How do you make sure the bag you bought is authentic? How can you actually check the authenticity of a vintage bag or a luxury brand bag?
You've probably asked yourself every time before purchasing a very expensive item, especially a second-hand luxury brand bag, how can you check that the bag you bought is indeed authentic? Does the second-hand bag you want to buy meet the standard of a luxury brand or, for example, where can you find an authentic second-hand Louis Vuitton bag and how do I ensure the quality and reliability of the site I want to buy from?
We've collected winning tips for you from Shahar, our leather and bag expert:
1. Weight and Smell:
For bags like Chanel, Hermes - you need to ensure strength - usually the metal chain strap will be heavier and of higher quality. For other brand bags - any chemical smell - is likely fake.
2. It's all in the details:
As with many things in life, the details are the most important thing... If you're buying online, make sure the pictures are high quality and include close-ups of the item. A website/page that doesn't show at least 6-10 pictures of each item wants to hide something. A good and reliable website will show you every stitch, stamp, and sign of use, even if they are very critical, to be transparent about the item you are going to buy.
3. Make sure the price is realistic
Although we all love bargains, if the price seems too cheap, it's probably a fake. Designer bags/wallets/belts indeed cost between 20-70% less than new, but you can't expect to buy a Chanel bag for 2000 NIS. Certainly not vintage models or limited edition models.
4. Make sure the website/page you are ordering from meets consumer protection requirements:
1. By law, you have 14 days to return an item. A company that does not meet this standard does not comply with consumer protection law. You are allowed to change your mind and cancel a transaction. 2. Make sure the website has an authenticity guarantee - for vintage bags and second-hand items in general (especially old items) there are almost no receipts. Therefore, you should buy from a reliable website that guarantees authenticity or a refund. 3. Look at real reviews/testimonials on Instagram/website from customers who have purchased.
5. A small but important tip - Most vintage luxury brands did not produce serial numbers until the 80s-90s. That means if you see a model that the seller/website says is a new model/from the latest collection or even from 4-5 years ago, make sure it has a serial number. Gucci, Louis Vuitton (mandatory for new models), Yves Saint Laurent (mostly, not for everything, mostly for new models and mainly bags), Prada (no serial number, there is a factory number, make sure there is a number), Coach (some have and some don't), Chanel - definitely. And they usually keep a card with the number. (Old Chanel models do not have a serial number). If there is a product from a new collection and it does not have a serial number - the bag is fake!
6. Do not rely on authenticity checks from Google - It is important to do authentication through authorized websites only and not through a Google search, which will usually yield different and varied results.
7. You can check serial numbers of luxury brands by year on Google. For example, Louis Vuitton - if you see a serial number sd1025 - it means the bag was produced in December 2005 in France or... in the US after 1995. It's a bit complicated, but there is very detailed information about all luxury brands on Google.
We hope we've cleared things up a bit for you,
Always here for any questions,
Volver team
