Fakes fail at the same points every time: stamping, engraving, serial details, stitching and hardware weight. These are the seven checks our authentication team runs on every intake, ordered so the fastest, highest-yield checks come first. Superfakes can pass the early ones, which is why the final two checks matter most.
What do fakes get wrong first?
Stamping and engraving. Heat-stamped logos, hardware engravings and interior labels are where counterfeit production cuts corners first, because they require tooling precision that cheap production cannot hold. When we open a bag, the stamp depth and edge cleanliness get checked before anything else. A soft, uneven or shallow stamp is the earliest warning sign.
Check 1 to 4: materials, hardware, stitching, lining
- Materials: if a bag claims leather, it should feel and smell like leather; faux leather has a plasticky hand and a chemical smell. Online, ask for specific close-up photos of the material grain;
- Hardware: it should feel solid. Hollow-feeling clasps, rattling chains or plating that flakes at the corners are counterfeit tells;
- Stitching: genuine bags are stitched evenly and straight. Slanted, uneven or wandering stitch lines are a hard fail;
- Lining: counterfeits often use cheap lining, and the colour can be a shade off because makers work from photos that distort tone.
Check 5 and 6: logos and serial numbers across eras
Every brand has specific tells, and the identifier systems differ by era: Louis Vuitton stamped date codes until 2021, then moved to a scannable chip (full details in our date code guide); Gucci puts a 10 to 13 digit serial in two rows, the style code above the supplier code, and no official lookup exists (see the Gucci serial guide); Chanel used authenticity cards and holograms until the metal chip plaque arrived in 2021 (see the microchip guide). Compare letters, spacing and depth against a piece you know is real. And remember the rule: codes are a signal, never a verdict, because counterfeits copy common codes.
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Check 7: the guarantee behind the seller
This is the check that actually protects your money. A reputable reseller authenticates before listing and stands behind the sale in writing. At Luxe Du Jour every item passes our in-house authentication protocol before it goes live, and every sale carries a 100 percent authenticity guarantee: if a bag is ever proven a replica by a reputable professional authenticator, you get your money back. If a seller cannot put that promise in writing, walk away.
What is a superfake?
A superfake is a high-end counterfeit built to pass quick checks: correct materials weight, copied serials, close logo work. Superfakes are why this list ends with serial-era detail work and a guarantee rather than confidence in any single tell. The most reliable superfake tells are visible only at macro level: print registration across a multicolour pattern, engraving depth, and the typography of interior stamps. For any four-figure purchase, in-hand inspection or a specialist service is the only safe final word.
What can photos not prove?
Smell, leather hand, hardware weight, stitch tension, and print registration in person. Buying from photos is fine when the seller is accountable and the return path is real, which is exactly what a money-back guarantee provides. Ask for specific macro shots before purchase, and read the guarantee terms, not just the marketing line.
Frequently asked questions
How do I spot a fake designer bag?
Run the seven checks in order: stamping and engraving, materials, hardware, stitching, lining, era-correct serial details, and the seller's written guarantee.
What is a superfake?
A counterfeit engineered to pass casual checks, including copied serial numbers. Only macro-level inspection and authentication services reliably catch them.
Can photos authenticate a bag?
No. Photos filter out smell, weight and texture, which is why guarantees and return windows matter as much as the images.
Should a reseller offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes. A written authenticity guarantee with a money-back clause validated by a professional authenticator is the baseline for buying pre-owned safely.
Go deeper on the specific brands with our LV date code, Gucci serial and Chanel microchip guides, or browse the latest authenticated arrivals.
