How To Tell If Designer Purses Are Authentic
By D. Mahan
More and more imitation designer purses are being sold online. This can make it difficult to determine if the Chanel, Louis Vuitton, or Birkin handbag you're thinking about buying is the real thing or not. No one wants to pay for the quality and reputation of a designer handbag, only to discover that it's a cheap knockoff. Here are a few tips to help you find real designer bags and avoid the fakes.
First, you should learn what to look for when it comes to a designer handbag. Be wary of deals that sound too good to be true, and check the origin of your bag. It's a sad fact that overseas sites, operating out of China, Taiwan, and similar countries, are much more likely to be selling fakes than they are to sell real designer purses. To make sure you don't get cheated, learn the features of the type of purse you're most interested in.
Every major designer will have a series of points that indicate authenticity. If the handbag in question doesn't match up, you'll know it's a knockoff. When possible, try to handle the bag you're considering buying. Being able to touch the merchandise will tell you a lot about the quality of construction, and will give you a chance to look for some of the signature marks of authenticity.
For instance, if you encounter a designer purse being sold, it should be priced appropriately. Learn what these bags sell for - rarely will you see the real thing priced at less than fifty percent of the original value, even if it's an older model. Stitching should be clean and even all over the bag. All leather should be of very high quality - if you've encountered superior leather before, you'll know what it feels like. This quality is hard to duplicate, so be on the lookout for it. Many manufacturers will include special stamping and other marks of authenticity in particular locations.
A Birkin handbag, for instance, will feature a stamped or gilt label on the front face of the bag, with "Hermes Paris, Made in France". The year of manufacturer and a craftsman's mark will be stamped on the underside of the right belt. Make sure that the stated year is consistent with the style of bag and the condition it's in. Beware of designer purses that look too new. They're probably recent fakes stamped with the wrong date.
A real Birkin handbag will also have a leather tag on the interior zipper. This tag will be parallel with the hardware, rather than perpendicular. The exact marks of authenticity will be different if you're buying a Chanel bag, a Coach bag, a Louis Vuitton or a Michael Kors handbag. Learn about each brand and all its features to be sure you're buying the right product.
If you're paying for the quality and style of an authentic designer purse, you'll want to be sure that you're getting a product you can trust. The best way to do this is to approach every sale with a skeptical eye. While there's nothing wrong with bags that aren't authentic, they shouldn't be sold as the real thing. Look for the hallmarks of quality and craftsmanship when you buy a designer bag, and you'll be a lot more likely to get what you're paying for.
By D. Mahan
More and more imitation designer purses are being sold online. This can make it difficult to determine if the Chanel, Louis Vuitton, or Birkin handbag you're thinking about buying is the real thing or not. No one wants to pay for the quality and reputation of a designer handbag, only to discover that it's a cheap knockoff. Here are a few tips to help you find real designer bags and avoid the fakes.
First, you should learn what to look for when it comes to a designer handbag. Be wary of deals that sound too good to be true, and check the origin of your bag. It's a sad fact that overseas sites, operating out of China, Taiwan, and similar countries, are much more likely to be selling fakes than they are to sell real designer purses. To make sure you don't get cheated, learn the features of the type of purse you're most interested in.
Every major designer will have a series of points that indicate authenticity. If the handbag in question doesn't match up, you'll know it's a knockoff. When possible, try to handle the bag you're considering buying. Being able to touch the merchandise will tell you a lot about the quality of construction, and will give you a chance to look for some of the signature marks of authenticity.
For instance, if you encounter a designer purse being sold, it should be priced appropriately. Learn what these bags sell for - rarely will you see the real thing priced at less than fifty percent of the original value, even if it's an older model. Stitching should be clean and even all over the bag. All leather should be of very high quality - if you've encountered superior leather before, you'll know what it feels like. This quality is hard to duplicate, so be on the lookout for it. Many manufacturers will include special stamping and other marks of authenticity in particular locations.
A Birkin handbag, for instance, will feature a stamped or gilt label on the front face of the bag, with "Hermes Paris, Made in France". The year of manufacturer and a craftsman's mark will be stamped on the underside of the right belt. Make sure that the stated year is consistent with the style of bag and the condition it's in. Beware of designer purses that look too new. They're probably recent fakes stamped with the wrong date.
A real Birkin handbag will also have a leather tag on the interior zipper. This tag will be parallel with the hardware, rather than perpendicular. The exact marks of authenticity will be different if you're buying a Chanel bag, a Coach bag, a Louis Vuitton or a Michael Kors handbag. Learn about each brand and all its features to be sure you're buying the right product.
If you're paying for the quality and style of an authentic designer purse, you'll want to be sure that you're getting a product you can trust. The best way to do this is to approach every sale with a skeptical eye. While there's nothing wrong with bags that aren't authentic, they shouldn't be sold as the real thing. Look for the hallmarks of quality and craftsmanship when you buy a designer bag, and you'll be a lot more likely to get what you're paying for.