns, and textures. This way, you can also find the right material for your needs.
Thirdly, you should look for a crocodile skin supplier that can provide you with custom designs. This way, you will be able to get the exact material you need without having to search for it for a long time. Custom orders are also beneficial if you are looking for a specific pattern or texture.
Finally, you should look for a crocodile skin supplier who can provide you with high-quality materials at a reasonable price. High-quality materials will ensure that your product is of the highest quality and will last for years to come.
By following these tips, you can be sure that you will find a reliable crocodile skin supplier that will provide you with the best materials. This way, you can be sure that you will get the exact materials that you need and that your products will be of the highest quality.
Conclusion: Alligator leather strap is a very valuable strap, because of its preciousness, so the quality of the market is uneven, learn to identify the quality and process is the most important method. Of course alligator straps are generally only used in the more expensive watches, ordinary watches are generally used cowhide straps, if you want to know some knowledge about cowhide straps, you can click this.
