Is my handbag authentic or fake? How do I tell the difference? A guide.

The quality of the fakes ranges from crude to professional.
We will try to help you recognize the difference with some tips.

1. Compare handbag pictures

You rarely see this tip in online reviews, but take a look at the bag, for example, on the manufacturer's website, and compare it with yours. You can usually spot inferior fakes by looking at the differences.

2. Seams of the handbag

High-quality designer handbags, whether Prada, Dior, or Louis Vuitton, in particular, feature sunken and straight seams. They are all the same color and evenly spaced.

ATTENTION : Always look inside the bag, fakes are often made worse than the original.

Here is an example image of seams on a real bag.

Valentino real:

Here are two example pictures of seams of high-quality fakes that are difficult for laypeople to distinguish from an original:

Gucci Fake (limited edition):

Bottega Veneta Fake:

You can see that with good fakes the distinction is not clear due to the seams.

What can fake seams on bags look like?

• Seams are not straight
• There are color variations
• protruding threads
• Knots or poorly sewn labels

3. The material

Many high-quality handbags are made of leather from cow, lamb, deer, or other animals. However, canvas bags from manufacturers like Gucci and Louis Vuitton are also very common in the lower price segment.

Distinguishing artificial leather from real leather

Feeling and haptics

Real leather is cooler and feels softer, while faux leather is smoother and stiffer.

The smell

Artificial leather usually smells neutral or plasticky. Leather has a distinctive odor.

The structure

Artificial leather has a uniformly textured surface. Leather may have wrinkles and a certain degree of irregularity in its structure.

The weight

Real leather weighs more than faux leather.

Better counterfeits are also made of leather, sometimes of inferior quality. However, since the profit margins of luxury manufacturers are relatively high, it's also worthwhile for counterfeiters to resort to higher-quality materials.

4. Buckles and metal elements

Luxury handbag designers place great importance on well-made zippers, as well as a smooth opening and closing of the bag. Check the metal elements for their workmanship. Differences in quality are often noticeable here. Would you like sample photos? Feel free to leave us a comment.

5. The brand logo

Is the paint and coating applied evenly? Also look at the logo on the inside. It should be like the original and not cut out or have poor stitching.

6. Brand characteristics

In the past, counterfeits often made mistakes, such as spaces in the serial number. This is no longer the case with newer and better fakes.

Example for Louis Vuitton: The serial number consists of four numbers and two letters. The letters indicate where the bag was manufactured, and the numbers indicate when. It's difficult for a layperson to know all of the specific characteristics.

Conclusion: Is the handbag real or a fake?

For 100 percent security, you must purchase your handbag from an official retailer or reputable shops. You often can't expect bargains there. Louis Vuitton, for example, doesn't offer discounts on its products. Another option is our service. We check your bag for authenticity. You can learn more about this here .