Leather Library
American alligator — tiled belly scales, a recognizable belly scar, and a strong claim to the priciest of the "big three."
Alligator is the American member of the "big three" crocodilian leathers, alongside caiman and crocodile — and it has a real claim to being the most expensive of the three, though which one actually costs more depends a lot on the specific maker and cut. Belly scales are prized for their clean, symmetrical tile pattern and the near-total absence of follicle marking; flank and tail cuts run wider than the equivalent crocodile cuts. The hide is soft and notably flexible for an exotic skin, which makes it easier to work with than its bony cousin caiman.
Full exotic uppers and toe/heel overlays on high-end Western boots, exactly like crocodile and caiman. A belly cut shows that neat, repeating tile grid; a hornback cut shows the ridged spine with raised bony plates running down the center instead. Once a skin is tanned, dyed, and cut into a boot pattern, even people in the trade can't always tell the three species apart by eye.
Needs a conditioner made for exotics, applied in the direction of the scales. See our boot care guide for leather-specific notes.