The belt is made of thick leather with a shiny part at the top. Haven't had any issues with this belt yet, but has only worn it a couple of times so far. The belt buckle works well and the finish on the buckle is subtle, almost pewter, so it's not very noticeable. Overall this is a good belt, looks good and comes well gift wrapped, but it's too early to tell how well the shiny finish on the top will hold up.