To authenticate a Fendi serial number, one should look at a bag's certificate of authenticity. If the number on the bag and the one on the certificate match, that is a sign of authenticity. How to Identify an Authentic Fendi Handbag. Fendi is a maker of luxury goods that has made strides in recent years to authenticate its goods. As knock-offs get more and more convincing, it is harder to tell that a handbag is authentic, even if it is purchased in a trendy boutique.

• Authentic Fendi Belt With Square Ending
• Fake Fendi Belt
• Old Authentic Fendi Belt

Gucci handbags here.

Gucci handbags there.

Gucci purses everywhere.

When Guccio Gucci first opened his Italian luggage boutique in 1921, I'm sure millions of fake Gucci handbags scattered across the globe was not included in his business plan.

While replica handbag sellers make these substandard bags available on the web and in back-alley boutiques, you'll need a real Gucci authenticity check strategy to tell a real Gucci purse from a fake.

Contents

• Gucci Authenticity Check! Standard Items to Review when Buying an Authentic Gucci Handbag, Purse, Backpack or Wallet

Gucci Authenticity Check! Standard Items to Review when Buying an Authentic Gucci Handbag, Purse, Backpack or Wallet

Step 1 – View the bag for fake Gucci details.

For Gucci purses sold on Ebay or via other online retailers, look for closeup pictures of the GG logo.

Look for a leather tab with the style/ serial number imprinted on the back of the tab and the words “Gucci Made in Italy” located inside the bag.

Step 2 – Examine the sales receipt.

If there are no closeup pictures, ask the seller for the original receipt. Although receipts can be fabricated, the sales associates number and the date of purchase cannot.

If it is a second-hand Gucci bag, call the store where the original purse was sold to verify the purchase.

Step 3 – Look for inferior quality zippers, hardware, and clasps.

Gucci bags use thick and sturdy brass hardware in the construction of their purses. Inspect the back of the YKK zipper.

Examine the fake bag for the use of cheap plastic zippers instead of sturdy metal YKK zippers. If the handbag’s clasps are hard to fasten, the bag is fake.

(For more Gucci zipper intel, check the bottom of the post for more pictures of the top and inside of a Gucci Boston Bag.)

Step 4 – Check the handbag's materials.

Every Gucci bag or Gucci Backpack is constructed from the finest materials–leathers, suedes, patent leather, and canvas.

The stitching on the outside seams of the bag should be uniform, and the bag should feel soft and supple to the touch.

Step 5 – View the handbag's lining.

The inside lining of a bag is a good indicator of overall quality. If you see a purse lined in plastic-looking or wrinkly fabric that bunches at the seams, it is not a Gucci product.

Step 6 – Ask for a Gucci dust bag.

Real Gucci products are sold with two types of dust bags.

The dust bag will have the double G logo or have the name “Gucci” written in gold lettering across the front of the bag.

If the bag is wrapped in plastic, it is not authentic.

Step 7 – Look for the “controllato” card.

Gucci has a control system that ensures that all bag purchased by Gucci customers are authentic. Each handbag is sold with a controllato card ( which is the Italian word for checked.)

Each card has the words “Gucci” centered on the card in all capital letters. Underneath the card, the words “controllato” are displayed in lowercase letters.

Step 8 – Check the seams for faulty stitching.

An authentic Gucci purse will feature even seams along the sides and bottom of the bag. A real Gucci will not pucker at the seams or have threads dangling off the bag.

Step 9- Look for a Gucci bag serial number.

Do all Gucci bags have serial numbers? Yes, they do!

Based on the age of the bag, Gucci uses 10-12 numbers in the two rows — with no more than six numbers in each row. It is also common to have the same supplier/vendor code for more than one bag.

Here's how to determine what the numbers on the back of the leather tag mean:

• The first six numbers in the top row indicate the style number. In the picture above, my Gucci Black Perforated Leather Reins Hobo Bag has a style number of 114869.
• The second row of numbers is the supplier code. The bottom six digits represent the particular factory where the leather goods were manufactured.

Tell-Tale Signs of a Fake Gucci Handbag, Purse or Wallet

• Stitching is crooked and uneven–on the inner seams and the handbag's edges.
• Gucci does not wrap their handbags in plastic.
• No dust bag with the double “GG” logo or with the name “Gucci” written in gold across the front of the bag? The bag is a fake.

Gucci uses the finest materials– leather, suede, patent leather and nylon, to construct their quality handbags. Now, if you own a real Gucci handbag, you know the intense pleasure you get from smelling the Italian leather and rubbing your manicured fingers across all the opulence located inside and outside of this bag.

For those purse lovers who'd rather buy their bags outside of a Gucci boutique or authorized resellers like Neiman Marcus and Saks, use these clues to tell real Gucci handbags from fakes.

By Bebefuzz

Since Hermès is the most expensive handbag designer, it's not surprising that there are many fake Hermes bags out there. Weed out replicas with this authentication guide that covers hardware and stamping features. These tips can be applied to many bags including Birkins, Kellys, Herbags and more.

Main Hermes Paris Stamp

Before we say anything, let's get your first impression. Of the stamps above, which one belongs to an authentic Hermes Birkin bag?

If you're familiar with Hermes, then you probably said the first left-most stamp is authentic. This is correct.

Hermes Paris stamps are usually very clean and neat. We picked one of the messiest Hermes Paris stamps we've ever seen to use in this example. Hermes has also used a multitude of different fonts over the years, so recognizing incorrect font requires a lot of expert knowledge based on the year of manufacture and bag style. So, don't feel bad if you got this wrong.

So, what's so wrong about the stamping on the black and red bag?

The stamping on the black bag suggests that it was pressed in. For silver or gold font, you will never see stamping so deeply depressed.

On the red bag, the silver ink is very spotty, and the Hermes Paris stamp is placed too far away from the stitching at the top.

Easy Facts and Tips on Hermes Paris Stamping Authentication

- Experts will look at the font of the stamping, but this is difficult to do for most as it has changed very frequently.
- Stamping is usually very clean and perfect.
- Bags made with exotic crocodile, alligator and lizard leathers will also have an additional marking, like **, □, ^, -, or =.
- Hermes has lots of symbols. Some bags made for people associated with Hermes have a shooting star symbol, and some special order Hermes bags have a horseshoe stamp next to the Hermes Paris stamp.
- Know where the Hermes Paris stamp should be located on the bag. For instance, for Hermes Birkin and Kelly bags, the Hermes Paris stamp is usually located very close to the top edge of the bag. Many counterfeits place the stamp too low.
- The stamp will be silver, gold or an imprint. If it is a metallic color, it will match the hardware color for that bag.

Blind Stamp

The blind stamp shows the year of manufacture and the craftsman. So, which is the fake blind stamp?

If you say the light blue bag is the counterfeit, you are right!

Again, Hermes authentication is tricky. Authentic stamping can be sometimes crooked, placed in different spots, and font and font size has not been consistent through the years.

Given our expert knowledge, we know the Q in the square (symbolizing 2013 for the year of manufacture) should be smaller on the blue bag.

- Contrary to popular belief, not all authentic Hermes bags have blind stamps.

Zipper

Hermes has distinct zippers. Which of these is the replica zipper?

Sorry. Trick question. Both zippers are authentic Hermes zippers.

Easy Facts and Tips on Hermes Zippers

Authentic Fendi Belt With Square Ending

- There are several variations of zippers that Hermes has used. They vary based on the bag style and year of manufacture. A vintage bag's zipper will be very different from a more current handbag's zipper.
- The zipper pull is horizontal to the teeth; it should not hang down.
- If 'Hermes' is imprinted on the zipper pull, the bottom of the word will be towards the leather attachment.

Lock

Many Hermes bags don't come with locks, but for those that do, it's an easy inspection point that a lot of fakes don't pass. So, is the silver or gold lock the fake?

This one was easy, right? The lock on the right is a horrible copy! Can you believe that people try to sell stuff like that as authentic designer goods?!?

Fake Fendi Belt

Easy Facts and Tips on Hermes Locks

- There are several variations of lock imprints that Hermes has used.
- Font will always be clean and crisp.
- Lock number will match the number on the accompanying keys.
- If a bag made of exotic leather like ostrich and croc has a lock, the lock body will be covered in the same exotic leather, hiding any lock markings.
- Counterfeitors use lots of different lock and key numbers, but 121, 212, and 102 are used very frequently on fakes.

Hardware Plate

This hardware part can be found on Birkins and Kellys, 2 of the most popular Hermes bags. Which one is the fake?

The fake hardware is the silver one. The font is ever so off from anything that Hermes ever produced. And, you can also tell in the background that they really messed up on the leather finish. What leather is that supposed to be, togo, epsom? All people really familiar with Hermes will agree that the leather grain looks disastrous!

Easy Facts and Tips on Hermes Hardware Imprints

- There are several variations of fonts that Hermes has used based on year of manufacture and bag style.
- Font will always be clean and crisp. Fonts on more recent bags are very thin.
- Hermes metal is incredibly resistant to color fade or change.
- Non-gold hardware will not have a gold-plating stamp.

To make this authentication guide useful to most, we focused on easy key features that counterfeits often goof up on. Proper and thorough authentication requires inspection specific to the bag style, year and make, and many additional features are also reviewed.

Don't worry though. We've got you covered. All listings on Lollipuff go through a very careful authentication screening process, so you not only get great prices but also no hassle with fakes! Shop authentic designer handbags at discounted prices here.

Authentication is incredibly important. Here are just a few of the many articles that we've written on authenticity: Chanel serial stickers, Chanel jewelry stamping, Louis Vuitton bag authentication.

Hope you found this guide to be helpful. :)

Old Authentic Fendi Belt