Which are the main differences among genuine crocodile, alligator and caiman leathers?

Moving our attention on genuine exotic leathers and, in particular looking at the main differences between crocodile, alligator and caiman leathers, we can affirm that crocodile and alligator skin have a higher price and a superior quality to caiman leather. Their skin, in fact is softer and more flexible than genuine caiman leather. If you fold the latter, you will see that many light cracks will immediately appear on the leather itself. This substantial difference is also evident to the touch; in fact, if your bag is too rigid and rough, that means that your handbag is not made of genuine crocodile or alligator, but of caiman.

Note: These handbags are both made of the same high qualitative genuine crocodile leather. As you can see crocodile is perfectly adaptable on each style of handbag, from the most rigid structured model (as the brown handbag on the right) to the softest style (as the handbag on your left). Crocodile excellently embodies the natural shape of the handbag, making it perfectly gorgeous and incredibly supple.

When a crocodile bag is to be produced, the leather from its belly is usually used or of its flanks because these are the softest sections, guaranteeing the producers a more refined item from a quality point of view, and making the stitching easier. However, if the crocodile back leather is used (the part closest to the back of the animal’s neck), characterized by its typical horned appearance, we can tell which animal it is according to the design of these horned scales and, especially according to the number of visible horns: the alligator has its horns disposed in the following pattern: 2-2-2; the caiman follows the natural design 4-4-2 while crocodile has its horns disposed in the following pattern: 4-2.

Both crocodile and alligator skins are softer and smoother on the animal’s belly compared to caiman leather. This results in a more homogeneous and even distribution of dye in the coloring process. Dye on caiman skin, on the other hand, shows up the natural wrinkles characterizing this leather and the color appears more blotchy and irregular when applied to caiman skin.

Alligator leather can also be identified by the so called “umbilical scar”(an elongated star shape among the belly scales), since alligator is the only exotic animal which has it. If a handbag is produced using this prestigious leather, this umbilical scar will often be prominently displayed at the front of the bag, just to testify to the authenticity of the leather.

Then, we should also take into consideration another fundamental element distinguishing these three leathers: the different shape of the scales. Crocodile and alligator scales are rounded or irregularly squared, having a more elegant and refined aspect, while the scales characterizing the caiman leather are squared but rougher than crocodile ones, and each scale is crinkled with the so called “osteoderms” similar to finger prints.

According to what we’ve said above, how can you tell what leather your “crocodile handbag” is made of?

Contact the retailer you bought your handbag from, asking for more detailed information. If the handbag has not been imported from abroad, the seller probably won’t have the Cites export document or certificate but he should be able to provide you with all the details about the species of the animal whose leather has been used to manufacture your handbag, its provenance and the authenticity of the leather itself;
Hae a close look at your new handbag. As we said above, if the price was suspiciously cheap, your handbag is not made of genuine exotic leather;
Look at the design and patterns of the scales, bearing in mind the suggestions we’ve given you above;
Test the softness of the leather;
If the handbag comes from a foreign country, we suggest that you check the invoice and, in particular make sure that what is written in the invoice is the same as what is written in the shipping documents of the item itself. The name of the species declared in the shipping documents is usually an accurate reflection of the leather used for the manufacture of the handbag and it must coincide with the name of the species declared in your invoice;
If the handbag, on the other hand, was purchased in the country you live in, we suggest you contact the seller directly and if the seller seems too vague in his answers, say that you have to ship this handbag abroad a foreign country and that you need the necessary documents. If he is not willing or able to provide you with them, that means that your handbag is probably made of stamped leather (although of excellent quality) or that your handbag might really made of exotic leather such as crocodile or caiman but that this leather has been obtained through illegal means and, for this reason, it is not issued with documents.
We also highly recommend that you never buy your exotic bag in places such as on the beach, at the market or in any other unauthorized center, but rather make your purchase only from experienced retailers of exotic leather goods who have been selling these items for years in the full respect of Cites regulations concerning the safeguard of species threatened by extinction.

In conclusion, we’d just like to remind you of one important thing: you bought your handbag because you really liked it! Now, as long as you still like it, don’t waste too much time on research, analysis and agonizing about the genuineness of your crocodile bag. Go out and enjoy wearing your beloved bag without any more ado!
To those who, on the other hand are thinking of buying a luxury crocodile bag but who haven’t done it yet, we strongly suggest that you contact the seller, who should be able to help you, satisfying your every question and request!!!