Coco Chanel was a designer who loved dressing women in quality garments. She knew her fabrics and she knew her techniques.
Generations later, the Chanel namesake passed her entire legacy and her design ethic down to Karl Lagerfeld, who eventually refreshed the Chanel brand with the iconic quilted bags we’ve all come to associate with the brand.
Left: Singer Katy Perry attends Fashion Week with a quilted clutch. Right: Model Chrissy Teigen braves the airport crowd with the Chanel shopping bag.
Lagerfeld is a perfectionist by nature, and it shows in the quality of the Chanel bags produced today.
Even though many other brands have adopted the Chanel leather quilting technique, none have perfected it. Even triple-A knockoffs can’t quite keep up.
Chanel Pre-Owned 1991-1994 Chanel Quilted Fringe Chain Shoulder Bag, $4,504 at Farfetch
Fabricated from diamond quilted caviar leather in a lovely red with enriched gold-toned hardware, this camera bag is a Chanel classic with its hanging charming tassel
Unfortunately, it can be pretty easy for an unsuspecting buyer to fall prey to counterfeit Chanel vendors.
Therefore, we put together a list of things to keep in mind when purchasing secondhand Chanel, to help you differentiate a real Chanel piece from a fake.
1. Do a sniff test
If you’re a leather goods enthusiast, we’re sure you’re already able to tell real leather from the synthetic version.
There are a number of ways to tell the two apart but the most telling is the smell. Synthetic leather tends to smell like chemicals, while genuine leather has a musty and natural smell.
Hilary Duff shows off her black Chanel Fall 2019 flap bag in Los Angeles on September 19, 2020
Also, take a look at both the give and color of the product. Natural leather is malleable and will soften over time, whereas synthetic leather retains its original shape for a long time.
The color variety is more limited for natural leather, too, since the dyeing process isn’t as flexible as it is for man-made materials.
2. Know the specific typeface used for the hologram sticker
Sloppy counterfeiters use a condensed typeface for the serial number — likely because their mold for leather markings is more limited.
The serial numbers in counterfeit stickers bleed out and are poorly aligned, whereas authentic ones are very crisp and precise.
Left: Singer Gwen Stefani goes full-on mom mode with a puffy nylon tote. Right: Myleene Klass sticks to the classic quilted handbag.
3. Study the “made in” text if there is one
Chanel does everything with precision, including the label’s “made in” text-markings. Authentic Chanel products have proper spacing between letters. The text doesn’t bleed out, and all corners are clearly stamped.
The text will have ample spacing at the bottom, while replicated products usually have text placed too close to the stitching.
4. Study the typeface and colors on the authenticity card
To the untrained eye, fake authenticity cards look pretty similar to authentic ones.
For this reason, it’s important to know the kind of typeface Chanel uses on its products, as well as the spacing between letters. The dead giveaway here? It should look similar to the serial number.
Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel popularized sporty, casual chic as the feminine standard of style
Another giveaway is the color of the print. Replicated prints will come out too yellow, or have a rainbow sheen while authentic ones look more muted and elegant.
5. Check the grommets
Chanel has a very specific way of setting its grommets during production. The brand uses a kick press machine with a specific die, so the metal is set back into the leather flawlessly.
Chanel Pre-Owned 1997-1999 Chanel CC Chain Shoulder Bag, $4,504 at Farfetch
Made from Chanel’s dearest black caviar leather with traditionally matching gold-tone hardware, the bag features a top zip closure to the main compartment, a logo patched internal zipped pocket and a front stitched interlocking CC logo
The grommet rolls back cleanly and symmetrically into the leather. There should be no ridges or edges when you run a finger across the grommet.
6. The zipper should be a Lampo, not YKK
Chanel has used Lampo zippers for the past two decades. Look for the Lampo logo at the back of the metal-tooth hardware.
In case counterfeiters have already caught up, check the zipper engravings. They should be crisp and evenly spaced.
Left: “Friends” actresses Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox stick to basic colors with their Chanel bags and clutches. Right: Lucy Hale goes back to basics with a black piece.
7. Bring out the dust bag
Counterfeiters often consider a Chanel piece’s dust bag as an afterthought. An easy way to tell if your purchase is a replica is to study the dust bag. Chanel’s dust bags are extremely popular, and some retail on eBay for over $100.
Chanel dust bags typically come in black or white
Chanel dust bags typically come in black or white. The expanded logo should be centered and printed in white, not gray. For bags that use the CC logo, the placement is usually at the bottom.
8. Check the CC lock
For bags that have the CC lock, the right C must overlap at the top while the left C overlaps at the bottom. The edges are usually rounded on counterfeit bags, and more defined on authentic ones.
The CC lock should be centered on the bag — not too low or too high.
Chanel Pre-Owned small Boy Chanel Iridescent Shoulder Bag, $5,665 at Farfetch
Unique in design and eye-catching from afar, the Boy Chanel is a shoulder bag that will give you that nonchalant masculine charm with all the power of femininity
The back of the CC lock hardware should have two screws holding a metal plate down. The plate must have “CHANEL” embossed on the left and “PARIS” embossed on the right.
Only flathead or star screws (the latter only made its debut on Chanel bags in 2015) are used by the brand.
9. Know your leather straps
Starting in the ’80s, Karl Lagerfeld began to lace leather into the chains on some Chanel bags. Today, there are four ways the luxury brand does this.
Four-fold with a stitch: This strap style is often seen on exotic-skin Medium Classics, Maxis, Jumbos, and vintage camera bags. A strip of leather is folded until the two edges meet in the middle. Then it is folded one more time.
Triple-fold: This is a technique used in most of Chanel’s Medium Classic Flap bags.
In an attempt to bring life back to Chanel in the ’80s, Karl Lagerfeld started to lace leather into the chain
A strip of leather is folded once and then folded back again. It has no visible stitching – only a rolled and a cut edge on one side and a rolled edged on the other.
For wallets and chains:
Cut edge: To create this type of strap, two-piece of leather are cemented together then cut both edges, leaving the edges on both sides raw.
Turn (or fold) to center: In this technique, two edges of a leather strip are folded together until they meet. The strip is then hammered until a line on side of the leather is visible and the two edges are folded.
10. Consider the entire piece as a whole
When purchasing luxury goods secondhand, it’s important to develop a sensitivity to details. While you can usually rely on smell alone to identify a knock-off Chanel bag, it’s still good to know what details to scope out when passing judgment on a bag with the Chanel logo.
Buy only from reputable sellers. Bags sold at flea markets, home parties, and street vendors are likely to be fake. If a seller has an extremely high inventory of the same style, be wary.
Chanel Pre-Owned 1992 Quilted Backpack, $25,088 at Farfetch
This backpack from Chanel comes in sleek red leather and fastens with an interlocking CC twist lock
Finally, become familiar with any brand you’re considering purchasing from, and take notice of its collections. Chanel changes details every year, so it helps if you stay on track with current brand offerings.
Chanel Fast Facts
Where are Chanel products made?
As a brand that prides itself on quality and heritage, all Chanel handbags and shoes (except espadrilles, which are made in Spain) are manufactured in France and Italy. Chanel tags will never say “Made in Paris.”
Small leather goods are produced in Italy and Spain. Knitwear is made in France, Italy, and Scotland.
How much do Chanel bags and wallets cost?
Chanel bags and wallets can range from $2,700 to $8,200. For a complete and updated price list, visit Chanel’s official website. You can purchase pre-owned products at Farfetch.
Who owns Chanel today?
The company is owned by Alain Wertheimer and Gérard Wertheimer, grandsons of Pierre Wertheimer, who was an early business partner of the couturière Coco Chanel. According to Business Insider, the brothers have a combined net worth of over $30 billion.
If you need more assistance, this great video features more tips on differentiating between authentic and counterfeit Chanel products.
Credit: Radoslaw Nawrocki / Brian To / WENN / Instar