You see “split leather” on a watch specificaton tag or manual. It sounds like leather, but the word “split” makes you doubt its quality, leaving you confused about what you are buying.

Split leather is real leather made from the lower layers of an animal hide after the top grain is removed. It is more affordable than top-grain leather but is less durable and lacks the premium feel of higher-quality leathers.

Split leather meaning

Split leather is a type of leather made by splitting an animal hide into two or more layers. The top layer, also known as the first layer, is used to make higher quality products. The lower layer, known as the split leather, is processed and treated to make a range of products, including suede and other less expensive leather goods. In leather grades, it is below the premium grades such as full grain and head layer and above PU leather.

Although split leather is indeed made from genuine leather, it is usually composed of scraps and offcuts pieced together and treated with less expensive tanning chemicals. This results in products that are typically less durable than high-quality leather and may have a shorter lifespan.

Split leather vs Genuine leather:what's the difference

The terms “split leather” and “genuine leather” look similar. This often leads to confusion between the two types of leather. However, they are different.

Split leather is a layer separated from the surface of the leather. Although it is a type of genuine leather, it is usually inferior in quality and durability compared to top-grain leather or full-grain leather. Genuine leather is a broader term that not only includes split leather but also other types of leather that are not top-grain or full-grain .

PU leather meaning

PU leather, or polyurethane leather, is an artificial, 100% vegan leather. It’s made by coating a fabric base (like cotton or polyester) with a polyurethane polymer. No animal products are used, making it a popular and affordable alternative.

PU leather is a completely man-made material designed to mimic the look and feel of real leather without using animal hides. The manufacturing process is straightforward. We start with a base layer of fabric. This fabric is then coated with a flexible plastic polymer, which is polyurethane. Finally, to make it look like leather, a texture is pressed onto the surface to create an artificial grain.

The biggest advantage of PU leather is that it’s a vegan product. It’s also very easy to clean and can be produced in a huge variety of colors and finishes. From a manufacturing perspective, it is very consistent and cost-effective. The main drawback is that it doesn’t breathe like real leather, and over time it can sometimes delaminate or peel, especially in lower-quality versions. It’s an excellent choice for fashion watches where cost and variety are important.

Split leather vs PU leather:which is better?

You need to choose between Split leather and PU leather. One is genuine leather but of a lower grade, with a more natural grain and texture, and a certain degree of unevenness. The other is artificial PU leather, with a more regular and uniform grain, lacking the natural feel of genuine leather. How to distinguish between Split leather vs PU leather There are two simple methods to distinguish them.

Use your fingertip to press the leather

When pressing Split leather, you will see sunken lines gathering together, with many fine lines, which is quite natural. When pressing PU leather, only a few relatively thick lines will appear.

Look at the back of the leather

The back of genuine leather is fibrous tissue, and the fibers point in different directions due to the different parts of the leather. While the back of PU leather imitates short and smooth fibers and feels like velvet when touched.

In the watch industry, this choice is very practical. For price-sensitive clients who want an affordable alloy or brass watch , split leather is an option. It allows them to say the strap is “real leather.” PU leather, on the other hand, is soft, flexible, and looks good from the start. A key rule we follow is that you can stamp “GENUINE LEATHER” on a split leather strap , but you can never do this with a PU strap. It would be false advertising.

Conclusion-Split leather vs Genuine leather

As a professional watch manufacturer , watchessy is well aware of customers’ concerns about split leather straps, fearing that they might be too hard and prone to wear. To address this, watchessy has invested a significant amount of time and resources in researching and improving the shortcomings of split leather. The split leather straps produced by watchessy are as soft as top grain leather straps, and all performance indicators meet European standards. For instance, the watch pull test can reach 60N for 1500 times.

FAQ-Split leather

Is Split leather real leather?

Yes, split leather is real leather. It is made from the fibrous bottom part of an animal’s hide after the premium top-grain layer has been removed. It is often used to make suede or coated to resemble a smooth leather finish.

Is Split leather dural?

Split leather is not as durable as PU, full-grain, or top-grain leather. Because it comes from the weaker, lower section of the hide, it is more susceptible to stretching, scuffing, and cracking over time compared to higher-quality leathers.

Is split leather good quality?

Split leather is generally considered lower quality than full-grain or top-grain leather. It lacks the natural strength, feel, and durability of the top layers of the hide. We typically use it for customers who are very price-sensitive and want an affordable product.