Hi Rosemary,
Classes of leather are nothing more than pricing zones. Typically the 1 class is the least expensive hide, then the prices escalate to Class 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.
Pricing is determined by a number of factors, not the least of which is where the leather originates. European hides are the most expensive, partly because of th Euro's strength against the US Dollar and also due to the fact that the best leathers come out of that region. You'd think that a cow is a cow, but in Europe they don't use barbed wire and they have few biting insects, so the hides are remarkably defect free and can command top dollar.
At the bottom of the pricing category are FINISHED leathers. While still full top grain, they have numerous flaws that must be corrected in the tanning process to make them appealing. Finished leathers have improved remarkably in the past 10 years or so. Before that, they were rough and scratchy, but nowdays many of them are reasonably sofa and supple.
ANILINE Dyes will be mid to upper price tiers. The hide needs less 'working' so it can be vat dyed rather than sprayed with pigment. Softer and more supple is what the higher price bracket buys you.
In premium sofas as an example, you can generally expect a $ 250 - $ 300 step per grade up. A $ 1,995 sofa in Grade 1 will be $ 2,295 in Grade 2, $ 2,495 in Grade 3, $ 2, 750 in Grade 4, and $ 3,050 in Grade 4, etc.
Higher costs does not buy you added durability. In fact, less expensive, finished hides are the champs are repelling most everything that comes in contact with them.
When buying hides, think about your lifestyle and how you are going to use this piece day in and day out for the next 20 years. Don't be afraid to buy in the upper grades, they're quite spectacular and amortized over the life of the piece cost just a few dollars per year over less pricey leathers.
Duane
I just purchased H&H's city sofa. Although I've heard they dropped the married cover, mine is still that. Does it matter in the long run?
The place I bought it from (cheshire CT) only has two H&M sofa on the floor and I bought the City sofa cavalier henna. I wasn't giving much choices and the only thing I was able to choose was the color.
I would like to know what grade of leather is city sofa? The cushion was foam wrapped in down. Is that the standard or the down cushion Duane says not to get? This is my first leather sofa purchase and I'm very excited but also scared that I jumped in too quick without asking too much questions!
Jenny
Thank you Duane for the reply! I love you so much!!!! I wish you are near me so I can buy all my furnitures from you!
Jenny
The cushion was foam wrapped in down. Is that the standard or the down cushion Duane says not to get?
That's a standard cushion on the T&C Program, not the Ultra Down.
Oh, so the standard cushion is not Quallex (sp), but a foam cushion wrapped in down?? I did not konw there was any down in teh standard cushion. Please confirm, Duane. Thanks!
The standard cushion across MOST the line (but not all) is Dupont Qualex with a down/muslim ticking (wrapping). Cushions can be very confusing with the various options. In most cases the best cushion in my opinion is the standard cushion. They put a lot of time into development at H&M on cushions/springs for the best comfort.
One thing to think carefully on is upgrading the back cushion to Ultra Down. Remember that gravity is not your friend with down cushions of any kind and over time the material will shift to the low part of the cushion.
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
My Private Messages are Disabled - Please ask questions here in the forum.
Duane, thanks for taking the time to explain about the different classes of leather. I have another question though. It seems that in each class of leather there are "Collections" or "Series" of leathers. Like in class 2 we have Cavalier/Document/ etc..., in class 3 we Equestrian/Antelope/etc..., in class 4we have Capri/Quintesscence/etc... (I don't know any class 5 leathers) What's the difference between the "Collections" of leathers within each class? Does one Collection offer colours not available in another? Aren't the quality of the hides the same within a class?
Also, are each "Collection" unique to a class? Or can they appear in different classes? Like, is there a class 3/4/5 Document leather?
In Hancock and Moore, as well as other companies, the Class of Leather is really nothing more than a pricing grade. It's all based on what the manufacturer has to pay for that particular hide grouping. Its not indicative of quality of the hide per se, though more expensive hides usually are finer.
Colorways within a series can and will vary within a grade. For example, in Class 2 leathers there is a Weston Moss (semi-aniline German leather) and a Document Moss (Finished Chinese leather). Both have the same price grade, but are totally different leathers and colors. Whats going on in Document has nothing to do with the Weston line at all, for exanple.
All leathers within a serices Grade will be the same (Document will always be a Grade 2 leather, regardless of color for example).
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
My Private Messages are Disabled - Please ask questions here in the forum.
Thanks for the reply Duane. What do you mean by colourway? Do you mean a particular colour within a particular series (e.g.- Document/Cavalier/etc...)?
If the pricing structure doesn't necessarily correlate with quality are there any hidden values/gems within a series/class? Are there any Class 2 hides that are Class 3 in quality or any Class 3 hides that are Class 4 in quality?
Also, does Hancock and Moore offer other types of leather other than cowhide, like lambskin, etc...?
Oh yes! They have Lambskins (not high durability), Deerskin (ditto, a bit more fragile but smooth as butter/soft as silk), real Bison, real Buffalo, Big Horn Sheep, Ostrich and Sheepskin. There's a Croc hide and Cayman in there as well but I think its manipulated cowhide rather than real Crocodile/Cayman. I'd have to make a phone call to be sure.
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
My Private Messages are Disabled - Please ask questions here in the forum.