GRIFFIN Leather Cord Types: Goatskin, Cowhide, Kangaroo and Buffalo

Leather cord is one of the most versatile materials in contemporary jewellery making. It works with large-hole gemstone beads, metal pendants, wooden beads, braided constructions and tied designs where the cord itself is the primary visual element. GRIFFIN produces four types of genuine leather cord, all made in Germany, all tanned using eco-friendly processes with natural dyes.

The Four GRIFFIN Leather Cord Types

GRIFFIN’s leather cords span four animal sources: goat, cow, kangaroo and buffalo. Each produces a cord with different diameter, surface character, handling properties and availability. The key distinction is format: goatskin and cowhide are sold in individual 100cm lengths in a wide range of colours, while kangaroo and buffalo are sold on 50-metre spools in four colours.

All GRIFFIN leather cord for jewelry is made in Germany, not oiled, and features a unique coating that ensures lasting colour intensity. The tanning process uses environmentally friendly methods throughout.

GRIFFIN Goatskin (Ø1.3mm, 100cm): Soft and Fine

Goatskin leather cord at 1.3mm diameter is the finest of GRIFFIN’s leather range. Goat leather has a naturally fine grain and soft, supple character that distinguishes it from coarser cattle-based leathers. The result is a cord that drapes well, sits comfortably against the skin and threads easily through bead holes sized for cord in the 1mm to 1.5mm range.

Key specifications:

• Diameter: Ø 1.3mm
• Length: 100cm individual lengths
• Colours: 20 colours
• Production: Germany, eco-friendly tanning, natural dyes, not oiled

Goatskin is the natural choice for designs where the leather cord is an accent material rather than the structural element: fine leather strands with a single pendant, braided multi-strand chokers where the fine diameter allows even, close braiding, and bridal or formal jewellery where a bold leather look would read as too casual. With a range of 20 colours, it offers the greatest colour flexibility of the four types.

The 100cm length per card suits most single-necklace and bracelet projects. For designs requiring longer runs, multiple cards can be joined using a surgeon’s knot or with appropriate adhesive.

GRIFFIN Cowhide (Ø2.0mm, 100cm): Bold and Durable

Cowhide leather cord at 2.0mm diameter is the most substantial of the two 100cm-length options. Cowhide is denser and more structured than goatskin, with a firmer surface character that gives finished jewellery a more defined, architectural quality. It holds its round cross-section well under knotting and presents as a bold, confident cord in finished pieces.

Key specifications:

• Diameter: Ø 2.0mm
• Length: 100cm individual lengths
• Colours: 20 colours
• Production: Germany, eco-friendly tanning, natural dyes, not oiled

Cowhide works for statement necklace cords where the leather is clearly visible as a design element, for larger-hole bead stringing (beads with 2.5mm to 3mm drill holes), and for double or triple cord designs where the combined visual weight reads as bold and intentional.

The 2.0mm diameter also works effectively in braided designs at smaller scale: three-strand flat braid in cowhide cord produces a combined width of approximately 8 to 10mm, suitable for substantial wrist cuffs or statement belt-adjacent jewellery.

GRIFFIN Kangaroo (Ø1.0mm, 50m Spools): Finest and Strongest

Kangaroo leather is one of the strongest natural leather materials available, combining exceptional tensile strength with an extremely fine diameter. At 1.0mm, GRIFFIN Kangaroo cord is the thinnest in the leather range and the strongest relative to its size.

Key specifications:

• Diameter: Ø 1.0mm
• Length: 50m spools
• Colours: 4 colours (black, brown, cornelian, natural)
• Production: Germany, eco-friendly tanning, natural dyes, not oiled

The 50-metre spool format is ideal for professional studios, production runs and makers who use leather cord at volume. The four-colour limitation means it is less suitable for colour-specific designs where matching is important, but these four tones cover the most commercially viable palette for leather jewellery across European and American markets.

Kangaroo cord works particularly well for fine wrap bracelet designs, multi-strand constructions where a fine but strong cord is needed, and for threading through beads with holes that are large enough for 1.0mm cord but would not comfortably accommodate 1.3mm goatskin.

GRIFFIN Buffalo (Ø1.6-2.5mm, 50m Spools): For Chunky Designs

Buffalo leather cord is the most substantial option in the GRIFFIN range, available in three diameters on 50-metre spools. Buffalo leather has a distinctive character: slightly more textured than smooth cattle hides, firm and structured, with excellent resistance to stretching and wear.

Key specifications:

• Diameters: Ø 1.6mm, Ø 2.0mm and Ø 2.5mm
• Length: 50m spools
• Colours: 4 colours (black, brown, cornelian, natural)
• Production: Germany, eco-friendly tanning, natural dyes, not oiled

The 2.5mm buffalo cord is the largest diameter in GRIFFIN’s leather range and works well for chunky designs: knotted leather cords where the knot itself is a design feature, beads with large 3mm or wider drill holes (lava stone, large macramé beads, driftwood), and braided or twisted multi-cord constructions where substantial visual weight is the goal.

At 1.6mm and 2.0mm, buffalo cord overlaps in diameter with goatskin and cowhide respectively, but offers the spool format advantage for higher-volume production. Makers who regularly produce large quantities of leather jewellery find the spool format significantly more cost-effective than individual 100cm lengths.

Comparison Table by Project Type

• Fine pendant necklace (single stone or charm): GRIFFIN Goatskin Ø1.3mm - the fine diameter and 20-colour range give maximum design flexibility
• Statement choker or necklace cord: GRIFFIN Cowhide Ø2.0mm - the bold diameter reads with confidence as the primary design element
• Wrap bracelet or multi-strand design: GRIFFIN Kangaroo Ø1.0mm - strength and fine diameter combine for close, even multi-strand work
• Macramé or knotted statement piece: GRIFFIN Buffalo Ø2.5mm - the largest diameter creates substantial knots and visual presence
• Shamballa-style or bead cord bracelet (leather version): GRIFFIN Goatskin Ø1.3mm or Cowhide Ø2.0mm depending on the bead hole size
• Production volume leather jewellery: Kangaroo or Buffalo on 50m spools - the spool format delivers better economy and consistency across batches
• Colour-specific design requiring a wide palette: Goatskin or Cowhide in 100cm lengths - 20 colours available versus 4 for spool versions

GRIFFIN Leather Cord Colour Range: 20 Colours

GRIFFIN’s 100cm leather cord range (goatskin and cowhide) is available in 20 colours. All colours are produced using environmentally friendly natural dyes, applied over GRIFFIN’s proprietary coating system that ensures lasting colour intensity.

The 20-colour range spans the full practical palette:

• Neutral & Earth Tones: Black, White, Grey, Natural, Brown, Olive
• Cool Tones: Blue, Dark Blue, Turquoise, Green, Apple Green
• Warm Tones: Red, Orange, Yellow, Granat, Cornelian
• Pinks & Purples: Pink,  Magenta, Lilac, Violet

Colour availability may vary by diameter and type - confirm specific colours with your GRIFFIN stockist, as the full 20-colour palette applies to the 100cm length range.

The leather cord spool range (kangaroo and buffalo) is intentionally limited to four colours: black, brown, cornelian and natural. These represent the most commercially reliable leather colours across major jewellery markets and cover the widest range of gemstone and metal pairings.

GRIFFIN Leather for Metal Allergy Sufferers

One of the less-discussed advantages of leather cord jewellery is its complete absence of metal in the stringing material itself. For wearers who experience reactions to metal findings, a leather cord necklace or bracelet where the cord is the structural element removes the primary contact material from the equation.

GRIFFIN leather cord is:

• 100% natural animal leather - no synthetic coating, no metal filament, no chemical treatment beyond eco-friendly tanning and natural dyeing
• Not oiled - the absence of oil treatment means no additional chemical agents on the surface that could cause reactions in sensitive skin
• Produced in Germany with GRIFFIN’s commitment to eco-friendly production throughout

Where metal findings (clasps, jump rings) are still required at the ends, choosing GRIFFIN’s 925 sterling silver findings minimises the contact surface of the metal component. For clients who cannot wear metal at all, a leather cord with a knotted toggle closure or simple tie finish eliminates metal contact entirely, while still producing a professional piece.

Explore the full GRIFFIN leather cord range at griffin1866store.com/collections/leather-cord.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can GRIFFIN leather cord get wet?

Natural leather should be kept away from prolonged moisture exposure. Brief contact with water (light rain, handwashing) is generally manageable if the cord is dried naturally afterward. Repeated soaking will cause leather to stiffen, stretch or change character over time.

How do I finish the ends of the GRIFFIN leather cord?

GRIFFIN leather cord ends are typically finished with metal cord ends (tube ends or cone ends) secured with GRIFFIN Superglue, or with simple overhand or barrel knots. The 100cm lengths suit most direct pendant-on-cord designs without any metal finding at the ends.

Do GRIFFIN leather cords come in the same colours as GRIFFIN silk?

No. GRIFFIN leather and silk cord palettes are developed independently. The 20-colour leather range in the 100cm format is specific to leather and does not mirror the 21 Natural Silk colours directly, though several tones overlap in the neutral and earth categories.