The 1460 is the 8-eyelet Dr. Martens boot launched on April 1, 1960: its name comes from the date. Yellow stitching, an AirWair heel loop, and an air-cushioned sole stitched to the upper with Goodyear welt construction. In our boutique, we carry 133 pairs, for women and men, and what distinguishes one version from another is the leather.
The versions, leather by leather
| Version | Leather | Sizing |
|---|---|---|
| 1460 Smooth | Smooth, the classic: compact, with a glossy finish. Black | women's and men's |
| 1460 Pascal Virginia | Virginia: fine grain, soft from day one. Black | women's |
| 1460 Pascal Mono | Virginia, in the monochromatic version | women's |
| 1460 Ambassador | Ambassador: tumbled, lightly oiled, softens with wear | men's |
| 1460 Pascal Ambassador | Tumbled Ambassador in Dark Brown, without the padded collar | men's |
Leather and construction details from the Dr. Martens product specifications. Available sizes are listed on each product page and updated daily.
Smooth or Pascal: what's the difference
The shape is the same: eight eyelets, the same sole, the same stitching. The leather changes. Smooth leather is compact and initially stiff: it needs a few weeks of breaking in, then moulds to the foot. The Pascal styles we carry use softer leather - Virginia for women and tumbled Ambassador for men - and are comfortable almost immediately. The Pascal Ambassador also has no padded collar: the ankle line is cleaner.
Which one to choose
If it's your first pair and you want the original, choose the black Smooth: it's the one recognisable from a distance, and we carry it in both women's and men's sizes on the same product page. If breaking in concerns you, choose the Pascal Virginia or the Pascal Mono in the monochromatic version. For men, there's the Ambassador, in black or Dark Brown: the oiled leather softens and improves over time.
Which size to choose
Dr. Martens are available only in whole UK sizes and fit true to size. If you wear a half size, go down to the nearest whole size: the leather gives a little as it breaks in. This applies to every 1460 version: the break-in period changes, not the size. The UK, EU and US size chart is in the Dr. Martens size guide.
The rest of the selection
The same boot on a platform sole, such as the Jadon and Sinclair, can be found among the Dr. Martens platform styles. The other models are available among women's Dr. Martens and men's Dr. Martens.
Frequently asked questions
Why are they called 1460?
Because of the date when the first pair was launched: April 1, 1960, or 1-4-60.
What's the difference between the 1460 and the 1460 Pascal?
The leather. The classic 1460 uses compact, glossy Smooth leather and needs a few weeks of breaking in. The Pascal versions we carry use softer leather, Virginia or tumbled Ambassador, and are comfortable almost immediately.
How do Dr. Martens 1460 boots fit?
Dr. Martens are available only in whole UK sizes and fit true to size. If you wear a half size, go down to the nearest whole size: the leather gives a little as it breaks in. Smooth leather needs a few weeks of breaking in, while the soft-leather versions need very little.
Are the 1460 boots for men or women?
Both. The black Smooth is the same boot in women's and men's sizes, on the same product page; we carry the Pascal Virginia and Mono in women's sizes, and the Ambassador in men's sizes.