Genuine Leather and Synthenic Leather is always hard to tell apart. When high-tec and skillful people make Synthenic Leather so REAL. First we must understand what are the process making them.
Genuine Leather uses the top part of the skin also known as "top grain". While Synthenic Leather use the bottom part of skin also known as "split".
To make it easier when we get a piece of cow skin the top 1~2mm is the Genuine, while the next 1~3mm is used to make Synthenic Leather.
When we make Synthenic Leather we first print the skin looking texture and it gives out some toxic smell. If it is real it will not such smell (unless the seller give it a little leather wax to keep it shinny) Since it's a "skin" it usually have small scratches or wrinkles (cows could have been tipped over,,, you know?)
Now you must understand skin's mole could differ in size and it depends on where the skin is from. Belly and neck skin usually have large rough mole while the back skin of the cow has small mole and smooth
Now sometimes Synthenic Leather has another coating Layer on the surface where our skin could touch the leather. This makes the leather look more like a real one but it doesn't last long and very rough and hard. It also makes it sticky on summer times when our sweat can't be absorbed by the skin.
Geunine Leather must look like one, act like one, and smell like one.
It's Never easy to tell them apart but if you understand the making it will make it easier.
Next I'll write about 7 different ways to tell them apart
1. Smell
Geunine Leather does have a smell also, bit animal like smell while Synthenic Leather has chemical smell.
2. Flip them over
If you flip them over Geunine Leather has a rough surface while Synthenic has another fabric over it and also bits of thread sticking out. (check for those too!)
3. Scan the Skin
Geunine Leather has a smoother reflect and detailed mole and wrinkles while fake ones does not have fine wrinkles and reflect strong light and alot of moles with no actual holes.
NOTE: Some Geunine Leather has stronger reflect than Synthenic.
4. Bend the skin
Give yourself a soft pinch and remember how it looks then try it on your real Genuine Leather. It should look the same, I mean they are both real "skin".
Try bending the skin Real ones has flexibility fake ones don't.
5. Burn the skin
You can't use this when shopping but if you can try burning them. Real one don't burn as well as Fake one Plus they have an awful smell(something like burning plastic smell)
6.Weight it out
This way is usually used for leather coats
Real one are heavy while fake ones don't
NOTE: Sheep leather is lighter than Cow leather.
7. Drop a water on the skin
If you had showered before you'll see small drops of water on your skin and it's not shapped as if you spilled water over the table.
On real skin it rolls off as a shop of a drop and it absorbs the water.
On fake skin is just dripps over and does not absorb.
There is alot of Synthenic Leather sold as REAL. Let's not be stupid and be trick by these FAKES!
SAFE SHOPPING EVERYONE!!