A genuine Chanel bag's strap exhibits meticulous stitching, with each stitch uniform and no leather piece looking out of place or poorly threaded.
Additional inclusions with Chanel bags like authenticity cards and care booklets can further aid in authentication.
The Art of Spotting Fake Chanel Bags Expert Chanel authenticators examine dozens of tiny details to determine whether a purse is a genuine Chanel bag or a fake. It takes a highly trained eye. But the most important things for you to look for when learning how to tell if a Chanel bag is real are:
The location of the serial number varies depending on the style of handbag and the year, but unless the bag is very vintage you should always find the date code inside.
Caution: Presence of an authenticity card does not guarantee that the Chanel bag is authentic. Cards can be easily counterfeited.
At the top of the logo, the C on the right comes in front of the C on the left. At the bottom, the C on the right passes behind the one on the left. You can tell the bag is fake if the logo is flat or not perfectly centered vertically and horizontally on the leather flap.
To successfully authenticate a Chanel bag, also check the material of the lock stem. Original locks it is made with 24-karat gold-plated hardware, which gives them a much richer gold tone, retaining their appearance even after years of use.
Chanel bag hardware is challenging to replicate, with most replicas lacking the attention to detail that you find in genuine products. Once you know what you’re looking for in the hardware, you can easily separate copyright items.
On the other hand, Lambskin leather is known for its buttery texture and luxurious feel, but it is more delicate and prone to scratches compared to caviar skin.
Take a close look at the font and quality of the lettering in the stamp reading Chanel. Fake Chanel bags and super fakes often have blurred stamps that are not crisp and clear, and the font is taller and thinner than on genuine Chanel.
Eight digit serial number printed on white sticker covered with clear tape with two Chanel logos."X" cut-lines prevent sticker from being removed without damage. "CHANEL" appears on rightright side of the sticker. Dark line appears on left side of sticker. Gold speckles appear throughout sticker.
Eight digit serial number printed on white sticker covered with clear tape with two Chanel logos."X" cut-lines prevent sticker from being removed without damage. "CHANEL" appears on rightright side of the sticker. Dark line appears on left side of sticker. Gold are vintage Chanel bags a good investment speckles appear throughout sticker.
Caution: If Chanel serial number sticker doesn’t contain either CC logo markings, an ‘X’ shape cut into the tape or iridescent speckles, it could very well be fake.
Sotheby’s provides exclusive access to a curated selection of Chanel bags from its long established global network of sellers. As a leading marketplace, Sotheby's offers pristine Chanel bags in the most coveted colors and sizes, as well as Limited Edition Chanel pieces.