No two samples of Italian leather will be exactly the same because of the treating process and the individual hide used to make them. Keep in mind that these minor imperfections aren’t actually damage. They’re just marks caused by the natural tanning process used to make the leather. [2] X Research source
Other leathers sometimes use chemicals in the treating process that mask or hide the smell of real leather, but Italian leather does not.
Fake leather can also feel like vinyl or plastic, but not always. New imitation leather is sometimes hard to tell apart from the real deal just by the way it feels.
Water will pool on top of fake leather.
No certificate of authenticity is a red flag. Any quality manufacturer will include one. Check online to see if the seller or company that made the leather is legit. If they have bad reviews (or no reviews at all) or they don’t have a website, they’re probably not trustworthy.
For reference, an Italian leather handbag can cost between $170-$300 USD. Sometimes you can get lucky and find something made with real Italian leather at a thrift store. In that case, it very well could be underpriced! You don’t necessarily have to go with name-brand Italian leather. There are lots of smaller and lesser-known manufacturers that produce great, authentic Italian leather.
Not all Italian leather products come with a warranty, but a warranty can be a helpful sign that the leather is authentic.
