I received these shoes in 1990, as a gift. They were custom made by Allen Edmonds for me. I have never worn them. They are as new as the day I received them. The skins are soft and pliable and the color is a deep, dense Black with the natural shimmer of Sharkskin. These shoes are of the rarest material, which shoes can be made. More rare than any Alligator shoe and possesses a quiet elegance, that signal extremes of luxury. The use of Sharkskin in the making of shoes, is no longer done for reasons of conversation. I cannot sufficiently emphasize the rarity of such a shoe. These shoes are works of art, museum-pieces, destined for a collector. The replacement price of these shoes, if they could be made, is in the Thousands of Dollars. The shoes are waterproof and have soft spikes. Thank you.