Whether you have inherited a real fur coat or real fur accessories or you are thinking about buying a piece that is made from fur, it’s important to know you are getting the real thing. Sometimes just looking at the fur isn’t enough to tell whether it is real or it is a fake. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you know the best ways to determine the authenticity of different types of fur coats for men and women so you don’t end up paying too much for your furs or selling them for too little.

Check the Label

Like all other apparel items, it’s important to check the label of any fur coat or real fur accessories that may fall into your hands. The label will contain the information you need to determine the authenticity of the fur. It should even tell you which country the fur came from so you can feel confident the furs you are buying or have inherited are genuine, rather than fakes that were designed to look realistic.

Look at the Branding

Depending on where the fur came from, the branding can actually tell you a lot about whether the furs are real. While buying from a professional furrier will guarantee you are getting the real thing, there are certain big brands that have been known to use faux fur versus real fur. If you are aware of which brands typically use real fur, you can feel more confident in the quality of the fur you have in your possession.

Feel the Fur

The feel of the fur can tell you a lot about whether it is real or you are dealing with faux fur. As long as you are able to touch the furs before you make a purchase or sell it, you should be able to easily tell the difference if you know what to look for. Real fur should feel extremely soft to the touch and will fall in sleek lines when you run your hand over it. It will feel much like petting a cat when you graze your hand over the fur. However, when you’re dealing with fake furs, it will tend to feel rough to the touch and may even feel sticky when the weather is humid. In general, it will feel more like petting a stuffed animal, rather than a real animal.

Evaluate the Backing

The backing can tell you a lot about whether fur is real or fake. Real fur will have a real leather backing that is straight from the animal. However, if you look at the backing of a fake fur coat, you will find it is often made from cloth or another synthetic material. You can also part the hairs on the outside of the coat to check for how the fur is attached to the backing. Faux fur is often woven into the backing.

Use the Pin Test

There is another simple test you can conduct that doesn’t hurt the fur coat. If you take a straight pin and insert it through the pelt, you will easily be able to tell whether the furs are real or not. If the pin easily passes through the pelt and its backing, the coat or other accessories are likely made from synthetic fur. However, if it is difficult to pass through, it is more likely to be real.

Consider the Burn Test

If you are comfortable removing a few hairs from an inconspicuous area of the fur coat or other fur accessory. Place the hairs on a burn-proof surface, such as a ceramic plate, and hold a match to the hairs. If they are real fur, they will singe and will smell like burnt hair. If the hairs are fake, on the other hand, they are more likely to melt and curl up.

Whether you’ve inherited one of the types of fur coats or you are thinking about buying fur coats or fur accessories, you need to know how to tell if they are real fur or if you are dealing with fake furs. While price can often be a good indicator, some people will take advantage and try to pass fake fur off as real in order to make more money. Whether you have fur coats for men or for women, it can be helpful to employ one or more of these techniques to determine if you are buying or selling at an appropriate price.

If you’re looking for the best real fur coats and accessories, contact us. We carry only authentic fur of the highest quality to ensure you get the most out of your investment.