How Much Does a Mink Coat Cost? – Is Real Fur Worth it?
Last Updated on October 4, 2023 | Written by CPA Alec Pow
First Published on September 18, 2021 | Content Reviewed by 
CFA Alexander Popivker
Precious, desired by most ladies, and sometimes considered an investment, fur clothes are as warm as they are beautiful. And even though there has been a tendency in recent years to educate the female public to give up on animal protection criteria, ladies are not willing to replace them so easily.
Some people consider mink fur the most luxurious and of the best quality. These animals give very precious furs and are preferred by women all over the world.
The mink is an endangered species, especially the Russian wild mink. The fur clothes that are sold today come from animals raised on farms. This fur is thinner and lighter in color, and the manufacturers even support the color mutations and the dyeing of the fur. But how much does a mink coat cost?
How much does a mink coat cost?
The cost of a mink coat falls anywhere between $150 and $11,000, which means that there is a huge disparity in prices, depending on how the coat is made. The more expensive ones are authentic full-length coats made by major designers, and the less valuable cheaper knockoffs are often referred to as “mink lookalikes.”
Designer labels have a great influence on the price of luxury items. For example, it’s not uncommon to see a mink fur coat cost more than $21,000 for higher-quality brands that are quite popular in today’s society, such as Gucci and Dior.
If you’re looking for a higher-quality mink coat, make sure it doesn’t have any dye. Dyeing mink is seen as lower quality and will cost less than non-dyed material.
Online, on eBay, you can find many different items to choose from. For example, there are thousands of listings ranging anywhere between $600 and $4,500 with most ads being for slightly worn coats. They also provided a guide saying it will be very hard nowadays, if not impossible altogether, to find a good quality mink coat below $3,500. The guide states that the bulk of this market will range from $3,500 to $11,000.
You might also like our articles about the cost of silk fabric, leather jacket cleaning, or fur coat cleaning.
The prices of vintage coats have been on the rise recently, and it’s not just because today’s shoppers are more demanding. Forum members from vintagetownreviews.com discuss this trend in-depth when arguing about how much prices have risen, seeing that one would need $300 for a mink stole during the ’50s, but the same coat can cost you around $3,500 nowadays.
Mink coat details
Like other wild animals, there are several types of mink, each with its own characteristics and advantages.
Russian mink is the “warmest” option. In addition, its fur is quite affordable and is easy to find in specialty stores around the world. On the other hand, Nordic mink fur is the best-selling in the world, wearing a magnificent shine and having a higher quality appearance.
North American mink fur can be identified immediately, as being lackluster and having a velvet appearance. It is elegant but does not provide enough heat in very cold winters. Also, wild mink fur is the most expensive, being a rarity and having quite a few defects, which means that the final product requires more skins.
To ensure you are getting a quality mink coat, look for the label inside of it. These labels will assure buyers that they meet certain standards and certifications from organizations such as American Legend Mink Cooperative, Saga Furs of Scandinavia, or the North American Fur Association.
Some of the most popular coat colors are black and brown. The next two on this list that you might expect to see are dark brown followed by sable or a shade of tawny yellow-beige. Blue iris is somewhere in between these shades with lighter tones than its darker counterparts.
What are the extra costs related to mink fur coats?
Mink coats are delicate and require proper care, so the best way to take care of your mink coat is with professional dry cleaning.
It is important that you store your mink coat at a particular temperature and humidity level. It would be best if you never put the garment in direct sunlight or subject it to rain, as these conditions may cause irreversible damage to its fibers. The best place for storing this type of clothing during warmer months is local farriers.
You can also buy other items along with the coat, like a mink fur jacket or a leather belt, items that will surely increase your final bill.
Important things to consider
Real mink furs are often gender-specific. The females tend to have softer and lighter fur compared with the males.
Although mink coats are more expensive than fox fur coats, they come below chinchilla fur in terms of their pricing.
The most durable skin on the market, mink coats last for more than 20 years.
When deciding what coat to buy, you must find out how much leather was included in the garment. You’ll often find less fur in cheaper coats. It would be best if you also took note of where your purchase originated from as lower-quality mink furs come from China while higher-quality, more fashionable ones tend to be United States-based.
To ensure that they have made a good investment in high quality, original garment, customers must ensure that the pelt is not yellowed, that the skin has no stains and odor, that the fur is shiny, does not stick, does not has a greasy appearance and is not painted.
How can I save money on the cost of mink coats?
When buying a real fur coat, it’s important to make sure you are purchasing from the right person. If your budget is more than $1,000 and you want something of the best quality, then meeting in person with an experienced furrier may be best. They can help find items made from higher-end, real fur.
Artificial fur coats are often a cheaper alternative to real fur. Though the coating may not look as good and can’t be stretched, you’ll still get your desired effect at up to 80% less cost.
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It is worth noting that “faux” furs are made from materials with very high environmental costs both in producing them and in disposing of them.
When my mother passed away I inherited her mink coat. Her husband got it for her as a birthday gift when she was about 35 years old. She passed away on 2012 at age 86 years old, which means the coat was 51 years old when I revived it. Now, it is 61 years old as of this year in May. She took excellent care of it, ever having it professionally stored in a vault made to keep the humidity and temperature at the proper settings when it wasn’t the time of year to ware fur. When it was cold weather she kept it covered in her closet where it stayed perfect when she wasn’t warring it. Since I’ve has it (10 years) it has resided covered in my closet away from light and to much heat and humidity. I’ve never worn it out, I’m more the fake fur person since I don’t believe in killing animals for their hides. It is still in excellent condition and as beautiful as ever. It’s a short, light color, dressy coat without any leather. I found your site when I was looking for prices of mink coats. I had no idea how expensive they seem to be, especially if they have been taken proper care of. I didn’t find any exactly like hers but I did find one similar, but it looked a little “well worn” and it was still priced at $3,500.00 dollars. I’ve got to check the tags to see where it came from and find out where it was made and the other items you mentioned. I was thinking I would sell it and use the money to help raise our great granddaughter that we’ve had since she was less than a year old, so we could leave our children, grand children and great granddaughter and have some quality time together before we get turned to ashes. I’m 74 years old, My husband has always wanted to travel, maybe go to Europe. Now, in a few years it may still be possible to travel, but at our age it’s still on the back burner. After raising 3 I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to write such a long post. I’m still looking for someone who can tell me what the price truly is and not try to “steal” it from me by paying maybe a 10th of what it’s worth. I like your site and it has given me food for thought, but I’m going to continue to look. Have a nice and blessed day.
Me too!!!