Watchstrapman Report post Posted August 31, 2020 Hi Guys! I'm new to this forum and could really do with some help. I get watch straps made in China, and they have sent me a sample of 2 watch straps which they claim are both genuine leather. I have a few questions. 1. How can I test that they are genuine leather? 2. Strap 1 - The description on the first strap is "Litchi stripe genuine leather". I've looked online but can find very little information about "Litchi stripe". Can anyone share some information about this. IE- Is this a layer over the leather, a treatment, a design over the layer, etc? Any information about Litchi Stripe leather is much appreciated. Thanks for your time. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted August 31, 2020 The only method I know to test for real leather is a destructive test. Take a piece of the material, hold in pliers, put a flame to the material. If it shrivels up and smells like burnt flesh its leather. If it burns with a black smoke giving off small black sooty particles, its a plastic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Watchstrapman Report post Posted August 31, 2020 Thanks for this fredk. Much appreciated Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisash Report post Posted August 31, 2020 Unfortunately there is no official description of genuine leather, its just a all encompassing term for anything that has at least some leather in it Leather can be made from fish skin to elephants skin and tanned in about half a dozen ways and all referred to genuine leather, you can also cut the top layer off (the best area) for making leather, and then use the whats left with a PU coating and patterning as split leather again called genuine leather If your straps are from China and at low price then more than likely made from split leather just like 90% of the cheap belts and wallets that country are well known for making Litchi seems to be the far eastern name for Lychee the small pimpled fruit popular as deserts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Watchstrapman Report post Posted August 31, 2020 Awesome information Chrisash. Thanks for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites