Our selection and pricing

As an online shop dedicated to Rocado shell cordovan, we have set our own selection rules. Leather is a natural product which means every piece of shell cordovan is different. When you visit an actual leather warehouse you can look at each leather and select what to buy but that is something difficult to do online. So let us be your "eyes" as we inspect every piece of shell and grade them according to the following selection rules, which we made as fair and straightforward as possible. Shell cordovan is undoubtedly expensive so we want you to be fully aware of what you are purchasing. Just like you gaze through each art work in a gallery, you can use our selection rules and find the right shell cordovan for your product.

 

 

 

Ranks and prices

Ranks from A to C are determined according to the total score of each shell cordovan. The price is different according to each rank and finish type.

Score	Rank	Classic finish Price	Marbled / Museum finish Price	Double culatta Price
90+	A	USD 660 per sqmt (USD 61.30 per sqft)	USD 700 per sqmt (USD 65.00 per sqft)	USD 640 per sqmt (USD 59.50 per sqft)
80-89	B	USD 640 per sqmt (USD 59.50 per sqft)	USD 680 per sqmt (USD 63.20 per sqft)	USD 620 per sqmt (USD 57.60 per sqft)
79 and below	C	USD 620 per sqmt (USD 57.60 per sqft)	USD 660 per sqmt (USD 61.30 per sqft)	USD 600 per sqmt (USD 55.70 per sqft)

 

 

1) Size (points to be added)

The following points are added according to the size of shell cordovan.

* No points for size will be added in case of double culatta cordovan.

Size	Points
less than 0.20 m2 (- 2.2 sf)	+65
0.20 - 0.24 m2 (2.2 - 2.6 sf)	+70
0.25 - 0.29 m2 (2.6 - 3.1 sf)	+75
0.30 m2 and up (3.2 sf +)	+80

 

 

2) What fits (points to be added)

Depending on what size of paper fits in the shape of cordovan (what size can be cut out), the following points are added.

* If both A3 and B5 can fit at the same time, 20 + 8 = 28 points will be added.

size	Points
A3 (297 x 420mm / 11.6 x 16.5 in.)	+20
B4 (257 x 364mm / 10.1 x 14.3 in.)	+16
A4 (210 x 297mm / 8.2 x 11.6 in.)	+10
B5 (182 x 257mm / 7.1 x 10.1 in.)	+8
(only double culatta) 1100 x 35mm / 43.3 x 1.37 in.	+16

 

 

3) Scratches (points to be deducted)

The following points are deducted depending on the amount of scratches that have been caused either during production or transportation.

Degree	Points
Negligible	- 0
Mild	- 5
Severe	- 10

 

 

4) Pressed marks (points to be deducted)

When a piece of shell cordovan is pressed against another during transport, sometimes it leaves some marks on the surface. Depending on the degree, the following points are deducted.

Degree	Points
Negligible	- 0
Mild	- 5
Severe	- 10

 

 

5) Spots (Points to be deducted)

The following points are deducted depending on the amount of black / colored spots.

Degree	Points
Negligible	- 0
Mild	- 5
Severe	- 10

 

 

6) Wrinkles (points to be deducted)

The edge of shell cordovan sometimes gets bent and wrinkled during transport. Depending on the degree, the following points are deducted.

Degree	Points
Negligible	- 0
Mild	- 5
Severe	-10

 

 

Elements that are not regarded during selection

The followings should be considered characteristics of shell cordovan and therefore they are not regarded during selection.

 

 

Color unevenness / Color variation

 

Rocado's cordovan is 100% aniline finished so there will always be different shades of color. Each piece and each area absorbs aniline differently and it results in color variation among different areas and different pieces. There may be greater color variation in certain colors than others.

If you are going to purchase more than one piece of the same color, we recommend that you purchase them from the same lot number, as the difference in color will be greater in different production lots.

 

Pores

When horse rump leather is made flat like shell cordovan, pores appear as small dots on the surface. There is wide variation to each piece so while some shells have very visible pores all over, they may be less noticeable on the other shells. Also lighter colors tend to make pores more visible.

 

 

Wave pattern

The fibers in leather may appear on the surface like a wave pattern. This also varies in each piece so some shells have this pattern in large area, some have it only around the edges, and some shells don't have it at all.

 

 

 

Blank spots

In Marbled and Museum finish, there may be blank spots where the crust color is showing. There are not many pieces with these spots and even when they do those spots are just around 5mm in diameter.