A Simple Guide to Identifying Your Leather
It is important to know what type of leather I have. Different leathers require different care and definitely using the correct product will enhance the look and life of the substrate.
The chart below, if followed correctly will always give you the correct answer.
Lounges, automotive, marine and aviation leathers usually come in the following types of Leathers:
- Pigmented
- Semi-aniline
- Aniline
- Nubuck
Saba Care Products are used widely in the industry and provide an extensive range specially formulated for each leather.
A Few Simple Checks Can Tell You a Lot
You don’t need to be a leather expert to get a good indication of what you’re working with. Start at the top of the chart and follow each question in order.
First, look at the surface. If the leather has a soft nap similar to the surface of a billiard table, it is most likely nubuck. Nubuck is particularly sensitive and can mark easily, so choosing products specifically suited to this type of leather is important.
If there’s no obvious nap, lightly scratch an inconspicuous area with your fingernail. If this leaves a visible mark, move on to the moisture test. Leather that readily absorbs moisture is likely to be aniline, while leather that marks but is less absorbent may be a semi-aniline style with a wax/oil pull-up or micro-pigment topcoat.
If lightly scratching the surface doesn’t leave a mark, test how readily the leather absorbs moisture. If moisture is absorbed, the chart points towards semi-aniline leather. If it remains on the surface rather than soaking in, you almost certainly have protected or pigmented leather, which may have a single-colour, two-tone or antique-style finish.
These simple checks are a useful starting point because identifying the leather helps you choose the right cleaning, conditioning and protection products for its particular finish.
A quick word of caution: always carry out any test on a small, inconspicuous area first. Aniline and nubuck leathers are particularly absorbent and may be permanently marked by moisture.
