One common use of Rex rabbit fur is to make coats, jackets, and accessories that resemble Chinchilla fur. Its fur is soft, dense, and has a silky feel. Artificial dyeing techniques have evolved over time, resulting in beautiful finishes. However, it’s important to note that some merchants sell Rex rabbit fur as Chinchilla fur, causing losses. You can find a detailed article in this section on how to distinguish between these two types of fur.
With the continuous advancement of artificial dyeing technology, many realistic rabbit fur imitations of chinchilla fur have appeared on the market.
Before explaining how to distinguish between these two types of fur, let me briefly introduce them.
Chinchilla fur refers to the pelt of the chinchilla (scientific name: Chinchilla chinensis), a mammal that lives in the Andes Mountains of South America. Its name originates from the Chinchas, the indigenous inhabitants of the region, who used the animal’s fur to make clothing. Later, the Spanish introduced chinchilla fur to Europe, where its soft texture and beautiful appearance made it highly sought after by royalty. Chinchilla fur is possibly the softest fur in the world, with a hair density second only to sea otters; each pore can grow 40-60 fine hairs, making it exceptionally soft.
Rex rabbits originated in France in the early 1920s. Due to a genetic mutation, their protective fur became shorter and formed uniform straight hair. This makes their fur short and dense, with a soft, velvety feel. These two characteristics make them very popular in the fur industry, and fur garments made from them are considered high-quality. The most common Rex rabbit fur on the market is in a chinchilla-like color.
Having discussed the characteristics of the two types of fur, let’s move on to today’s topic: Rex rabbit fur vs Chinchilla fur. Here are some tips to help you distinguish between them.
Rex rabbit fur vs Chinchilla fur
Price and rarity
- Chinchilla fur are extremely expensive, worth as much as gold by weight. Wild populations were once on the verge of extinction, and now they are mostly bred in captivity, but they remain rare.
- Rex rabbit fur is relatively common and is one of the mainstream raw materials in the fur market, and its price is much more affordable.
Appearance and color
- Chinchilla fur Small in size, with a rounded pelt. The most common fur color is classic black and white (like a panda), but beige and velvet black are also available. The color transitions are natural and gradual.
- Rex rabbit fur Larger in size, with a flatter hide. A wide variety of colors are available (white, black, gray, brown, etc.), but some dyed products may not have a natural color.
Hair density and texture
- Chinchilla fur It boasts the world’s densest fur, with 40-60 hairs per pore. It feels incredibly silky and smooth, with a unique cool sensation.
- Rex rabbit fur The fur density is high (approximately 18,000-20,000 hairs/square centimeter for high-quality pelts), but far lower than that of chinchillas. It feels soft, dense, and elastic, but not cold to the touch.
Practical identification techniques
The surface of real chinchilla fur is always wavy, with raised sections in the middle of each pelt. Rex rabbit fur, on the other hand, is always smooth.
Because chinchilla fur are small, making coats requires extensive stitching. Besides the thickest part on the back, furriers also use thinner sections from the sides and belly. This creates a beautifully curved appearance, with a raised center and recessed edges at the seams. Rex rabbit pelts are larger and cheaper, and don’t require using the sides. Only the back is used, resulting in a flatter, more even appearance. This difference is quite obvious.
Coloring patterns
Genuine chinchilla fur has a dark center surrounded by soft gray, with white stripes on the sides. There are many imitations of chinchilla fur. If you don’t see this pattern, it’s likely not genuine chinchilla fur. However, there are some very realistic imitations on the market. The pattern of genuine chinchilla fur is often unnatural and very geometric, while real natural chinchilla fur doesn’t have a strict geometric pattern. If you see a continuous, straight rectangular pattern, it’s likely rex rabbit fur.
In short, the most crucial differences lie in the feel (the cool, silky smooth texture of chinchilla skin is unique) and the size and stitching method of the pelts. Combining these characteristics, you can make a relatively accurate judgment.
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