Birkenstock Exquisite Leather | Premium Craftsmanship & Style

Birkenstock Exquisite Leather

Did you know that Birkenstock makes some models in exquisite leather?  I recently found this secret out and I had to try a pair.  The exquisite leather sandals are often limited edition and tend to sell out quickly.  That’s probably why I have never seen a pair in person.

What Makes Birkenstock Exquisite Leather Different?

What is exquisite leather?  Birkenstock USA explains an exquisite leather Birkenstock is a handcrafted shoe that is completely covered in premium leather.  Yes, you read that correctly, COMPLETELY wrapped in leather.  There is no exposed cork.  This means that even the footbed is encased by soft leather and the entire shoe is all one color.  Birkenstock USA claims that this give the shoe a “sleek, upscale look”.

As a Birkenstock aficionado, I had a try a pair.  My hope was to try a pair on in a brick and mortar store to determine if the shoe was worth the hefty price tag.  Locating a pair of exquisite leather Birkenstocks was next to impossible since they sell out quickly.  I checked at Nordstrom and a couple local shoe stores and could not find a pair.

Limited Edition Styles: Gizeh and Monterey in Exquisite Leather

The only way I was going to purchase an expensive pair of exquisite leather Birkenstocks online was through an authorized retailer.  I went straight to Birkenstock USA to find an exquisite leather shoe.  At the time, their online shoe collection had two models available in exquisite leather: the Gizeh and the Monterey. 

Birkenstock Gizeh is & Monterey Exquisite Leather Sandals

The Gizeh was one of the few exquisite leather models available—but it sold out in my size overnight.

The Monterey, elegant with rounded straps and a leather-wrapped footbed, was the pair I managed to order.

First Impressions: Premium Craftsmanship or Just Hype?

The Gizeh was available in my size, the Monterey was only available in narrow width.  Given the price tag, I decided to sleep on it overnight before making my purchase.  The next day I decided to buy the Gizehs and they had sold out in my size overnight. 

Fit Issues: Why Narrow Width Doesn’t Work for Everyone

Birkenstock USA still had the Monterey in a 38 Narrow.  I have one pair of Birkenstocks in a narrow width, they are the Bellary model in smooth leather with a regular footbed.  The reason I have this shoe in a narrow and not in a regular width is an entirely differently blog post.  The Bellary fits my foot length wise and the leather stretched to fit the width of my foot.  The arch is a little narrow for my liking, but the shoe is comfortable enough to wear on more dressy occasions.  

I did not want to miss out on this special, limited edition shoe as I did with the Gizehs, so I purchased it.  I figured since the smooth leather on the Bellary stretched to fit the width of my foot that the Monterey, in exquisite leather, may do the same.  Moreover, the Monterey had a regular footbed which meant there would be a little more space for my foot than if this shoe came in a soft footbed.  

I waited five long days for the shoes to arrive.  I immediately opened the box to try them on when they were delivered.  The Monterey was a gorgeous shoe.   It is similar to the Arizona, yet with more elegant, rounded straps that are spaced slightly further apart.  As described, the shoe was totally wrapped in exquisite leather.  The shoes has a new car smell.  The straps were smooth and the footbed looked luxurious.  The shoe size and width were embedded on the footbed in a beautiful silver color.

Silver Markings on Exquisite Leather Footbed

Even the size and width are elegantly embossed in silver on the footbed—adding to the upscale look.

With my fingers crossed, I placed my foot on the footbed and tightened the straps.  I could feel the difference in the narrow width and I had not yet even take a step.  There was ample room on the straps for maximum adjustability over my foot, but my little toe was rubbing against the leather.  When I stood up and took a step, I could feel the narrowness of the width. 

Narrow Width Fit Problem on Wide Feet

My little toe rubbed uncomfortably against the leather—the narrow footbed was a deal breaker.

The Monterey shoe was minimalistic, yet elegant, and made my foot look more slender compared to my other Birkenstocks.  However, the narrow width was just not comfortable for me.  As much as I wanted to make these shoes work, I was not going to sacrifice peerless comfort for style.  Afterall, I had been squishing my wide width feet into narrow shoes for decades and this has only created foot discomfort and back pain.  Plus, with the price point of this shoe, I could not justify keeping them if they did not completely meet my needs.

I am often disappointed to learn that many of the Birkenstocks in women's sizes are only sold in narrow width within the United States.  When one reviews the Birkenstock Collection online, one can easily learn that most styles are made in narrow and regular width.  As I wrote in Narrow Minded US, this issue makes my blood boil and the feminist in me roar with frustration.  I understand that a “narrow” Birkenstock footbed accommodates both traditional narrow and medium width feet.  But, my feet are wide and I require a regular footbed.  I am not the only woman in the US that requires a regular width Birkenstock.  

Exquisite Leather vs EVA: Upscale Luxury or Plastic Look-Alike?

The narrow width of the shoe was the primary reason, but not the only reason that I chose not to keep the Montereys.  Another major factor was that, from a distance, it looked like an EVA Birkenstock.  Gasp!  A $200+ exquisite leather Birkenstock certainly does not feel like an EVA with its premium leather and stellar arch support.  But, to the naked eye and to a non Birkenstock wearer, it is easy to confuse the shiny, smooth leather with the shiny plastic of the EVA material. 

Do Exquisite Leather Birkenstocks Squeak or Fart? What You Need to Know

The short answer is ....sometimes.  Exquisite leather Birkenstocks can occasionally make squeaky noises--suspiciously like a fart — similar to the sound EVA sandals make when wet.  If you’re sensitive to that, you might want to consider when and where you wear them.

EVA vs Exquisite Leather Sandals

To the untrained eye, exquisite leather can look like shiny EVA plastic—especially from a distance.

From a distance the exquisite leather appears plasticy like the EVA Gizehs

Quality Concerns: Glue at the Seams on a $200 Shoe

Another reason that I decided to return this expensive shoe is because I could see glue at the seams.   When I pay an exorbitant amount of money for an expensive shoe, I should not see remnants of the glue used to encase the product in leather.  Quality control should have caught this.

Visible Glue on Exquisite Leather Sandals

Glue remnants should never appear on a $200+ pair of Birkenstocks—quality control failed here.

Quality Flaw: Glue Marks on Exquisite Leather Birkenstocks

Premium sandals deserve flawless craftsmanship—yet these Monterey Exquisite Leather Birkenstocks arrived with glue showing along the seams.

Three Strikes: Why I Returned the Monterey Exquisite Leather

Just like in baseball, three strikes and you are out.

Strike 1: narrow width only for women’s sizes
Strike 2: looked like EVA  
Strike 3: visible glue at the seams


What Birkenstock Needs to Do Better for Exquisite Leather Fans

If Birkenstock USA offered the Monterey exquisite leather shoe in a regular width in the United States, I would give these shoes a second chance.  My hope would be that future exquisite leather shoes do not have visible glue at the seams.  I might also suggest that Birkenstock use a different color buckle on either the exquisite leather sandals or the EVAs, so it is easy to distinguish between the two from a distance.

I Love Birkenstocks and, much to my dismay, I did not love the limited edition exquisite leather sandals.

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Related Reads: Honest Reviews, Quality Concerns & Birkenstock Love
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Being a lifelong Birkenstock devotee doesn’t mean ignoring flaws when they appear.  In Houston, We Have a Problem, I called out quality-control issues like creased leather, sloppy glue, and misaligned soles on Big Buckle Arizonas. Posts like Narrow Minded U.S. and Chubby Shaming spotlight Birkenstock’s frustrating habit of releasing women’s styles and limited editions only in narrow widths, leaving wide-footed fans excluded.  And in Don’t Chance the Last Chance, I warned shoppers about Birkenstock USA’s risky final-sale policy that can leave customers stuck with defective or ill-fitting pairs.  If you’re ever unsure whether your pair is simply poorly made or outright counterfeit, my Spotting Fake Birkenstocks trilogy (Parts 1, 2, & 3) breaks down the red flags to watch for.


This is exactly why I wrote Do Better Birkenstock—because true fans want both comfort and quality.  But my blog also celebrates the brand when it shines.  In I Love Hoka, I share how Hoka sneakers came to my rescue when heel pain made Birks impossible to wear. When Magic Happens highlights the moments Birkenstock nails it with premium materials and inclusive sizing.  For myth-busting, 10 Birkenstock Myths That Influencers Keep Getting Wrong clears up the misinformation with real-world experience. And if you want pure celebration, 100 Reasons Why I Love Birkenstocks is my ultimate love letter to the sandals that shaped my style and comfort.  Don’t forget my Videos page, where you’ll find reviews, recraft stories, and even quirky lifestyle clips.


Beyond product critiques, I also share personal stories that show how universal Birkenstocks really are.  My Birkenstock Buddy is about friendship and recovery, where the Bali sandal became a symbol of healing. I Got My Dad to Wear Birkenstocks—Finally! celebrates a 25-year victory convincing my dad to swap knock-offs for authentic Arizonas (spoiler: the EVA was a perfect fit). Birkenstock & Men tackles outdated stigmas, proving men everywhere—from everyday dads to Hollywood stars—wear Birks with confidence. In Wearing Birkenstocks Does Not Make Me a Hippie, I challenge the stereotype, showing that Birks are for everyone from runway models to preschool kids. And in Young & Old Love To Wear Birkenstocks, I tell the story of a 90-something German woman who has worn Birks her whole life, reminding us that these sandals transcend generations.

Let's connect on Instagram @ilovebirkenstocks

Side by side: the Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle and Florida Triple Strap in exquisite leather with droplet-style buckles. Premium craftsmanship, all-leather wrap, and luxe metallic hardware make these limited-edition sandals true collector’s pieces. ✨ Want to see more rare and exclusive Birks? Follow me on Instagram □ @ilovebirkenstocks for daily sandal inspo and behind-the-scenes looks!

Sparkle & Stripes: Arizona Exquisite Leather Meets Harveys Beetlejuice Tote -- more lifestyle types and tricks in my secret Facebook Group

My Spotted Arizona Exquisite Leather Birkenstocks pair perfectly with my Harveys Beetlejuice crossbody tote—two statement pieces that turn comfort and style into pure magic. ✨ Want more style inspo and honest Birkenstock talk? Join my private I Love Birkenstocks Facebook group today!

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