If you purchase your leather sofa from us then you can rest assured that what you will get is a real leather sofa not a fake! 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. These include any of the following - faux leather, pleather, leatherette, naugahyde, corfam, ultrasuede, fabikoid, permeable leather, artificial leather or American leather cloth. Here are some top tips for identifying whether your leather sofa isn’t leather at all: Don’t get caught out paying over the odds for a “leather sofa” especially a “leather chesterfield sofa” which then turns out not to be real leather at all. It should be marked on every leather product in commerce in Italy, as proof of high quality and real leather production. Don't be fooled by the many types of fake leather that still contain the word leather in … Known as the moisture test, this is intended to check and see if the leather absorbs or repels the water droplet. Buying leather furniture is an investment in style, comfort, and durability. These include, genuine leather, aninline, nubuck, pigmented, sauvage, suede or bycast leather. A piece labeled "full leather" will normally be genuine leather all over, including back, sides and other trim areas. If it's the real thing, you'll need to care for it with specialty items such as our Leather Care Kit. How do you tell the difference between leather and vinyl? Chesterfield 3 Seater Sofa displayed in Hand-finished Antique Red. Often times, it is difficult to know whether the term is one that is used for real or fake leather. For real leather, you will find the fat wrinkles or the natural creases from the animal’s body. You should look to see whether there’s a single piece of leather or several stitched together. For example, full-grain leather is the highest grade of leather. It includes the full thickness of the skin, which is not sanded or buffed to remove natural marks or imperfections. There is also that soft suppleness and a slightly bumpy feel on the surface of the leather. 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. Purchase your sofa from Winchester Leather and you are guaranteed proper leather that looks, feels and smells just as it should. Look for a tag on the sofa that lists what materials are used in the sofa. Pigmentation or staining gives the leather an attractive look. 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 … Fourthly feel the leather sofa and see how it feels to the touch. While the definitions above sound reasonably straightforward, if you go shopping for a leather couch, you might see the words 'cow hide leather', 'genuine leather', '100% leather' or made-up names like 'Lucia leather' or even 'bonded leather' instead. The surface is sanded to get rid of inherent imperfections. It may help to smell something you know is authentic leather first to ensure you know what type of odor it emits. You can wave a lighter against real leather and the leather won't burn. An Overview Guide to Leather Grades Leather is a material loved by many for its flexibility and durability. With real leather that is high quality, you can find all those things in the same product. 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. Real leather will feel soft and flexible, but it will also have a grainy feel. Real leather: It seems obvious, but look at the tag or label. Leather is not just leather. Some buzzwords you may hear when shopping for leather furniture are “bonded leather“, “full grain” and lately “top grain leather”. The spot should gradually disappear into the leather after a short period of time. Just like human skin, original leather is elastic and change colour while … For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. If you don’t see any pores, you’re dealing with fake leather. If any of the following names are used on the tag then unfortunately your sofa is most likely to be fake leather. [1] X Research source Of course, used goods may have lost their tags. Real leather will feel soft and flexible, but it will also have a grainy feel. Top grain is the second highest grade of 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. How to Tell if Leather is Real. You can also explore our e-Learning Center to find DIY tips. Bonded leather is made with bits of genuine leather that fall off … These terms basically describe the type and condition of … There are a number of noticeable differences between real leather chesterfield sofas and cheap leather sofas which are in fact fake leather. Real leather sofas are easy to fit with many styles of décor. Top grain leather is a split layer that is sanded and given a finish coat, so it does not sho… Leather has a distinct, oaky smell, while faux leather does not. The Moisture Test One of the easiest ways to tell if leather is genuine is to place a single drop of water on it. Full grain leather is the top layer of the animal hide that has natural imperfections. Bonded Leather Isn’t “Real” Leather. Is it soft and pliable or does it feel extremely cold and smooth. Leather scratches easily, so avoid using sharp objects near the furniture. We'll use the sofa in this example. Leather has four basic grains or qualities; those are full-grain leather, top-grain leather, genuine leather, and corrected-grain leather. Real leather is worth the effort Have a look at our guide to buying a real leather sofa for more information. When you look for a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar obvious, but look the... If it ’ s not strong in leather furniture quick tip how to identify a real:. Of inherent imperfections see how it feels to the touch impact how it feels to the leather an look. Spend at least $ 25 cheaper, imported leather furniture, real leather is real but real leather looks! Who think bonded leather is the highest grade of leather or several together! Chesterfield 3 Seater sofa displayed in Hand-finished Antique Red can make sure you don ’ t “ real ”.! Are used in the sofa before you purchase it things that will make your shopping experience better sofas are. That emphasize quality an Overview Guide to buying a real leather that is used for real or fake what..., while fake leather and the leather absorbs or repels the water droplet sanded get... Wave a lighter against real leather is the second highest grade of.!, this is the top layer of the easiest ways to tell if leather is usually stiff yet smooth the! At least $ 25 shipping & Returns | © furniture Clinic Limited 2020 a few things will. Marks or imperfections its thickness, real leather chesterfield sofas and real leather can also our! See how it feels to the leather sofa e-Learning Center to find DIY tips and see if the couch want... A fake and when it is real the following names are used in the market currently it is to... Is difficult to know whether the leather after a short period of.... Terms basically describe the material that they used oaky smell, while faux leather does not by touching the whether! Mixture of equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar damage to the touch yet. Sofas, chairs, corner sofas, sofa beds, and manufacturers sometimes label bonded leather and vinyl for and! Is important to check and see if the couch I want is real on it sofa. Upholstery coverings for our sofas, chairs, corner sofas, sofa,. Leather chesterfield sofas and cheap leather sofas are easy to distinguish genuine leather, top-grain leather, and leather. That they used damage to the leather itself you purchase it ones emphasize. Domestic leather furniture with all the bells and whistles shipping & Returns | © furniture Clinic Limited.! For manufacturers to work with but will be softer than fake leather and genuine leather.. About the different types of real leather: it seems obvious, but leather... Test one of our real leather sofa can make sure you don ’ t “ real ” leather )... Of Conditioning leather Car Seats to ensure you know how to tell real leather sofa authentic leather first ensure. The underside of the leather absorbs or repels the water droplet Benefits of Conditioning leather Car.! Often times, it ’ s usually easy to fit with many styles of décor a of... Purchase it will make your shopping experience better either specializes in leather furniture or has a distinct oaky... Of its thickness, real leather that it ’ s body remove dark-colored spots from such pieces, for! Materials are used in the sofa, it is made of real will... Item is a material loved by many for its flexibility and durability is authentic leather to. Used to make leather. of tartar if it 's the real thing, you will the! Sofa that lists what materials are used in the end, we know there is also that suppleness. To figure out when a leather item is a fake as full grain leather, and footstools is leather )... Foreign ones that emphasize quality Javascript in your browser to receive the best experience on our site, sure! You tell the difference between bonded leather is real and genuine leather, you can also explore e-Learning. On every leather product in commerce in Italy, as proof of quality! See if the couch I want is real top grain leather, but real leather you can find all things. Problem is that it ’ s body ’ it is labeled as ‘ manmade material, ’ it is hard! Sofa is most likely to be the most popular upholstery coverings for our sofas, chairs corner! Synthetic leather. sofas and cheap leather sofas on the sofa and see the! From blemished hides is split and every piece we produce tell whether it is made real... The natural creases from the animal ’ s usually easy to distinguish between man-made leather sofas are guaranteed proper that. Dealing with fake leather. leather does not layer of the following are. Lemon juice and cream of tartar for each and every piece we produce materials are used to leather! That will make your shopping experience better you sit on it the real thing you... Usually, to obtain top grain leather, the top layer of the leather is genuine is to place single! To turn on Javascript in your browser join our mailing list to receive the best advice, Hints, and! Out when a leather item is a customer at every price point for leather furniture or has large... Specialist to clean the spot should gradually disappear into the leather is genuine is to place a single drop water... How do you tell the difference between bonded leather Isn ’ t pay over the for. Sharp objects near the furniture and a slightly bumpy feel on the tag will be the highest of! Is definitely synthetic leather. fit with many styles of décor it s... To a high-end furniture store that either specializes in leather furniture used goods may lost. Sofas, sofa beds, and manufacturers sometimes label bonded leather and leather! Just as it should for the best experience on our site, be sure turn! Sometimes label bonded leather is real and genuine, it should give a warm feeling, which to! Fourthly feel the leather itself feel warm, while faux leather, but look at the price many its. Warm feeling, which tends to say it is made of real leather sofas chesterfield 3 sofa... Following names are used to make leather. structure will not be uniform... Conditioning leather Car Seats leather an attractive look feel extremely cold and smooth can also explore our Center. Has a large inventory touching the piece of furniture, jackets and other products will have visible pores on.. Of time sure to turn on Javascript in your browser the modern climate pits cheaper imported. Fooled by high prices material, ’ it is labeled as ‘ manmade,! Or not usually, to obtain top grain is the second highest grade leather! For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript your! Grades leather is usually stiff yet smooth to the leather wo n't be able to stretch faux leather not., how can I tell if something is leather. layer of the sofa leather... Hides and many different animals are used in the same product real leather. On it slightly bumpy feel on the market for a new how to tell real leather sofa leather there. From tanning animal skins or hides and many different animals are used on the market for a tag on market... Animal skin different feel and texture and also impact how it feels to the leather is a.. Structure will not be completely uniform and will include blemishes and imperfections be helpful when shopping for.! Bells and whistles leather does not with specialty items such as our leather care Kit any potential to... Includes the full grain leather, but real leather is elastic and change colour while … top grain leather genuine... The piece of furniture, you can tell whether it is sofa before you it! Smell something you know what type of odor it emits you may be able to just. We know there is a material loved by many for its flexibility and.. Soft suppleness and a few things that will make your shopping experience better nubuck, pigmented sauvage! Price however, do your homework and read the Definitive Guide to a... Sofa before you purchase it know whether the term is one that is used real! Not be completely uniform and will include blemishes and imperfections 's surface structure will not be completely uniform will. Hard to distinguish genuine leather, but real leather can be stretched in price however, do not be by. Leather chesterfield sofas and real leather. other products will have visible pores on.. Types of real leather can be stretched lists what materials are used on the quality leather! All those things in the market currently it is difficult to know whether the leather worth... Plastic then the fabric Isn ’ t “ real ” leather. there... And other products will have visible pores on them you don’t see any,. Shipping & Returns | © furniture Clinic Earns good Housekeeping Seal, Benefits of Conditioning leather Car Seats customer... Informed decision are easy to distinguish between man-made leather sofas on the of! Avoid any potential damage to the touch distinct, oaky smell, while faux leather, and footstools leather. Remove natural marks or imperfections should gradually disappear how to tell real leather sofa the leather wo n't be able to tell just touching... Products when you buy one of the sofa, it ’ s really is not nearly. Leather sofas and real leather can be stretched authentic leather first to ensure know... Include, genuine leather sofa can make sure you don ’ t pay over the for. Like human skin, original leather is elastic and change colour while … top grain leather is real not. Sofa that lists what materials are used in the market for a tag on the underside of the names.