Defining the price and the sort of the crocodile skin

The price of the crocodile skin depends on three parameters:
1) quality of the hardening and dying,
2) defects,
3) skin size.

Besides, the size of the cells composing the pattern of the leather (it is defined by the type of capillaries interweaving on the reptile's abdomen). The leather with small cells is used to produce shoes and small accessories for women, the one with bigger cells is used to manufacture bags and brief cases.

Specialists classify the following defects of the crocodile skin:

1) holes,
2) cuts,
3) scratches,
4) seams,
5) folds, wrinkles,
6) double scales,
7) seals,
8) vermiform tails.

The defects are classified into three categories:

- small (insignificant), that are within the limits of a scale;
- big, that are on several scales: cuts, seams, scratches, holes;
- excessive (significant), that are on large area: big holes, deep scratches, stamps.

Some defects of the skin can be eliminated during its processing. Defects on different parts of the skin are evaluated to define the sort of the skin (see the chart below).

Sections and areas used when grading

I sort:
a) no defects on parts 1-4 (on the belly), though there may be insignificant defects on the parts 5-6;
b) only one small defect on the part 1-4.

II sort:
a) a small defect on the parts 1-4 and/or a big defect on the parts 5-6;
b) one defect on two of the parts 1-4.

III sort:
a) one excessive defect on the parts 1-4;
b) more than three defects on two or more parts 1-4.

IV sort:
a) a lot of defects on more than three of the parts 1-4;
b) more than 2 significant defects on the parts 1-4.

The size of the crocodile skin is measured not with decimeters, but with a special unit - shoulder width (belly). The price is given for 1 cm by belly. Such a kind of skin measurement is used only for crocodile skin.

© Art Work Design Bt., 2004-2007