What Leather Grade Really Means—And Why It Matters for Your Golf Glove

You’ve seen it a hundred times: “Premium Cabretta Leather.” Sounds good, right?

Here’s the truth: “cabretta” just means it came from a certain type of sheep. It doesn’t tell you anything about the actual quality of the leather.

The real story is in the grade.

At Circle 15, we only use Grade A cabretta leather—the highest grade available. Most brands don’t. And most won’t tell you.

Here’s why leather grading matters—and how it makes a big difference in your glove.

What Is Leather Grading?

Leather is graded based on:

• Surface quality (blemishes, scars, inconsistencies)

• Grain structure (tightness and uniformity)

• Thickness

• Strength and durability

• Consistency across the hide

Grades typically range from:

• Grade A: The cleanest, strongest, most uniform hides

• Grade B: Slightly more blemishes, less consistent grain

• Grade C: Lower strength, more visible defects, often over-treated to look nice

Just like diamonds or beef, the grade determines the value and performance.

Why Most Brands Don’t Use Grade A

Grade A cabretta is more expensive and harder to find. It requires:

• More selective sourcing

• Fewer usable hides

• More skilled cutting and preparation

So most brands opt for Grade B or C, then soften it with chemicals and finishes to make it feel decent when new.

But that softness doesn’t last.

These gloves:

• Stretch out

• Crack or harden

• Wear down faster under normal use

The Circle 15 Standard: Grade A Only

At Circle 15, we made a choice to build our gloves from Grade A cabretta only. Our factory has told us we’re the only brand currently doing that.

Why?

Because it gives you:

• Better feel—smoother and more consistent across your hand

• More durability—tighter grain and stronger fiber structure

• Superior break-in—softens with use, not chemicals

• Less cracking and stretching over time

Combined with our center-cut strategy, it’s a glove built to hold up through real rounds, not just look good on a shelf.

How Can You Tell the Grade?

Most brands won’t list it. And there’s a reason why.

But if your glove:

• Feels too thin

• Cracks quickly after drying

• Feels inconsistent from one glove to the next...

...you’re probably wearing a lower-grade product.

Final Thought

“Cabretta leather” sounds fancy. But unless the grade is Grade A, it’s just another label.

At Circle 15, we don’t hide what we use—we highlight it.

Because real quality isn’t just about what kind of leather—it’s about how good that leather really is.

👉 [Shop Circle 15 – Grade A Leather, Built for Real Golfers →]
👉 [Next: Why Leather Thickness = Real Glove Durability →]