For consumers who are looking to buy a genuine Chanel bag from a reseller, my advice is be really careful with bags made after 2010, so 14 series above. Welcome to the era of super replicas.
Read MoreInside The Chanel vs The RealReal Case
Authentication's Red Queen Hypothesis
Authentication and counterfeiting are an arms race. Authenticators aim to diminish counterfeits but their biggest fear is their distinction; counterfeiters rely on authenticators to point out their mistakes, evolve and step up their own games.
It’s fascinating to see how counterfeiters are improving their technique and craftsmanship along side of authentication guides written by authenticators. Here below, I put excerpts of popular authentication articles side by side with corresponding detailed photos of fake and real bags and you can see for yourself that things are getting wild!
Read MoreChanel Uniform Bags? Steal or Stale?
If you are like me who is unapologizingly addicted to the Chanel hunting game, you probably noticed the recent surge of Chanel Uniform bags across resale sites in Europe and North America. Some of the uniform bags, especially the waist bags selling somewhere between $1,500 and $2,500 are actually quite sought after, with irresistible features such as the timeless quilted flap construction, Caviar leather and Mademoiselle lock closure. So is it a piece worth investing? I took a closer look and my answer is no. No. NO!
Read MoreTake A Rare Peek Inside Chanel Super Replicas
Before blockchain or similar technologies go mainstream in anti-counterfeiting, the secondary market is facing unprecedented challenges from the latest wave of super replicas. Authentication by eye is at the verge of becoming obsolete.
Once upon a time, you can teach yourself to become an authenticator by just Googling. No matter how great a replica was made, the interior hologram sticker is usually the screaming tell-tale. If you have seen real ones, you can sleuth the fake out immediately.
Read MoreThis is why I don't buy Chanel post 2012
I always have a love and hate relationship with Chanel - I'm obsessed with vintage Chanel, especially rare novelty items from micro sized coin purse, umbrella with quilted handle, to logo suspenders and chain-link headbands, but I could not conceal my disappointment whenever I step into a Chanel boutique these days. It breaks my heart just to look at its latest merchandise - including the much hyped Gabrielle bags...
I still shop Chanel, but only vintage pieces between 1980s and 1990s when the hand-making techniques peaked and plateaued. Integrated tanning, gold plated hardware, hand stitching, these are what make a Chanel bag truly special.
Read MoreVIP Gift? There Are No Free Chanel Bags
I made a wonderful mistake on a real and fake Chanel bag! This is a case study on a most recent authentication decision I've made on a Chanel bag. The decision was partially wrong after my further research and investigation but also a wonderful example of how intriguing, complex the work of authentication can get.
Read MoreThe CC Interlock, Behind and Beyond
Some vintage Chanel bags, especially the ones made from early 1980s to late 1990s tend to have these “irregularities", say, the "CC" s are not in a perfect circle, the spacing of the "C" opening tends to be bigger. And these irregularities are consistent - from the CC turnlock, to CC interlock stitching, to zipper pull. When they all look a bit weird, they are real!
Read MoreNot A Big Fan of Recent Re-dying Trends
More and more Japanese resellers are dying vintage CHANEL bags into a rainbow of colors in the hope to cater to a pickier taste....Some improperly re-dyed CHANEL bags can change their entire texture, instead of the buttery soft touch, the leather might turn flaking and overtime, it will acquire a shiny distressed look that almost resembles Balenciaga's infamous Arena leather.
Read MoreChanel, Embrace The Imperfections
Chanel silver logo stamp on a 1990s bag
Authenticating Chanel is a true mixture of art and science and one of the most fun parts of authentication in my opinion. It's easy and it's hard. It's easy if you have seen more than 500 Chanel handbags ranging from 1980s all the way to 2010s. It's hard if you miss certain chapters or just haven't seen enough variations.
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