Luxury Desk Set
Materials & Care
Each product page lists the material of that set. This page explains what those desk set materials mean, from faux leather and wood veneer to genuine leather and printed marble-look finishes, and how to clean and look after the desk pad, trays, organizers and nameplate.
Desk set materials at a glance
| Material | What it means | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Faux leather | A man-made material with a leather-look surface. It is not genuine leather. | Most of the range. |
| Wood veneer with faux leather components | A thin layer of real wood on the surface, combined with faux leather components. Not solid wood. | The Prestige sets. |
| Wood and faux leather | Both materials, as stated on the product page. | The Vesta sets. |
| Genuine leather | Stated only on the product pages named here. | The 17-piece executive set and the 5-piece set. |
| Printed marble-look pattern | A pattern printed on faux leather, not stone. | The gray, brown and dark brown Pulsar sets. |
Faux leather
Most of the range is faux leather: a man-made material with a leather-look surface. It is not genuine leather. If you are shopping for leather-look desk accessories, Faux leather on the Material line is the wording to expect, and the faux leather desk sets collection gathers every set recorded that way.
Finishes vary by family and color
Finishes vary by family, from a fine grain to cloud-like mottling, and they can differ between colors of the same set. On the Luna 10-Piece Desk Set with Two-Tier Tray, for example, the black version has a fine-grain finish and the green version has lighter, cloud-like mottling. Each product description opens with the look of that color, so read it alongside the photos.
What not to assume
- The lining. Storage interiors differ by family: velvet-lined on the Luna, Cloud, Star and Elegance sets, lined with faux leather on the Vega, Galaxy, Venus, Pulsar and Chester sets. Where it is confirmed, the product page lists it under Specifications.
- The base. Most sets have a non-slip base, and the Base line on the product page says so.
- Look words. Fine grain, pebbled, mottled and marble-look describe how a surface looks, and gold-tone describes the color of trim and fittings. The Material line states what the set is made of.
Wood veneer with faux leather components
The Prestige sets combine wood veneer, a thin layer of wood on the surface, with faux leather components. They are not solid wood, and the interior wood is painted.
The look depends on the finish you choose. The product pages describe a wood-veneer grain on the brown version, a burl-pattern veneer on the rose black version, and a glossy finish on the black and burgundy versions. All of them are listed under wood veneer desk sets.
Clean a wood veneer desk set like the rest of the range: wipe light marks with a soft, slightly damp cloth, then dry. The Prestige includes three coasters, so put cups and glasses on them and wipe up any liquid straight away.
Wood and faux leather
The Vesta sets are made of wood and faux leather. Their product pages state the material in exactly those words. If you want wood desk accessories, the Vesta and the Prestige are the sets to look at. Our guide to wooden desk sets and organizers explains veneer, wood and wood-look.
Genuine leather
The 17-piece executive set and the 5-piece set are genuine leather. Their product pages say so; every other set is described by its own material. Our Journal guide to genuine leather vs faux leather desk sets shows how to tell the two apart on any product page.
The 17-piece set is an executive set with a personalized nameplate. The 5-piece set is a compact set with a two-pen stand in place of a nameplate. Both product pages give the same care advice as the rest of the range: a soft, slightly damp cloth, then dry, with sharp tools and excess moisture kept away.
Printed marble-look finishes
The gray, brown and dark brown Pulsar sets have a marble-look pattern printed on faux leather. It is not stone. The black Pulsar is a plain finish. Because the material is faux leather, a printed Pulsar is cleaned like any other faux leather set.
Desk set care, piece by piece
The same basic care applies to every set, whatever the material:
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth.
- Wipe light marks with a soft, slightly damp cloth, then dry.
- Wipe up spills promptly rather than leaving them to sit.
Desk pad care
The desk pad is for writing. To clean a faux leather desk pad, dust it with a soft, dry cloth and wipe a light mark with a slightly damp one, then dry the surface. The steps, with spills and ink marks, are in how to clean a faux leather desk pad. Use a separate cutting mat for knives and other sharp tools, and keep scissors and letter openers off the pad when they are not in use. Cups and glasses belong on a coaster, which most sets include. The mouse pad in the Venus sets is cared for the same way. You can also order a desk pad on its own, without a set.
Tray and organizer care
Care for the other desk accessories is the same as for the pad, whether the piece is a document tray, pen cup, memo holder, business card holder or phone stand. A velvet-lined or faux leather-lined interior is part of the piece, so do not soak it and keep abrasive pads away from it. Lift a piece to move it rather than dragging it across the desk.
A memo holder, calendar holder or notepad holder is the holder only: paper and calendar sheets are not included.
Personalized nameplate care
Nameplate text is printed on a metal plate fixed to the nameplate base; it is printed, not engraved. Wipe the gold or silver plate with a soft cloth, keep abrasive pads, sharp tools and excess moisture away from it, and do not scrub the printed text.
Most sets include a personalized nameplate, and the Nameplate line on the product page says whether a set has one. The nameplate guide covers character limits, fonts and how to order.
Sets with a clock
Some executive desk sets add a clock: a desk clock on the Star 14, a large desk clock on the Prestige 14, a clock built into the pen cup on the Elegance sets and a clock attached to the nameplate on the Chester sets. Sets with a clock do not include the clock battery, and the product page names it in its not-included line. Dust the clock with a soft cloth like the other pieces and keep excess moisture away from it.
What to avoid
- Abrasive pads on any surface, and scrubbing the printed nameplate.
- Soaking a piece or leaving excess moisture on it.
- Knives and other sharp tools on the desk pad or any other surface.
- Dragging pieces across the desk.
This page names no cleaning product. If you are unsure about a specific set, contact us before trying a new cleaning method.
Materials and care questions
Is faux leather the same as genuine leather?
No. Faux leather is a man-made material with a leather-look surface. Only the 17-piece executive set and the 5-piece set are genuine leather, and their product pages say so.
Is wood veneer real wood?
Veneer is a thin layer of real wood on the surface of a piece; it is not solid wood. The Prestige sets pair wood veneer with faux leather components, and their interior wood is painted.
How do I clean a faux leather desk pad?
Dust it with a soft, dry cloth. For a light mark, wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth and then dry the surface. Do not soak the pad, and keep abrasive pads and sharp tools away from it. Trays, pen cups and other faux leather desk accessories are cleaned the same way.
Can I use a cleaning spray or polish on my set?
The care described on this page uses only a soft cloth, dry or slightly damp, and no cleaning product. If you want to try one on a specific set, contact us first.
Before you order
Each product page states its material under Specifications. If anything about a material or finish is unclear, contact us before ordering. To check materials across several sets, select Compare on up to three sets in all desk sets, then open the comparison page to see them side by side. The Journal's faux leather vs wood veneer comparison covers look, feel and which office each material suits.