How can we tell the grade of leather?

[biscuit5]

I wanna buy leather for my project, my friend says that leather actually has grades
how can we check the grade of leather? probably share some resources with me about this (books, vids, articles, etc.)
I don't want to end up with low grade leather, even if it's just a simple bag

 

[red cayenne]

Tandy Leather is your guide and you will also learn the basics.

https://tandyleather.com/

 

[leather6od]

how can we check the grade of leather? probably share some resources with me about this (books, vids, articles, etc.)

books devoted specifically to leather grading are rare, but since grading often depends on the tannery, you can start your exploration with resources like "The Leather Connoisseur," "A Straightforward Guide to Leather," or guides from Tandy Leather.
For a deeper dive into grades such as Full Grain, Top Grain, and Genuine, broader leatherworking books and online articles by experts at Heddels, Popov Leather.
These often highlight renowned tanneries such as Horween or Sedgwick, helping you compare quality and craftsmanship.

 

[jesseee]

here's some tips to check the leather grade: first, a high quality leather usually have a stamp on the underside saying Full Grain or Top Grain. then look at a raw cut edge. if you see fibrous, slightly rough edges, it is genuine leather. if the edges are perfectly smooth, rubbery, or painted to hide layers, it is usually low quality ones
also, do the smell test. real leather has a distinctive, rich, natural, earthy scent. a low quality or synthetic leather will smell like chemicals, glue, or plastic