Chinchilla has a reputation as the most expensive, softest and perhaps most eye-catching fur available today.  This fur makes a bold statement: one that practically screams extravagance and sensuality.  But the exorbitant price and special care necessary with chinchilla means you should carefully weigh all the pros and cons before buying.

History and Basic Facts about Chinchilla

The chinchilla is a small, rodent-like animal from the Andes mountains of South America.  Well adapted for the cold and arid climate, chinchillas have super-insulating fur.  Their coat is comprised of extra fine hairs tightly grouped together.  Humans grow a single hair per follicle whereas most animals have 2 or 3 per follicle.  But the chinchilla tops the list with 80 hairs per follicle, making theirs the densest fur coat of all.  Chinchilla fur is also the world’s finest with each hair being thinner than a single strand of spider’s silk.

One story furriers like to tell about the origins of chinchilla fur in the West is quite interesting, even if clouded in myth.  The legend goes that during the era of Spanish explorations, one captain prepared a treasure box for his patron, the Queen of Spain.  Explorers were expected to return bearing tributes and the captain’s chest held precious jewels & Inca gold, all carefully wrapped in a blanket of chinchilla fur for protection.  Sometime during the return voyage, a wily thief managed to steal the gold, but cleverly left the chinchilla fur behind to hide his crime.  So when delivered, the Queen found one chest filled only with a strangely soft, mottled grey fur.  News of the theft horrified the captain who feared he’d be executed soon after arriving at the royal court.  But instead of outrage, the Queen was so taken by the exquisite fur that she lavished rewards onto the captain and she wanted more chinchilla fur.  So the captain was spared and chinchilla instantly became the fur of nobility.

The Pros and Cons of Chinchilla

It only takes handling a real chinchilla garment just once to understand the appeal.  'Soft' isn't an adequate word to describe this fur.  If stroked with eyes closed, the fur seems to disappear under one's fingers.. too fine and delicate for the human touch to readily distinguish.  With its silken consistency and alluring texture, no other fur can equal chinchilla's unique, touchable quality.  It's also the lightest fur available, weighing less than mink, rabbit and even most fabrics.  Chinchilla's unusual color and pattern are an instant attention getter; highly recognized as a status symbol.  Just as with gold, it's not uncommon for people to experience 'chinchilla fever' when first handling this fur, becoming mesmerized by its silken feel.  No other fur inspires such wonderment and it is this rare quality which has made chinchilla the world's most coveted fur.

If you’ve checked prices, you already know that chinchilla is very expensive.  Furthermore, chinchilla is not a fur for everyday wear and may not be practical for some.  Though the hair fibers are strong (tensile strength which exceeds that of mink) it’s considered a finicky or delicate fur: easily damaged and difficult to maintain.  Because the pelt skins are very thin, storing it in a cramped or too warm closet may ruin your chinchilla fur.  The paper thin pelts will dry out when exposed to heat, so summer cold storage is an absolute necessity.  It’s hard to clean and results can be iffy, so you should take precautions not to allow the fur to become soiled.  Chinchilla shouldn’t be worn in rain or snow because it doesn’t take well to getting wet.  Also, this fur tends to absorb odors easily, so it’s advisable to avoid perfumes, colognes and exposure to smoke.  In recent years, chinchilla has become a controversial fur which sparks criticism.  All this means that before buying chinchilla, you must seriously consider if you’re prepared for the responsibilities, liabilities and upkeep costs that owning this fur demands.

Color, Quality and Terminology

There are several grades of chinchilla fur and pelts are rated on color, size & fur quality.  Color is the main factor determining value and in general, pelts with the most black and those with the best clarity (black-to-white contrast) command the highest prices.  Though one type is called black velvet, there is no natural, solid black chinchilla fur.  Even black velvet chinchilla fur shows areas of grey or white as is it this stark contrast that makes black velvet so valuable.  As with all furs, chinchilla may be dyed any color, but this is usually done to mask imperfections in lesser quality pelts. 

Black Velvet pelts being made into a cape

Many industry terms are used in connection with chinchilla fur and it’s easy for buyers to be confused.  Empress is a breed term which denotes animals that have undergone a strict inspection & certification process to bear that name.  However, Empress is not an official fur grade, so although generally superior, Empress pelts may still vary in quality.  Lanigera denotes the species of chinchilla and the majority of fur ranchers raise lanigera animals, so that label alone has no bearing on the quality of the fur.

If shopping for chinchilla, you’ll likely see items labeled Chinchilla Rex and Orylag Chinchilla.  Neither are genuine chinchilla, but a type of rabbit fur intended to mimic chinchilla.  Though some are close facsimiles in color, they do not have the same texture and suffer the disadvantages of rabbit fur.  In auction photos, distinguishing Orylag or Rex fur from real chinchilla is most easily determined by pelt size.  Rabbits are much larger animals, so if the fur sections exceed 6 inches wide, the garment is likely rabbit.  The black area in Rex & Orylag fur is dyed on and it usually appears as very dark, uniform striping as opposed to the uneven, asymmetrical patterns found in real chinchilla fur.

Spotting Fakes

If examining the fur itself, distinguishing faux chinchilla from real is relatively easy.  But even those only looking at photographs can spot fakes with a little practice.  Side-by-side comparisons are most helpful, so compare the closest photo of the fur in question to one you know is real.  Standard gray chinchilla fur usually shows lots of variations and no two pelts are identical.  As for synthetic fur, you can often spot the clues that give it away: unnatural-looking color, a rough or scraggly texture, broad & even striping or a signs of a repeating pattern.

Genuine chinchilla has a unique characteristic that no rabbit or synthetic fur can imitate.  The hairs are actually tri-colored: they grow out a charcoal color, then lighten to a dove gray ending with a black tip.  You can clearly see this three toned shade when the fur is blown on as it makes for a distinctive, circular pattern.  If you’re concerned the fur may not be genuine, insist on getting a close-up picture to look for this tri-colored patterning.

Whether it’s top quality black velvet or a lesser grade fur, all chinchilla has that marvelous, hypnotic texture that makes it so touchable and sumptuous.  Because of the cost, you shouldn’t have any doubts as to authenticity when shopping for chinchilla.  It’s best to buy from a reputable dealer who has ample knowledge and experience with chinchilla garments.  As with any eBay purchase, check into your seller’s profile & reputation, ask questions before bidding and make sure you’re fully apprised of their policies before buying.

  _____________________________________________

This guide is UNDER CONSTRUCTION, but your visit & your VOTE are much appreciated.  If you are looking for more information on furs and buyer's tips, please review my other Guides: 
    Fur Guides written by Boxtoes
In particular, I urge members to read my Guide on  Endangered Species Furs   This one guide is hidden from view and cannot be found in a search, though eBay will not tell me why and three months of trying to resolve the problem has had no results.

Please note this guide is intended for use of eBay members and cannot be duplicated, copied or reproduced in full or in part without my expressed consent. (See eBay’s VeRO guidelines or refer to copyright laws.)