How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (2024)

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (3)

AUTHENTICITY

How to Spot a Fake Chanel Bag

Shopping resale to score your dream Chanel bag at a more affordable price? Do not get fooled by a superfake! We have listed ten giveaways that the pre-loved Chanel bag you are considering is a counterfeit. Click here to complete your purchase with confidence.

September 14, 2020

Superfakes have earned their name. Using the same materials and techniques, they are almost identical to genuine bags and can be nearly impossible for experts to detect.

It might be tempting to buy a superfake Chanel, scoring the look at a fraction of the price, but superfakes are tormenting the fashion industry. Counterfeiting is often linked to other crimes like human trafficking, child labor, and drug smuggling, and it damages the reputation of the brands and diminishes customer trust.

With the continued rise of superfakes, the authentication process not only requires knowledge about a brand’s heritage and craftsmanship, but also all the counterfeit pieces that are flooding the market.

To help you shop secondhand, we have listed ten giveaways that a Chanel bag is fake. If you come across a bag that features even just one of these inaccuracies, we recommend that you keep shopping.

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (4)

Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images

1. The quilted pattern does not align.

Chanel bags are quilted in several patterns, including diamond, chevron, and square. When the pattern is interrupted (for example, by a closed outer flap or an exterior pocket), it should still line up perfectly. If the pattern is not consistent, the bag is not necessarily an imitation Chanel. As leather naturally stretches over time, the pattern can be expected to be slightly off on vintage styles.

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (5)

Fake Chanel Bag

2. There are less than eight stitches per panel.

To ensure the quilting does not bulge and appear puffy, Chanel uses a high number of stitches. Start counting! Each side of a quilted diamond or square is known as a panel. There should be between nine and eleven individual stitches per panel. On an older style, there might be as few as eight; however, only a fake Chanel will have less than this.

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (6)

Yoogi's Closet, Real/authentic Chanel Stitching

3. The chain straps are lightweight.

Following the death of their mother, Coco and her sisters were left at a convent-run orphanage by their father. Inspired by the keychains the nuns carried, Coco used chain for the straps of the 2.55 (the first-ever shoulder bag and Chanel Flap Bag). Now a defining feature of the brand, the chain straps should always be of the highest quality. They should feel heavy and substantial. If they feel light and hollow, the bag is a counterfeit Chanel.

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (7)

Fake Silver Chain & Real Gold Chain

4. The serial number consists of nine or more digits.

Depending on when a bag was produced, its serial number will be six, seven, or eight digits. Chanel has never issued a longer serial number. The series of the serial number, indicated by its first one or two digits, should also match the style of the sticker the serial number is printed on. To prevent counterfeiters from transferring serial number stickers from one bag to another, Chanel frequently changes their appearance. To make sure the serial number is printed on the correct sticker style, reference our table.

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (8)

Fake Authentication Card

5. The ‘CC’ logo lock does not look quite right.

Added by Karl Lagerfeld in 1984, the ‘CC’ logo lock is the most recognizable feature on a Chanel Flap Bag. Take a closer look at it. The right ‘C’ should always overlap the left ‘C’ at the top, and the left ‘C’ should always overlap the right ‘C’ at the bottom. Unless the bag is a special edition, the end of each ‘C’ should be flat. The lock should also be perfectly straight and centered on the closure tab. On a fake Chanel bag, one or more of these details will often be incorrect.

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (9)

Fake Chanel bag

6. The lock’s backplate is secured with Phillips-head screws.

Open the flap and look at the back of its closure tab. The rectangular backplate, which secures the ‘CC’ logo lock to the bag, should be attached with two screws. Chanel used only flathead screws until 2015, when it switched to proprietary, star-shaped screws. Custom to Chanel, the new screws require a non-standard screwdriver that only the house has, making it harder for counterfeiters to copy them. Chanel has never used Phillips-head screws, so they will only be seen on fakes.

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (10)

Real/authentic Backplate

7. The interior lining is creasing and bubbling.

Chanel Flap Bags are lined with high quality leather. The leather should be fitted tight with no creases, bumps, or bubbles. Even over time and with use, the lining in a genuine Chanel will not pull away or loosen from the sides.

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Real/authentic Chanel Bag

8. The color of the brand stamp does not match the hardware.

Inside every Chanel bag, a brand stamp is embossed directly onto the lining or an attached leather patch. The brand stamp should be the same color as the bag’s hardware; a bag with gold hardware should have a gold brand stamp, and a bag with silver hardware should have a silver brand stamp. On a real Chanel, the metallic leafing may rub off, causing the brand stamp to change color or almost completely disappear, but this is common only on vintage styles that show strong signs of use.

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Real/authentic Brand Stamp

9. The brand stamp reads ‘MADE IN PARIS’.

In all capital letters, every brand stamp includes the brand name, a registered trademark, and the country the bag was produced in. Chanel bags are made in both France and Italy, so either can be included in the brand stamp. The brand stamp will only specify a city on an imitation Chanel.

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (13)

10. The bag does not stand upright.

Upon completion, each Chanel Flap Bag is turned out to keep its structured shape. When set down, each slightly rounded corner should rest on the surface and it should sit upright. If it tilts or falls forward, it is a fake Chanel bag.

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Fake Silver Bag & Real Gold Bag

Written by

Anna Villani

Anna Villani is a fashion writer based in Copenhagen

The people pictured are not associated with The Archive

or The Vintage Bar, and do not endorse the products shown.

How to spot a fake Chanel Bag | The Archive (2024)

FAQs

How can you tell a real Chanel bag from a fake? ›

10 Steps to Authenticating a Chanel Bag
  1. Check the Quilting. ...
  2. Count the Stitching/Lining. ...
  3. Check the CC Lock. ...
  4. Check the Back of the Lock. ...
  5. Verify the Branding or Logos. ...
  6. Authenticity Cards. ...
  7. Check the Chain Straps. ...
  8. Observe the Bag's Shape.

Can you look up a Chanel serial number? ›

Chanel doesn't provide any services to check the codes and, as far as we know, there isn't any online Chanel serial number calculator either. However, you can still use the serial number to find out when your item was manufactured.

Do all authentic Chanel bags have serial numbers? ›

Each Chanel-manufactured handbag came with its own unique serial number, which came embossed on each authenticity card issued with the product when purchased, and printed on a sticker attached somewhere on the handbag's inner lining.

How do you scan a Chanel bag? ›

For bags, the metal plate is attached to the handbag's interior, whereas for Wallet on Chains, the metal plate can be found inside the zip pocket. The metal plate hardware matches the rest of the bag's hardware and features the classic CC logo engraved with an 8-digit serial code underneath.

Do all Chanel bags have a Made in stamp? ›

Every Chanel bag has the brand stamped onto the lining. Sometimes the brand name Chanel is stamped on an attached pouch of the same leather. The color of the brand stamp should perfectly match the color of your bag's hardware.

Can two Chanel bags have the same serial number? ›

Serial numbers should not be repeated, so the same number should never be repeated for multiple bags. If you find 2 bags with the same serial number, chances are both bags will be fake. The serial sticker is only one of many checkpoints for authenticating a Chanel bag.

How many digits is a Chanel serial number? ›

Features: 8-digit serial numbers beginning with 18. Serial number is printed on a white sticker that is covered with transparent tape, with two Chanel logos above the serial number.

Do fake designer bags have serial numbers? ›

Check to see if your bag has an inside tag with a brand name and a serial number on it (because almost all authentic purses will). The inside tags should be hand-stitched or stamped into the leather. In some cases, designers also include authenticity labels on the outside of the bag.

Can a Chanel bag not have serial number? ›

In fact, Chanel handbags didn't always have serial numbers or authentication cards, because of the increase of counterfeit handbags and accessories, Chanel implemented serial numbers in 1984.

What does Chanel 22a mean? ›

For those who are wondering what the first 2 numbers and letter means in your Chanel bag tags, read on! The first two numbers identifies the year the bag was made. While the letter stands for the Collection that the bag came from. There are four different collection for every Chanel bag. A is the Autumn Collection.

Can I scan my Chanel microchip? ›

The microchip data can only be scanned with proprietary machines by Chanel sales associates and managers at the boutiques.

Do all Chanel bags have microchip? ›

As authentication practices advance and outsmart the counterfeiters, Chanel has upped their game by replacing all stickers and authenticity cards with metal plates, or microchips. Effective since 2021, these plates are now the new designer ID.

What is the microchip number on Chanel? ›

These metal chips can be found on the inside of the bag. The Metal chips are a small rectangle (about 1.2 inches wide) in the form of a metal plaque with the classic CC logo and an 8-digit alphanumeric serial code on it.

Do Chanel bags have YKK zippers? ›

Chanel uses different kinds of zippers depending on the bag, but the most notable types are Lampo, the DMC, the YKK, the eclair zipper, the triple 'C' in a circle and an unmarked zipper for very vintage Chanel bags.

When did Chanel stop using 24k gold? ›

In late 2008, Chanel pivoted from 24k gold hardware to gold-toned hardware, subtly differentiating vintage and modern pieces.

What does the double C mean in Chanel? ›

According to the French marque, Chanel designed the interlocking Cs in 1925 as a homage to a monastery in Aubazine, France, where she spent most of her childhood.

What does 22P mean Chanel? ›

The “P” in 22P collection comes from the French Printemps which just means Spring. So Chanel's P collections are spring collections, Act I normally hits the boutiques in January or February.

How many Chanel bags can you buy at once? ›

Individual daigou tend to quickly adapt to brand policies like these,” he says. Customers are limited to a single purchase of each Chanel bag style, including the Classic Flap (pictured) per year..

Do vintage Chanel bags have tags? ›

The company started dating its handbags only in 1984, with a sticker inside a purse. It is, however, possible that a handbag is missing its number as either the sticker has been peeled off and lost, or the item was made before 1984. From 1984 to 1986 the sticker must feature 6 digits.

Can you sell fake bags if you say they are fake? ›

In the U.S., it's illegal for a person to sell counterfeit merchandise. Both state and federal laws prohibit this type of conduct.

Is there an app to identify handbags? ›

Introducing the Shazam of Handbags

Within fashion specifically, you can stream international fashion shows from the comfort of your own home, have items delivered day-of-order, and access information about all your favorite brands at any time via the internet or social media.

How do I authenticate my handbag? ›

Tried And Tested Methods For Designer Handbag Authentication
  1. 1) Pay Attention to Details. ...
  2. 2) Check The Zippers, Buttons, And Clasps. ...
  3. 3) Look at the Material Closely. ...
  4. 4) Gucci Bag Fake Vs Real — The Prime Identifier. ...
  5. 5) Don't Forget the Brand Names. ...
  6. 6) Watch Out From A Huge Difference In Price. ...
  7. 7) Consider the Shape of the bag.
Dec 11, 2020

What are Chanel serial codes? ›

Chanel Authentication Guide & Serial Codes - Yoogi's Closet
Serial NumberYear Manufactured
23XXXXXX2016-2017
22XXXXXX2016-2017
21XXXXXX2015 to 2016
20XXXXXX2014 to 2015
22 more rows

What does the 5 mean in Chanel? ›

2. The number "five" has significance. It's been said that Chanel picked the fifth sample Beaux presented her with, leading the fragrance to be called N°5. Its numerical name and minimalist bottle made it identifiable—and relatable—to women across the globe. Getty.

What is Chanel 21B? ›

21B Light Grey - this grey has a warmer undertone and is a tinge darker, than 21A dove grey. 21B Burgundy - a rich Fall color that has a browner undertone than 21A Burgundy. Relatively popular online, everyone that wants a bag in this color wants it with Champagne Gold (Light Gold) Hardware.

What does the CC in Chanel logo mean? ›

The double CC is commonly known to stand for 'Coco Chanel. ' Chanel was born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, but her friends and associates called her by the nickname Coco.

Can iphones scan microchips? ›

Unfortunately, no. A smart phone can not and will not ever be able to read a pet's microchip. There are no apps for iphone or android that do this and there never will be. There will never be an iphone, android- google, samsung or otherwise that will ever have that capability.

Where is the serial number on Chanel bag? ›

Serial number is printed on a white sticker that is covered with transparent tape, with two Chanel logos above the serial number. The transparent tape has "CHANEL" printed vertically on the right side and a dark vertical line running down the left side. 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs, which means feet.

Can phones scan microchip? ›

This simple to use Smart Phone Pet Scan App allows Vets and livestock producers to scan microchips to recover database information, record GPS coordinates and add additional information to animal ID records and devices.

Does Chanel bag use real gold? ›

Widely revered for the expert craftsmanship of the bags and use of real gold-plated hardware, vintage Chanel bags (pre-2008) are made with an alloy containing 24-karat gold coated on the metal. However, Chanel discontinued making bags with real 24k gold hardware since its Cruise 08/09 collection.

Do Chanel bags have zippers? ›

The EP zipper is also popular, as well as the YKK zipper. Here, the Lampo zipper is usually used for the Chanel Timeless, and EP zippers also usually have a leather pull tag. YKK zipper is often found on vintage Chanel bags. The YKK zipper can also be equipped with a pull tag made of leather.

Are Chanel bags traceable? ›

Chanel started using date codes in 1984. Since then, every bag comes with a sticker containing a serial number as well as a corresponding authenticity card. Date code stickers can usually be found on the inside lining and will vary depending on the year the bag was made.

How do I trace a microchip number? ›

Don't have their microchip number handy? Call your vet's office, they may well have it in their records OR bring your pet into your vet's office, animal shelter, or animal control to have them scanned (there shouldn't be any charge for this).

How many digits are in a microchip number? ›

The microchip itself doesn't hold any of your personal details; these are kept separately on the microchip registration database. Each microchip has a unique 15-digit code that must be registered with a pet reunification database The details that are kept on a microchipping database include: Your dog's unique ID number.

How do you identify a microchip? ›

Each microchip contains a registration number and the phone number of the registry for the particular brand of chip. A handheld scanner reads the radio frequency of the chip and displays this information. An animal shelter or vet clinic that finds your pet can contact the registry to get your name and phone number.

What is the difference between Chanel made in France and Italy? ›

If on one of the C on the lock you see a stamp on hardware, it means that the bag was made in France. If there is no marking, then it was made in Italy. The stamping must also be impeccable and pristine with sharp lines, bold fonts and evenly spaced.

Do all Chanel necklaces have a stamp? ›

With the exception of only a rare few, almost every piece of Chanel jewelry has been signed by its creator. This signature, which is also referred to as an authenticity stamp, is always placed somewhere discreet, so it will not be visible when the piece is worn.

Do all Louis Vuitton bags have the Made in stamp? ›

What Is A Louis Vuitton Date Code? First things first: all modern Louis Vuitton items have date codes. LV bags do not have serial numbers, instead, Louis Vuitton handbags have "date codes" stamped on interior tags or directly on interior linings or in a hidden location on the exterior of the bag.

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