STUDY: See how leather changes colour over time

We are often asked about the colours of our leather, and our customers are often unsure which colour to choose. It is incredibly difficult to reproduce colours accurately in pictures, and it is also hard to explain and understand how some colours change over time, while others barely change at all. We have therefore created this article to illustrate how leather develops over time.

Leather changes colour when exposed to sunlight

We conducted an experiment, as we know that some leather colours change when exposed to sunlight. We therefore placed some leather pieces on the windowsill, where they were exposed to sunlight daily.

The image above shows which leather colours we tested. On the leather piece to the left, the colour of the leather is stated, and on the remaining pieces of leather, the number of days each piece was exposed to sunlight is shown.

Our experiment shows that light leather (natural) in particular changes colour over time. This is because light leather is untreated and therefore takes on colour when exposed to the sun – just as you and I get tanned when we are in the sun. The other leather colours hardly change at all, which is because they are treated/dyed and thus retain their colour much better.

The image below shows how light leather (natural) changes colour. After 30 days on the windowsill, the light leather will closely resemble cognac-coloured leather.

When leather changes colour, it is due to several factors

It is not only sunlight that affects the colour of leather. Light leather, in particular, also changes colour when exposed to, for example, grease, water, heat, and touch.

The image below shows two keyrings, one of which is brand new and the other has been in use for approximately one year. Both keyrings are made of light bridle leather. The used keyring, however, has acquired a beautiful warm and dark colour as it has been exposed to sunlight, grease, and touch.

We find it incredibly charming that light leather, in particular, changes colour over time, and that you yourself contribute to giving the keyring a beautiful patina.

We naturally think the keyring is beautiful when it's brand new – but it only gets even more beautiful with the lovely patina it acquires over time. If you wish to buy your own keyring, you can see all our leather keyrings on this page.