A wallet is one of the accessories that men use the most. Whenever a man leaves the house, they check they have their wallet, keys and phone. But no matter how much use wallets see, they wear down. Some people find out the hard way, after I left with one that looks worn out and faded after less than a year.
This article explores how to find a man’s leather wallet that ages well.
Consider the Leather Grade
Not all leather is equal. Their names can be misleading. There’s a grade stamped on the product page, which tells you a great deal about how the wallet is going to hold up.
Full grain leather uses the entire hide, including the tough outer layer, meaning that it will have natural markings. While it might not look the cleanest, it’s the most durable option, and it’s the only grade that develops a true patina, that deep warm colour shift that comes from years of use.
Top grain leather has the outer layer sanded down and refinished, making it look clean and smooth out of the box. But unlike full grain leather, it won’t develop that special character over time.
Genuine leather and bonded leather are lower on the hierarchy and are made from scraps and cut-offs. The genuine label makes it sound higher grade, but in reality this is one of the lowest grades you can purchase, though cheaper. Wallets made from this material will tend to crack and peel far sooner.
If durability and patina matter to you, full grain is well worth the premium cost. Wallets made from full grain leather will last a lifetime. Men’s leather wallets made in Texas are a good benchmark for what full grain hides should look like. They’re sturdy and minimally lined, but they’re built to soften and age gracefully, rather than just fall apart, as lower grades might do.
Check the Stitching
Stitching is probably one of the first things that’s going to fail on a cheap wallet, so it’s worth a closer look before you buy. Hand-stitched wallets use two needles to pull a single wax thread through each hole from oposite sides. If one stitch breaks, the whole seam doesn’t unravel, which is key to crafting wallets that last a long time.
Machine lock stitches, on the other hand, are fast and convenient, but a single crack can cause a seam to come apart.
Profile and Layout
It’s not just about the materials, but how the design affects function. This is a wallet that gets stuffed into an unnatural shape and is much less likely to keep its structure, whereas a slim front pocket wallet keeps its structure much better, meaning it lasts much longer.
A Wallet That Ages Well
A wallet that ages well should be full grain leather and use hand or saddle stitching, with a profile that doesn’t get stretched out of shape. You’re buying a product that’s not disposable, but rather something that can last for years, if not decades, before you need to think of getting a replacement.
If you’re interested in learning more about similar topics, see our other articles for more.
