Our Finishes
Ricco Finishes
Ricco finishes are made from heart — each technique reveals a different soul of the crocodile skin.
The process
How a finish is made
A finish is not a coating applied at the end. It is the result of every stage after tanning — how the skin is dyed, how much it is milled, how it is pressed, polished or left alone. Two skins from the same batch, tanned identically, become different materials depending on what happens in these final steps.
This is why finish affects more than appearance. It changes how the leather drapes, how thin it can be skived, how it behaves under the presser foot, and how it ages on a finished piece. The notes below come from our finishing floor — what each finish asks of the person cutting and sewing it.
Semi-Matte / Antique
A soft, low-gloss surface — the balance between matte and glossy, carrying a refined vintage character.
Best forEveryday bags and small leather goods meant to look lived-in from the first day.
From the workshopThe most forgiving of the six. Handling marks blend into the antique tone instead of sitting on top of it, and it takes turned edges and edge paint cleanly — which is why we often recommend it for a first collection in crocodile. The shading deepens towards the flanks by design: lay your pattern pieces out on the whole skin first, so the darker areas fall where you want them, not where they happen to land.
Millennium
Produced with a special press technology that makes the exotic skin exceptionally soft and wear-resistant.
Best forPieces in daily use that still need to keep their shape.
From the workshopThe press slightly levels the tops of the scales, so the surface is even and catches less on edges and linings. It is softer in the hand than it looks: on a structured bag, plan for firmer reinforcement than the leather weight alone suggests. It also hides tool marks well, which makes it a practical choice for longer production runs.
Garment
Created for outerwear and soft handbags. Each skin is shaved to the thinnest weight by a master technician for maximum drape, then finished with fine oils and milling for ultimate softness.
Best forOuterwear, soft unstructured bags, linings and panels.
From the workshopShaved to the lightest weight in the range for drape. Test a seam on an offcut before committing: use a finer needle and a slightly longer stitch than on bag-weight leather, so the perforations don't line up into a tear line. It will not hold a rigid or turned edge on its own — if the design needs one, add a stiffener or choose Millennium instead.
Nubuck
A buffed grain surface with a velvet touch. Well-fixed dyeing minimises crocking, and a special treatment repels water.
Best forContemporary designs where the scale pattern should read as texture rather than shine.
From the workshopThe dye is well fixed, so crocking is minimal, and a water-repellent treatment makes it the most practical finish for pieces that live outdoors. That same treatment means adhesive grips less on the grain: rough or skive the bonding area before gluing, and keep glue off the face — on a buffed surface it leaves a shadow you cannot polish out.
Himalayas
Tanned from raw skin without bleaching, preserving the original pattern. The delicate gradient tones are as charming as the Himalayas.
Best forStatement pieces sold on rarity.
From the workshopTanned from raw skin without bleaching, so the natural pattern and the colour shift from centre to flank stay visible — no two skins match. Order every skin for a run in one lot so they come from the same batch, and lay them all out side by side before the first cut, to decide which skin goes to which piece.
Comparison
Choosing between them
| Finish | Surface | Hand | Water | Most ordered for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-Matte / Antique | Low gloss, vintage | Soft | Standard care | Everyday bags |
| Millennium | Even, pressed | Very soft | Standard care | Daily-use pieces |
| Garment | Natural, milled | Softest, fluid | Standard care | Outerwear, soft bags |
| Nubuck | Buffed, velvet | Soft | Water-repellent | Outdoor, contemporary |
| Himalayas | Unbleached, natural pattern | Firm | Standard care | Statement pieces |
Contact
Not sure which finish?
Tell us what you are making and how it will be used — we will recommend the finish our workshop would choose for it.