How to repair scratches on leather shoes?
Introduction:
Scratches on leather shoes can make your shoes look unkempt within an instant. Surface scratches can often be easily repaired however with a few simple steps. Deeper scratcher can often be masked reasonably well too, but can also require a bit more work. In this guide we will discuss the options and show you how you can repair scratches on your leather shoes.
- Recognise different types of scratches on leather shoes
- Camouflage surface scratches using Saphir Médaille d’Or Pommadier Shoe Cream
- Shine and protect your shoes after applying cream for the best results
- Fill deeper scratches with Saphir Médaille d’Or Pâte de Luxe Wax for extra protection and durability
Introduction:
Scratches on leather shoes can make your shoes look unkempt within an instant. Surface scratches can often be easily repaired however with a few simple steps. Deeper scratcher can often be masked reasonably well too, but can also require a bit more work. In this guide we will discuss the options and show you how you can repair scratches on your leather shoes.
- Recognise different types of scratches on leather shoes
- Camouflage surface scratches using Saphir Médaille d’Or Pommadier Shoe Cream
- Shine and protect your shoes after applying cream for the best results
- Fill deeper scratches with Saphir Médaille d’Or Pâte de Luxe Wax for extra protection and durability
Before/after
Polishing shoes isn’t rocket science.
With just a bit of colour, you can cover up most scratches and restore faded leather.
Before
After
Camouflaging the damage
Brush your shoes with a shoe shine brush to remove any dust and dirt.
Apply Saphir Médaille d’Or Pommadier shoe cream on and around the scratched area on your leather shoes. Use light to medium pressure to gently massage the cream into the leather. The high concentration of pigments in the cream will help the scratch blend in with the rest of the leather maki,ng it invisible to the eye. The Beeswax will also create a protective layer on top of the ex,posed scratched leather to avoid further damage.
To pick the right colour shoe cream please check our Saphir Médaille d'Or colour guide. Afterwards, shine your shoes using a horsehair brush or cloth and check the results. If the scratch is still visible, you can apply more shoe cream. Only about 10% of the pigment in a cream will adhere to the leather with each application, so it could be that you need to apply shoe cream multiple times. Make sure you shine your shoes after each application.

Tip!
Use your bare fingers or a cloth to rub the shoe cream into the damaged area of the leather. This way, you massage the pigment into the leather.
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Smoothing Out Deeper Cuts
Apply a thin layer of Saphir Médaille d'Or Pâte de Luxe Shoe Wax in the same colour as the cream you used. The wax further camouflages the scratch and levels out deeper cuts by filling in the missing leather slightly, making them less noticeable. It also provides extra protection against moisture and scratches. This way, it’s the wax that gets marked instead of the leather, and you can easily repair it by applying a new layer.

Tip!
Always apply the shoe wax in thin, even layers for the best result. Building it up gradually will give the leather a smooth, uniform finish and help avoid streaks or clumps.
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