How to Tell if a Handbag Is Genuine Crocodile

Co-authored by Mallika Sharma and Sophia Bell

Last Updated: March 5, 2024 References

If you’re in the market for a genuine crocodile handbag you may wish to know how to tell crocodile leather from stamped or embossed leather. Additionally, you might be wondering how to tell the difference between crocodile and alligator or caiman. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert to identify crocodile leather. Spend some time inspecting the leather and the distribution of scales to help you determine whether or not the handbag is made from genuine crocodile.

How do you know if crocodile leather is genuine?

Inspect the scales and see if you can spot any pores. Crocodiles have small hairs that grow out of their scales, a feature that alligators don't possess. While this hair won't be part of the scale anymore, the pore can still be found on real crocodile leather. If you spot pores on your handbag, it could be genuine.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Determining if the Leather is Stamped or Embossed

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Crocodiles have scales that gradually transition from large, square shapes on their bellies to smaller, more rounded shapes on their sides. If the change is abrupt, if it switches more than twice in a single panel, or if there is no transition, the bag is likely made from stamped leather.^{[1]
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Look closely and carefully at the grain pattern on the handbag. The pattern of the grain on a crocodile leather handbag will have some irregularities, as each scale will be of a slightly different shape and size. There may also be small, uneven lines present at the base of the scales. If the grain pattern of the scales is very uniform, it has probably been stamped on.

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Run your fingers over the bag and pay attention to the softness and flexibility of the leather. Crocodile bags are soft, smooth, and supple. Stamped or embossed leather bags are more compact and rigid than genuine crocodile leather.^{[2]
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Examine the tag to find out if the handbag is crocodile leather. It’s not enough for the tag to say “genuine leather” as this won’t tell you what kind of leather it is, and genuine leather is actually the lowest quality leather. Instead, look for a tag that states that the handbag has been crafted from crocodile.^{[3]
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- The tag may even say “full-grain leather,” meaning the grain of the hide has not been broken up.
Designer crocodile handbags are quite expensive―a Hermès Birkin crocodile handbag can cost upwards of $50,000!^{[4]
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Research source} Less prestigious brands sell crocodile handbags for a minimum of $2,000-$4,000, depending on the size and style. If someone is trying to sell you a crocodile handbag for less than a few thousand dollars, it is almost certainly a fake.^{[5]
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If you are buying a crocodile handbag from a reputable seller, they should have no problem answering all of your questions and providing you with paperwork that proves the bag was made from crocodile hide. If the seller refuses to answer your questions or provide you with paperwork, they are likely selling embossed or stamped leather bags.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Differentiating Between Crocodile, Alligator, and Caiman

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Both crocodile and alligator leather are soft and supple. Caiman leather, however, is more rough and rigid. Simply run your fingers along the leather to determine if it is soft (meaning it’s alligator or crocodile) or rough (meaning it’s likely caiman).^{[7]
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Bend the leather to determine its flexibility. Alligator and crocodile leather are more pliable than caiman. If you see lots of light cracks when you bend the leather, it is probably made from caiman, which is the lowest quality reptile leather.^{[8]
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Alligator and crocodile hides are softer than caiman, so the dye is absorbed smoothly and uniformly into the leather. There shouldn’t be any areas that are darker or lighter than others. Caiman leather that has been dyed is likely to look blotchy due to the rougher texture.^{[9]
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Look for a 4-2 pattern of horned bumps. If the leather used is from the back, rather than the belly, of the animal, you can determine which reptile it came from based on the number and pattern of horned bumps present. In addition to the flat scales, there will be a few horned bumps in the leather. Crocodiles have a 4-2 pattern of bumps (i.e. one row of four bumps and one row of two bumps).^{[10]
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- Alligators have a 2-2-2 pattern of bumps (three rows of two), and caiman have a 4-4-2 pattern of bumps (two rows of four, one row of two).
The scales of an alligator suddenly transition from wide, square shapes to small, round shapes (meaning one column has large scales while the next has small scales). On a crocodile, the transition is more gradual as the scales steadily become smaller and more rounded.^{[11]
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If the back side of the animal was used, you should look to see if there are pores (holes) in the horned scales. Crocodiles, unlike alligators, have pores in their scales from the small hairs that cover their bodies.^{[12]
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Warnings

It can be nearly impossible, even for experts, to determine whether something was made from an alligator belly or a crocodile belly due to their similarities.^{[13]
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