Top Tips for Spotting a Fake Designer Handbag

Copyright (c) 2008 John Nolan

Designer handbags do not come cheap. Whether you buy a Fendi, a Prada or a Gucci design you will usually make all of your friends jealous, especially when you tell them the great deal that you got on the price of the bag. But are they really authentic bags, or are they just fake? Even fake bags can really look authentic, so it is important to learn how to spot the sigs that your bag might not be worth the money you paid for it.

Appearance: Firstly you will need to take a careful look at the way the bag appears. Do all of its materials really look like they are made at the highest quality? For example, if the bag is made out of leather then you should be able to find the leather logo engraved onto the inside of the leather somewhere on the bag. You should also check that the stitching contains no loose threads, and that these threads are also of a high quality: completely even and matching the bag perfectly.

Bag Lining: The lining of the bag should be made out of quality fabrics such as silk, where the designer name will also be printed on the inside of this liner. Accents to the bag will never be made from cheap plastic if it is a real designer brand, and there will always be leather underneath the top layer proving its genuine quality.

Hardware: The hardware of the bag is also an important indication as to whether the bag is genuine. These pieces should all be quality and weighty, and should definitely not include any scratches. Check that the color does not vary across the surface and that the brand name is properly engraved/ embossed into the surface. The brand name is nearly always also engraved into the hardware that attaches to the strap, and in many cases designers will use plastic faces to protect the hardware before the bag is purchased.

Certificate of Authenticity: One of the best ways to check the authenticity of a handbag is when it comes with a certificate of authenticity, containing the logo of the manufacturer as well as other information about the bag. There will often be serial numbers on the bag, though not all designers use these.

Think Carefully!

The most important factor in determining the quality of the bag is when a deal sounds far too good to be true. Most of these bags can never be purchased at such a cheap price, so you need to stop and think whether that seller on eBay is really offering you genuine quality. There is no way that they can undercut designer boutiques that much, so the chances are that this bad is a fake.

Of course, when faced with a great deal on a designer handbag, you will probably try to convince yourself that the deal is genuine and that the seller got a good deal, but this is extremely unlikely to be the case. Be extremely wary when being sold cheap designer handbags.

Sometimes you might not mind if it is a fake designer handbag and purchase it anyway, but always remember that these kind of bags are actually illegal. Think long and hard about how much you really want an illegal fake designer handbag. If you really are looking for a designer handbag then don't just throw your money away - but it from a licensed reseller who you know you can trust. Being careful in this way will ensure you purchase a bag that will really last for years to come.