Identifying shell cordovan

sockpuppets · Nov 22, 2010

I can't tell. The creases make me think regular leather but the rolls, dimple around the eyelets and color 8 similarity make me think cordovan. They're peal & co. Anyone?

JayJay · Nov 22, 2010

I think they're shell, not completely sure though.

MalfordOfLondon · Nov 22, 2010

I'd say calf looking at the first pic

Don Carlos · Nov 22, 2010

Creasing patterns, plus the coloring in the last pic, plus the way the material "folds over" a tiny bit at the sides of the shoe, leads me to conclude shell. I agree that the micro-creasing seemingly evident in the first pic could seem calf-like. But it's not as prominent or as webbed as calf micro-creasing would be. So I am about as certain as I can be, given the imperfect evidence, that these are shell.

The calls we need to make in threads like these are always hard to determine, because so many of shell cordovan's idiosyncrasies need to be seen or felt in person. The look, feel, heft, and even smell of shell cordovan is hard to determine definitively in a handful of web pics.

Grayland · Nov 22, 2010

I have a pair of Made in England Ralph Lauren monkstraps that look very similar (in regards to creasing) and my shoes are corrected grain. They have that shell ripple with micro-creases.

benjamin831 · Nov 22, 2010

Not shell. They're corrected grain.

Don Carlos · Nov 22, 2010

I'm sticking to my guns on this. CG would have more color fading at the creases and wouldn't support such a variegated color pattern in general. All the CG I've ever seen (though I will admit it hasn't been all that much) has been characterized by a very uniform, bland color with no patina or variegation except for fading at the creases. The heels and upper vamp of these shoes, on the other hand, look very shell-like to me.

Tough to say definitively, but I would still say shell.

srivats · Nov 22, 2010

Those are corrected grain.

patrickBOOTH · Nov 22, 2010

Originally Posted by srivats

Those are corrected grain.

Corrected shell.

benjamin831 · Nov 22, 2010

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

Corrected shell.

Shell cordovan, by the process of shaving, is also corrected grain.

cimabue · Nov 22, 2010

Funny, calf is always corrected around here.

benjamin831 · Nov 22, 2010

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

I'm sticking to my guns on this. CG would have more color fading at the creases and wouldn't support such a variegated color pattern in general. All the CG I've ever seen (though I will admit it hasn't been all that much) has been characterized by a very uniform, bland color with no patina or variegation except for fading at the creases. The heels and upper vamp of these shoes, on the other hand, look very shell-like to me.

Tough to say definitively, but I would still say shell.

I've never seen shell cordovan with fine wrinkles in between the larger creases. There's no doubt that this is CG. And depending on how the CG is finished, varying degrees of coloration/patination could be applied by the leather producer. C&J's cavalry calf is a good example of patinated CG. Not all CG is uniform; don't be fooled by Church's polish binder.

patrickBOOTH · Nov 22, 2010

Originally Posted by benjamin831

Shell cordovan, by the process of shaving, is also corrected grain.

Shell grain.

benjamin831 · Nov 22, 2010

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

Shell grain.

Full Corrected?

patrickBOOTH · Nov 22, 2010

Originally Posted by benjamin831

Full Corrected?

Yes, must be.

Identifying shell cordovan

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