The 10 Rarest Hermès Leathers – Some So Rare Even Sales Associates Haven’t Seen Them
The Hermès brand is famous for the high-quality art of leatherworking, but there are those offered by the house that will simply leave one’s mouth agape. This is a guide to the top ten Hermès leathers in the world, which are considered the holy grails for the collectors around the globe.
1. Crocodile Leather
- Top 1: Porosus Crocodile
This top class leather is from the Saltwater crocodile, massive in size and with intricate symmetrical fine scales. This can be termed as the most elegant and priciest category of crocodile leather after that of Hermès.
- Top 2: Niloticus Crocodile
This is crocodile leather of the Nile river variety and it has the most dominant scales than that of Porosus. It is very popular because of the magnificent appearance.
- Top 3: Alligator Crocodile
This leather is made out of alligators generally from the U. S.A. southern parts. It has smaller scales in comparison to other types of reptiles.
2. Ostrich Leather
As apparent from the name, everything about ostrich leather is distinctive, starting from its patterns made of skin follicles and extending to the free from cracks, harshness, and water it is also wear resistant. Its striking surface makes it a preference for such classic designs.
3. Lizard Leather
According to the type of products that Hermès makes, lizard skin is mostly used for small size bags and accessories. Lizard skins are not only delicate by nature, but also require careful treatment because of its shiny and smooth surface
4. Python Leather
Soft, light, and pliable leather like this has had its flexibility increased. Its texture is absolutely soft, but contains a natural kind of stretch. The overlapping scales have been arranged so perfectly that they shine elegance at all times.
5. Anteatre Leather
Anteater leather is uncommon since it is no longer made today because it is fish scale textures. This particular type of leather has greater value than the crocodile leather because of quite a rare waterproof characteristic. One such leather type in Hermès Sac Escale wears out but does not lose its beauty has been achieved with age management over time which adds charm to the antique bag.
6. Buffalo Dalmatian Leather
Buffalo leather is subdivided into two types i.e. Buffalo and Buffalo Dalmatian. The latter is distinctive in that it features a very interesting second dyeing process that is a lot different in appearance from how the industrial process works in that the natural texture tends to soak in the other colours within viviparidae resulting to a dappled look of a dalmatian dog. In the Garden Party bags, Hermés made use of buffalo leather before it went on to decorate such it bags as the Birkin and the Kelly which also have their own versions of Buffalo Dalmatian leather. Of Buffalo Dalmatian Birkin and Kelly bags, the most precious with the finest grain and density are the bags.
7. Whale Leather
Whale leather is a fine material that is smooth and feels cool at the touch. It has tiny air bubbles on the surface which makes whale leather tough and hardwear resistant.
8. Elephant Leather
Elephant leather is quite coarse and displays a lot of grain ridges. It is porous and readily takes up dyes, and even though the texture is tough, working with it is not easy because it does entail master’s level.
9. Vibrato Lambskin
Vibrato leather has been in the market since 2000 and it is made by taking several pieces of lambskins, dyeing each one of them and then putting them together and finally slicing the whole thing into thin layers. Because of different colouring on the layers, no two pieces in Vibrato leather are alike.
10. Peau de Porc (Pigskin Leather)
Peau de porc lamentably met its end years ago, but it is one of the strongest materials that Hermès has ever worked with. A disadvantage would be that this leather does not possess the gloss of leather such as cow leather. Especially thus, it is more complicated to work with and shape into fine smooth surfaces, thus, needs skilled work.
