How to Determine if Your Leather Handbag is Genuine: 7 Simple Steps to Follow

Step 1: Smell the handbag

The first step is to sniff. If the handbag is made from premium leather material, it will have a distinct leather smell even from a distance. Whether it’s a jacket, furniture, or boots made from leather, they will still have that characteristic leather scent. If it has a different smell or no smell at all, the handbag could be made from fake leather.

Step 2: Touch and feel the material behind

When it comes to luxury handbags, the texture and feel of the material are key indicators of authenticity. Imagine reaching into your bag and feeling the supple softness reminiscent of sea foam. If you don’t feel that softness, it could be a sign of a fake leather bag.

Step 3: Touching the top of the bag

How to Verify the Quality of a Leather Bag

Step 4: Check the surface of the skin

Imitation leather bags often come with a non-natural and less-than-perfect leather layer. These premium faux leather types usually have areas with a different leather layer than the rest. This is not an ineffective test because faux leather manufacturers often have to incorporate imperfect materials in their designs to make them look more authentic. Additionally, genuine leather can be discolored, have a sandy hue, and can then be impressed with a uniform leather layer. Manufacturers also use coating and dyes to make the genuine leather resemble synthetic leather. The leather is also embossed to create a pattern that can give a similar feel to faux leather.

Step 5. Check the pore structure on the skin surface

By examining the pores, you can make an informed decision about the quality of a handbag. Remember to look for consistent and unaltered pores for a high-quality bag, or slightly changed pores for an authentic leather bag. Happy handbag hunting!

Step 6: Check the weight of the handbag

Most faux leather bags are lighter compared to genuine leather bags. Many countries have strict regulations regarding the thinness of genuine leather goods, and it’s no surprise that faux leather doesn’t meet these requirements. Genuine leather is typically a heavy material, so its weight tends to be heavier than that of faux leather.

Step 7: Use a flame to check if the bag is burning or not?

You can test genuine leather with fire because genuine leather is not destroyed under fire. It should be noted that this test only applies to high-quality leather and the best leather with completely natural materials. Designer handbags with embossed materials are typically not expected to be the subjects of this experiment.