Bazza
September 29, 2010, 10:47 pm
[quote name='zaria123' date='29 September 2010 - 09:47 PM' timestamp='1285793253' post='733619']
Most car manufactuers (Particularly Jap) tend to use Corrected Grain Leathers which means a synthetic coating is applied as the coloured facing on top of the leather. This corrected grain features its own grain effect (which corrects and hides any blemishes in the original leather allowing them to use cheaper imperfect hides), therefore making the leather look a bit fake / synthetic. It is also more durable and less effected by sun damage, you will find though leather creams etc won't be absorbed.
You'll also find if you were to take a seat covering off, the back of the leather would have a white synthetic cloth glued on to give the leather extra support and prevent the leather from stretching and splitting.
Its a bit sad, selling cars with 'Leather' seats which have been made to look like PVC.........Can't see the point, but in these modern times we have to live with these curiosities....lol
A good test, but you gotta look in detail, is if you gently press the leather, Nappa etc will crease naturally in the grain lines, corrected leather will crease 'under' the synthetic coating and not in the visible grain lines.
And no I'm not an anorak......

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another way of telling real leather from fake is to put a flame on it
synthetic will melt and blacken quickly, where as leather will resist it for a short period
wouldn't recommend this method though