Pastel mink, an artificially bred color variant of American mink, has become a popular choice in the high-end fur market due to its soft texture and natural color. Its quality grading, origin differences, and selection criteria are attracting significant attention from the industry and consumers.
The name Pastel mink originates from the English word "Pastel." Its color falls between light coffee, beige, and caramel, presenting a soft, warm brown that is even and not grayish. Based on origin, it is mainly divided into North American Pastel and Danish Pastel. The former has a lighter, more lustrous color and a golden sheen in the guard hairs, making it more widely recognized in the market; the latter has a darker, softer tone, with amber-colored guard hairs.
This category emphasizes its natural color as its core value. Natural-colored Pastel mink has a natural transition from the root to the tip of the hair, exhibiting a delicate matte texture under sunlight; dyed/bleached products tend to have brighter colors, noticeable color variations, and are prone to odor and color fading, resulting in lower collectible and wear value. North American mink pelts are graded by color depth: D, M, P, XP, and 2XP. The lighter the color, the rarer and more valuable the pelt.
Core Quality Selection Criteria:
- Fur Grade: Short, even guard hairs and dense underfur are preferred. Commonly indicated by "Short One" or "Short Two," the top grades are "Purple Gold Short Two" and "Velvet," which determine the core value of the product.
- Origin: North America and Denmark are the main high-quality producing regions, with raw materials exhibiting significantly better stability and texture than those from other regions.
- Pet Selection: Female mink pelts are delicate and lightweight, while male mink pelts are larger and warmer. Choose according to your needs.
Purchasing Tips:
Beware of low-priced "natural-colored mink pelts." High-quality imported products have stable prices; low-priced pelts are often made from ordinary coffee-colored mink that has been bleached.
High-quality underfur is dense and thick, with a tight, "garlic clove" texture.
Natural-colored pelts are flesh-pink/light yellow; white pelts are often dyed.
Industry insiders say that Pas marten mink, with its natural, soft, and rare characteristics, has become a classic choice for high-end fur. Recognizing its natural color, superior production area, and authentic grade are key to purchasing and collecting.
