The belt isn’t just a way to keep our pants up; it’s also a style and fashion statement. Thus, knowing the difference between genuine leather and synthetic belts is crucial. The challenge of distinguishing a leather belt from a counterfeit one arises due to the availability of textiles that share nothing familiar with it despite resembling genuine leather closely.
Here are several methods and tests you may use to tell the difference between a real leather belt for guys and a fake one.
1)Know Your Leather
The quality of the leather is the first thing to look at when deciding the authenticity of a belt. Typically, leather belts are crafted from one of three leather types:
Full-grain leather
Refers to leather in its most unprocessed form. It holds up well and gains character with age.
Top-grain leather
comprises high-quality leather that has been sanded and treated to provide a polished look and texture, reducing its durability compared to full-grain leather.
Split-grain leather
If you insist on buying a belt made of real leather, know that the lowest quality option is split-grain leather. Although it won’t last long, it’s an excellent entry-level belt made of leather.
“Leather” belts are typically made from synthetic textiles that look and feel like genuine leather but are much cheaper to produce. Therefore, you should learn to differentiate real leather from leatherettes, polyurethane/PU leather, pleather, and vegan leather.
2)Apply The Drop Test
An easy way to tell if a belt is made of natural leather is to put water on it. The drop test, also called the moisture test, can determine whether the leather will soak up the liquid.
Even though they are invisible, leather possesses many micropores that can absorb or release moisture depending on the air’s humidity level. When exposed to water, genuine leather will swiftly absorb the liquid into its microscopic pores. Consequently, you can start identifying a real leather belt by examining the uptake of the water droplet. If it absorbs into your belt, the leather is genuine.
Since faux leather resists water, the water droplet will slide off the belt made of artificial leather or make a little puddle. It is vital to remember that if the belt undergoes water-repellent treatment, it will not soak moisture, even if it is made of genuine leather.
3)Use The Sniff Test
Genuine maroon belts have a distinctive “leather” scent that manufacturers of replicas cannot replicate. The smell is indescribable, but you may recall it months or years afterward. The scent is the most closely linked sense to memory, and a distinctive odor like that of genuine leather is difficult to forget.
The tanning process gives a genuine leather belt its distinctive aroma that you can instantly recognize. Salt curing and lime treatment, both common in leather tanneries, help give leather its signature odor.
In contrast, fake leather will smell similar to plastic or chemicals.
4)Examine The Leading Edges
A leather belt’s edges are an excellent way to tell whether it is accurate. Genuine leather is a sustainable product made from the skin of an animal, and the collagen fibers found in the animal’s skin provide the leather belt with a fibrous structure on the cutting edges of the belt.
Therefore, when examining a leather belt, please pay particular attention to its edges. A natural leather belt will have rough, uneven edges and imperfections; these are all characteristics of the material.
On the other hand, a belt made of synthetic leather has a consistent surface and straight cutting edges, and its grain is usually extremely smooth uniform, and symmetrical.
5)Check The Feel
The skin of animals age and get wrinkles, just like a person’s skin. As a result, the appearance of leather will alter throughout its lifetime as time passes. A genuine leather belt’s fabric will slightly stretch and wrinkle as you push your fingers into it. You can also check the belt’s genuineness by bending it. If holding the belt in your hand, you should attempt to turn the leather.
A genuine leather belt will show wrinkles, and genuine leather is malleable, yielding easily under tension. Synthetic leather is difficult to stretch or bend since it is rigid, stiff, and prone to breaking. When you fold or bend a synthetic leather belt, it will eventually break or crumble. However, a genuine leather belt’s patina improves with age, developing new lines and hues as it is folded or bent.
Full-grain leather produces the nicest patina because it is created without eliminating flaws or faults from the hide’s top layer. Though genuine leather ages beautifully, other types conceal imperfections, and leather imitators apply synthetic treatments that dull the patina.
6)Consider The Price
The price of a leather belt is not an adequate indicator of the product’s quality. When compared to synthetic leather, the cost of genuine leather is substantially higher due to the labor-intensive nature of its production.
Salt curing and bating are two of the most time-consuming steps in turning raw hides into finished leather. Due to this, a belt made from full-grain leather will cost more than one made from bonded leather, which only contains about 20% real leather, with the rest being PVC and fiber.
A leather belt of excellent quality and long-lasting durability will take you upwards of one dollar. If it seems too wonderful to be true, it usually is fake. In most cases, a synthetic product can be identified by its absurdly low price. But if it’s a significant investment, you should employ those last four tips to verify the item’s authenticity.
Also, Read;- 5 Phenomenal Ways To Choose the Best Textile Colors
Conclusion
The perfect purchase for your money would be a belt made of genuine leather. The longer you wear it, the more attractive it becomes. We offer these suggestions for locating and purchasing the finest belts in the hopes that you may use them to your advantage. Visit any web store to view the large selection of stylish leather belts.
If you still need help spotting the synthetics, you can always return to this post to review the tips. If not, please let us know how you spot fake leather belts when shopping.