I think a lot of the confusion comes from tanneries wanting to imitate the look of old "traditional" stingray. Stingray was tanned long before we started farm raising them. Native or "wild" rays, particularly larger species, have a more pronounced section of these calcium nodules called "placoid scales". In traditional tanning, these nodules were "barrel sanded" or "plane sanded". Due to the nodules being higher in the middle, as they are sanded down evenly, the larger nodules in the middle left a distinct "diamond" pattern... as the larger sanded nodules reveal undyed calium beneath the surface. It's very easy to tell the difference between a fake/painted "diamond" as shown in this video, because the lighter color goes all the way to the skin itself. Anyone who tries to sell you on any claim of authenticity from the "diamond" that colors the skin, is full of fertilizer.
I live in a nice neighborhood and a furniture store got rid of real leather scraps. I took them not knowing what the stingray was! Very beautiful interesting texture too
Interesting comment and opinion. I watched your video and personally i prefer the product with the white diamond, simply because it gives contrast to the leather and i think it looks better. Looking at your product it just seemed dull to me.
5:05 I totally agree with your choice to leave it off. The white diamond stencil painted on the leather makes it look like an eBay special. Souvenir from Bangkok.
Good on you Tom! Stingray Skin 101 - The pointed toe boots are from a Large to XL skin. That skin is off a fish that is 3.5 to 4 years old. Tiny beads deposits are off a young fish 1-1.5 years old. The beads are actually calcium deposits. The same calcium deposits that we scale off a boat every year. The calcium deposits grow every year the fish gets older. When you are buying skins; there are four finishes that you can purchase. Pearl Finished, Art Deco Finished, Art Nouveau Finish and Hard Finish Pearl Finished - a soft tan, un sanded and the pearls are grainy. They are coated with poly urethane and you use this for high end leather goods. Art Deco Finish - a soft tan, Sanded, semi smooth grained, coated with poly urethane and the finish looks glossy - Use is for furniture, interior design and art deco projects Art Nouveau - a soft tan, sanded, smooth grained and finished with a WAX polish - Use is for contemporary furniture, interior design and art deco projects Hard Finished - hard tanned, un sanded, pear-like grain, no coating and matte. Uses would be for antique restoration when restoring old stingray projects that has the top coat worn off with time. The biggest reality or the lie in the industry!!!! The Tiger Eye! The tiger eye is manufactured folks. I hear MANY salesman say that this piece is worth this much more because of the uniqueness of the skin on the boots are identical on each boot. The reason it is identical; the same template was used on hundreds of skins to get that tiger eye. First the area of the tiger eye is colored white. Then the stencil is placed over the white and then a template is placed on the top; generally in a diamond shape and the rest of the boot is colored; black, grey, tan, brown, green, red; whatever color the customer wants the design to look like. Then a poly-urethane is sprayed on top to give that shiny look! Sorry to burst the bubble! Natural stingray pelts are a grayish color in appearance :). HEROIC Racing Apparel uses stingray skin on the crash area of our racing gloves and on our race suits on the hip and the elbow of the suits. The stingray skin of an adult stingray will slide on asphalt 650ft before wearing through to the foam. We use Pearl Finished skins without the manufactured tiger eye! :)
Depends on where you buy it. Here in Thailand a ladies wallet will sell fro between $100 and $300 American dollars. Can find them listed in stores differently. I bought one for my wife last month priced at about $135, but they were having a sale and paid $100 for it.
It's very obvious to spot where the pearls are. I prefer stingray leather not to have those diamond designs, it makes them look feminine and childish. It truly ruins the stingray product especially if it has a very beautiful painting or illustration. It's also an attention grabber on bags and ruins the time for your eyes to appreciate the shape of the bag.
wow very nice. I process stingrays. part of the stingray is not wasted, all can be used. from good skin can be made into furniture and others, can also be made into noodles from stingray skin, salted fish or dried fish. even the peeling sand can be made like carbon kevlar. send regards for success
Didn't come here to learn this, but I still wanted to take the time to say thank you for such a well done explanation. Content like this represents the best of RU-vid.
5:25 Fact: Some ppl does love the white diamond on stingray products Specially on boots that we love within the Mexican community but don't get me wrong some do like the natural that I've know about & with diamond or simply natural they are both nice👌🏼✌🏼
Thank you for such a succinct explanation. I was searching for an explanation of the different styles of stingray hide I have no affinity for the diamond or the "pearls". I prefer the sanded hide; it makes the skin shimmer as if it has sequins :)
Thank you so much for the info! I have a pair of stingray boots with the white diamond, and the white diamond has started to fade. What can I use to brighten it up or re-dye it?
Are you still making these? Bought one roughly 10 years ago and the stitching finally gave way in some of the internal pockets. Would like to purchase another but the website is no longer up.
@rondodson5736 yeah I have bought some since then. This particular one seemed to be better quality than any of the others I have found. Kinda showed the difference between a man working for himself and making a couple a day versus a guy in a factory being paid by the hour and being pushed to kick out 50 of them a day.
Ive seeen a lot of stingrays in my life but never heard of such a diamond. Sounds like complete BS if I had heard it tho. I love stingray meat and so do sharks.
Stingray are animals and not sentient beings. Your comparison is flawed and emotionally driven. Though it might surprise you that goods made of human leather has been used for centuries and is even sold today with high demand.
@@BoleDaPole Of course they are sentient, this is straight anti-scientific. They have nervous systems and pain receptors and behavioural patterns that undoubtedly indicate sentience and consciousness. If an argument is acccompanied by emotions or not does not change the truth value of a point, so it is irrelevant if an argument is emotional motivated or not.
Thank you for educating me in this very question I was asking myself and my wife I even tried Google and it said nothing to the depth and clarity you just explained. I've seen your wallets and tried to find your webpage I've been directed to not currently available etc.. I will get to your site as I've been wanting a stingray wallet.
Can you answer the difference between Stingray boots that have the white diamond, and those that have a white line? Does it have anything to do with male=diamond shape, and female=line?
Thank you for this information been looking for this. I am looking for the process of spraying the dye using a template. I wanted to spray a logo on a piece of stingray, but I have not been able to find any information anywhere. What type of dye, what the process is, etc. Any information appreciated.
