A quick search online for a mens wallet shows as many variations and wallet types as you could possibly think of. With such a huge range to choose from, where do you start?

A wallet is one of the few things we really don’t give much consideration to, yet we use it everyday, our friends, family and colleagues get a look at it every now and then. So why not make a statement? We don’t need to settle for the run of the mill boring old cow leather wallets which are often mass produced and have no character whatsoever. Instead we have a collection of unique, "one of a kind", wallets in the way of exotic leathers! Leather from exotic skins typically go through less processing during tanning than cow leathers and are far less likely to be mass produced, thereby retaining more grain and character.

When we think "exotic wallets", one of the first choices that come to mind is crocodile wallets. Croc wallets evoke all the mystery and excitement of prehistory. Made from various parts of a single croc skin including the belly, flank, leg, back and tail, means each crocodile wallet has a totally different texture and style. Different from their alligator and caiman cousins, a crocodile leather wallet is more durable, is loaded with character and will turn heads at the checkout counter.

Ostrich leather wallets are another excellent example. Ostrich skin is one of the most expensive and sought after leathers in the fashion industry due to the complicated and time consuming tanning process used to produce these beautiful leathers. Full of natural oils, an ostrich skin wallet is naturally softer and more supple than boring old cow leather wallets and will resist drying and cracking over time. Elegant and stylish, ostrich leather screams high fashion and refinement with its unique pattern and texture. This universal appeal of an ostrich leather wallet is one of the reasons ostrich wallets are always in demand and one of the most popular choices.

One of the more interesting exotic skins on the market is stingray leather! The fluid beauty of the stingray is highlighted in several classic and stylish wallets. With a tensile strength 2.5 times greater than cowhide and a unique supple texture, stingray wallets resist tearing, puncturing and are also fire and water resistant. Stingray skin has even been used for Japanese "Samurai" body armor and sword handles in the past! Various techniques are used to create several beautiful finishes for stingray leather wallets including a lightly polished look and feel, a glassy highly polished shagreen wallet and the ever popular "row of pearls" wallet. The eagle ray wallet, with it's polished "row of pearls", is created by sanding the certral line of spines on the ray's back and is made from a single piece of eagle ray skin. These wallets really need to be seen to be believed, they can be some of the most unique leather items you’ll ever own.

Are you a mad keen fisherman? Your fishing buddies will love this. Shark skin is traditionally known for its rough texture, even being used as sandpaper in the past. Shark wallets made from shark leather by contrast feel like suede or nubuck. Incredibly strong, shark wallets can be up to 10 times stronger than traditional leather wallets. As a result, a shark skin wallet is as tough as nails yet still pliable and soft to the touch and will outlast you!. Extremely versatile, shark leather can be skived, sanded or waxed to produce many different finishes.

Still can’t make up your mind? Sleek and smooth, a lizard wallet might be exactly what you’re looking for, with an elegant textured finish, lizard leather is immensely diverse with dark mottled spots, rings, stripes, and pale belly. The result is a distinctively unique wallet with a heap of class.

Oh, and if you’’re wondering what wallet the author carries, keep reading.