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Leather Cases - Patina Proud Photos

tsincaat said:
I just got an Andar 'The Marshal' case, wanted to post my impressions of it. I hope to be able to return here in a month or two with some nice patina photos.

  • The buttons are super easy to press, and look good.
  • The hole for the silent toggle is large enough, but you could struggle if you have big fingers or have cut your nails all the way back.
  • The sides of the case are leather the same as the back, so there may not be as much grip as some cases that use a different material on the sides. But I wouldn't say the leather is slippery.
  • The leather does provide a lip over the edges of the phone which is good for drop protection. It can make swiping back from the outside edge in a bit more difficult though.
  • The edges around the back cameras are raised enough that the cameras don't touch the surface when you put the phone down, but it looks like it's pretty close
  • Overall I'm quite happy with it. Thanks to everyone else who posted about Andar's cases!
Click to expand...
I love this! I was so tempted to get one but i already splurged on a bullstrap case which i didnt really like how the color turned out in just two months (too dark)
However i did caved in on the new andar bag and also a new airpods pro case. Love the leather smell!
 

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Explorerlea said:
I love this! I was so tempted to get one but i already splurged on a bullstrap case which i didnt really like how the color turned out in just two months (too dark)
However i did caved in on the new andar bag and also a new airpods pro case. Love the leather smell!
Click to expand...
I think the color is phenomenal! Looks beautiful! But I understand. If it isn’t what you expected it’s kinda a bummer! But for what it’s worth I love it!
 
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Explorerlea said:
I love this! I was so tempted to get one but i already splurged on a bullstrap case which i didnt really like how the color turned out in just two months (too dark)
However i did caved in on the new andar bag and also a new airpods pro case. Love the leather smell!
Click to expand...
I'd say your case looks great, certainly not a bad choice.

I'm unsure of how I'll feel long-term on a two-tone design vs one leather color like yours, what you have may end up feeling a bit more timeless.
 
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tsincaat said:
I just got an Andar 'The Marshal' case, wanted to post my impressions of it. I hope to be able to return here in a month or two with some nice patina photos.

  • The buttons are super easy to press, and look good.
  • The hole for the silent toggle is large enough, but you could struggle if you have big fingers or have cut your nails all the way back.
  • The sides of the case are leather the same as the back, so there may not be as much grip as some cases that use a different material on the sides. But I wouldn't say the leather is slippery.
  • The leather does provide a lip over the edges of the phone which is good for drop protection. It can make swiping back from the outside edge in a bit more difficult though.
  • The edges around the back cameras are raised enough that the cameras don't touch the surface when you put the phone down, but it looks like it's pretty close
  • Overall I'm quite happy with it. Thanks to everyone else who posted about Andar's cases!
Click to expand...
I’m really curious if Andar and bullstrap share suppliers. The buttons look identical to my bullstrap case.
 
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Both were sienna from bullstrap. The right one at one point i used coconut oil on since I used it daily at work, so it was a lot of sweat etc.

Now the one on the left I use when i’m not at work, so two days out of the week and it’s aging nicely I think. I just bought a bullstrap case in their ocean color to match my 12 pro in blue.
EE56D818-25A4-4360-A12E-4E1D3854E937.jpeg
 
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Received my Decoded Back Cover (in brown leather) last week.
Everything about the case feels top quality, but it does not smell of leather at all.
Thinking it may actually be a man made material.
Tried contacting Decoded but no reply.
 
Vinny1967 said:
Received my Decoded Back Cover (in brown leather) last week.
Everything about the case feels top quality, but it does not smell of leather at all.
Thinking it may actually be a man made material.
Tried contacting Decoded but no reply.
Click to expand...
Out of curiosity I went to their website and I didn’t see anything that said man made. They’d HAVE to disclose that if that was the case. So i wouldn’t worry about it- I would believe it to be leather!
 
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Vinny1967 said:
Received my Decoded Back Cover (in brown leather) last week.
Everything about the case feels top quality, but it does not smell of leather at all.
Thinking it may actually be a man made material.
Tried contacting Decoded but no reply.
Click to expand...
It’s not hard for the leather to loose it’s smell. Any kind of protective coating or such will cancel it’s natural smell.
 
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Brooke795 said:
Out of curiosity I went to their website and I didn’t see anything that said man made. They’d HAVE to disclose that if that was the case. So i wouldn’t worry about it- I would believe it to be leather!
Click to expand...
It states on their website....
"Incredibly thin and light yet seriously protective, the Back Cover Brown for iPhone 12 Mini is handmade from premium full-grain leather from the leather masters at ECCO Leather. This premium full grain leather will age beautiful over time developing character and a rich patina."
 
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DR3MCLAREN said:
Here is my saddle brown case and wallet at 90 days. Yes, its had some treatments. I realized after about 60 days that it was never going to age like the old SB cases so I helped it along. The worn antique leather look is my favorite. This will probably be the last photos of it I post as I don't think it will change much from here. Will use it till the iPhone 14 release and then hopefully upgrade. (The battery in my mini is starting to show its age). Hopefully the 14s come with better leather quality from Apple. I realize this look may not be for everyone but I'm happy with it.

View attachment 1973913View attachment 1973915
Click to expand...
Love the look of this! What was your process?
 
sorensonaa said:
Love the look of this! What was your process?
Click to expand...
Sadly these are no longer with me. They were destroyed when they fell from my pocket while out on my bike. They tumbled across the road which had gravel on it from winter. Screen shattered, leather ripped.

That aside the process was a lot of trial and error. It started in December 2021 when I purchased them. I immediately stripped off the coating on both with a damp magic eraser and then a few alcohol wipes. From there I left it to do its own thing which on the phone case wasn't bad but the wallet wasn't aging well. I started thinking that these were never going to develop that antique patina I like without some help.

So next step I purchased some 2000 grit sandpaper and wet sanded both the phone case and wallet lightly. I then applied a liquid shoe shine that had tint in it to a cloth and gently rubbed the parts of the case I wanted to look aged. I did the black first on the edges and then went back with the brown over the whole case. You'll want good lighting for this and patience. Don't let yourself get carried away. Its easy to go back and add a bit more later if needed. I then let it dry for a day. After than I applied a nice coat of Smiths leather balm and buffed it with an old terry cloth towel. I then left it for a day again.

What I learned from this whole process is that the wallet and case are made of different types and qualities of leather. The wallet was much more open to accepting color, holding it, and buffing to a shine after. The case does not want to hold the color and over time it will wear off again and to back to the dull dirty orange - brown color that all these Apple cases eventually turn. I suppose if you were to apply a harder finish over the color you could probably make it last longer but honestly these cases are made so poorly in the first place that its basically just polishing a turd at this point.
 
Daniel Narciso said:
It’s not hard for the leather to loose it’s smell. Any kind of protective coating or such will cancel it’s natural smell.
Click to expand...
Found a post from last year confirming that the leather is PU coated, which is probably why it does not smell at all:
forums.macrumors.com

Leather Cases - Patina Proud Photos

Ok, so I put my Decoded case under USB microscope and got the definitive proof that it's PU (polyurethane) coated leather. Take a look at how the edges around the Decoded branding are raised and uneven. That's the polyurethane that has melted and been pressed out around the stamp. Also no pores...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

This is not made at all clear on their website. I want a leather product that actually feels and smells like leather, and the Decoded case does not
 
Vinny1967 said:
How are you finding this case compared to the others ?
Click to expand...
Solid case overall. The best color to get is black or buckskin avoid the navy blue because it looks more a like the midnight option that apple sells already. Classy brown looks black in person
 
LFC2020 said:
How long have you had the iPad leather folio case for?

Hold up well?
Click to expand...

Have had one on my 11” iPad Pro for a long time and it‘s amazing. Lots of marks, finger nail dints and general patina, but shows no signs of falling apart. Very sturdy. Buffs up into a beautiful deep sheen when treated with leather cream every few weeks.
 
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^^Nomad is awesome. Like Jim Lahey, I have the iPad folio in brown on my 11” iPad Pro and just ordered from Huckberry the discounted brown leather case with improved buttons for my 13 Pro.
 
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After a couple of returns of cases that weren't suitable, I found a small leather goods company in London that makes iPhone cases.
I've just received the iPhone 13 series Leather Shell Case with MagSafe - Saddle Brown from them, and it's top quality.
I can recommend them to anyone in the UK that’s looking for a very well-made leather case.
Photos posted below - the phone was just taken from my pocket so excuse the dust.
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Vinny1967 said:
After a couple of returns of cases that weren't suitable, I found a small leather goods company in London that makes iPhone cases.
I've just received the iPhone 13 series Leather Shell Case with MagSafe - Saddle Brown from them, and it's top quality.
I can recommend them to anyone in the UK that’s looking for a very well-made leather case.
Photos posted below - the phone was just taken from my pocket so excuse the dust.
Click to expand...

That's beautiful! Do you have a link to them, or a name of the company?
 
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