Top 5 ways to ensure your next Louis Vuitton purchase is not fake?
Louis Vuitton bags are on the most coveted luxury items on the market. In fact it is one of the leading high value brand and also one of the most counterfeited brand too. It is estimated that approximately over $1 billion worth of fake Louis Vuitton merchandise is sold annually. Unfortunately, many knock-off LV bags are very convincing to the untrained eye. With online shopping on the rise and interest in pre-owned items growing, one can easily end up purchasing a counterfeit without even knowing it. purchase a counterfeit LV item.
To avoid wasting money and to ensure you’re getting an authentic product that will last, it’s important to educate yourself on how to spot a fake Louis Vuitton handbag. There are some basic checkpoints that one can look for including materials used, craftsmanship, signatures details, and date codes and country stamps that can help determine authenticity. These tips can help one avoid ending up being duped but any day the best way is to purchase from an authorised dealer or reseller. Following are some of the checkpoints that you can go through before that all important LV purchase.
Examine Materials used
Authentic Louis Vuitton bags boast high quality raw materials that include full-grain leather, microfiber lining, gold-tone hardware, and their iconic logo coated canvas. While though not possible in your first purchase once you get used to the look, smell and feel of these materials, one will be able to identify poorly constructed knock-offs made from inferior materials that easily wear down
1) Leather:
Leather trim and handles should feel smooth and supple yet sturdy. It should not peel, crack or feel rigid or plastic-like over time. Real Louis Vuitton leather develops a lovely patina as it’s worn in, ranging from honey brown to caramel. The top-grade calfskin leather used should have a fine natural grain visible when inspected closely, with no creasing or air bubbles underneath.
1) Microfiber and Hardware:
The microfiber lining used in interior lining should feel plush and silky smooth to the touch. Avoid bags with lining that feels rough and scratchy. Check that hardware including zippers, snaps, buckles, protective metal feet and lock and keys are substantial weight and made from brass or gold-tone metal. Hardware should not be lightweight, flimsy, tarnished or feel hollow.
2) LV Print
The distinctive LV print that we are so familiar can be useful in identifying some cheap knock offs. The real LV print should be vibrant in tone without blurry edges and uneven inkblots and splatters. Never accept canvas that has variations in print size or alignment across panels or structural creases and inconsistencies.
Stitching Quality
Louis Vuitton handbags are known for their craftmanship and they are worked on by master craftsmen and women. Meticulous care goes into stitching to ensure the highest quality. Even before inspecting the stitching quality, one must be aware that the quality of the stitches used are top notch and they should closely match the colour of the canvas or the leather product
Authentic LV stitching will follow very symmetrical straight or curved lines with consistent regular spacing in between. Stitch lengths are precise and should have an even tension without loose, crooked or missing stitches. Even if you have an ounce of doubt about the stitch quality its better to stay away from that purchase or shop if its not an authorised seller.
Date Codes and Country Stamps
All authentic Louis Vuitton bags will contain a stamped interior leather tag with date and location codes which are integral indicators in verifying if bag is real or fake. This is another critical area which is easy to dupe but is often overlooked by the counterfeit manufacturers and hence can come in handy.
i) Date Code
On all genuine LV bags produced after early 1980s, you’ll find a stamped or heatpress date code inside indicating date (month and year) and country where bag was manufactured. This square date stamp will contain 2 letters followed by 4 numbers.
The first two letters represent where bag was made. Common codes include AR (USA), CA (Spain), FI (Italy), FR (France), MB (Italy), RA (France), SD (France), FL (Italy), SP (Spain) or VI (France/USA/Spain).
Following letters will be 4 numbers which represent production month (1-12) and year (last two digits). For example CA1127 represents a bag made in Spain, in the 11th month (November) of 2017.
ii) Country Stamp
In addition to the date code, authentic LV bags have a separate rectangular stamp that spells out “Louis Vuitton Paris” with an encircled R right above indicating copyright. On vintage pieces country stamp may simply state “Made in France” and other phrases have been used over the years.
When verifying, it’s not the wording itself that matters but rather that the imprint is clearly indented and not printed onto lining. Fakes tend to have a fuzzier, less defined country stamp.
3) Logo and Monogram
Louis Vuitton’s iconic Monogram was first designed by Georges Vuitton, Louis Vuitton’s son, in 1896 as a signature print pattern for luggage and bags. It combines an intertwined LV logo with quatrefoils and diamond shapes using logo flower design. The pattern should appear clearly through to the other side of the canvas without blurring, bleeding or variations in print alignment.
Brown LV symbols look rich with yellow contrasts. Damier checkered squares will be jet black on brown canvas. Monogram print is right-side up on one side of bag while spun upside down on reverse canvas side.
1) Review Hardware Engravings
Next area to inspect is any and all hardware including zipper pulls, press locks, buckles, snaps, exterior logo plaque or padlock keys.
Good quality reproductions still struggle to accurately counterfeit signatures in the fine engraving details. Authentic LV hardware is marked engraving either “Louis Vuitton” name or initials spelling LV. Engraving font and spacing looks clean and refined. Machine-pressed indentations feel smooth around the edges without jagged marks. Bad engraving lacks definition, appears hand-etched or fonts don’t match up to brand styles.
Check if any overt engravings (name, addresses etc) look tampered with or scraped off. Run your nail gently across any markings to feel the depth and consistency of hardware hallmarks. Marks will be subtle and minimal on authentic items in keeping with the brand’s discreet heritage.
Avoid confusion
To ensure you’re purchasing the real deal only buy directly from LouisVuitton.com or visit authentic brand boutiques and department stores. Disreputable online sellers and auction sites commonly hawk counterfeit goods. Louis Vuitton as brand generally does not offer steep discount across its range and even after discounts it will be a luxury item out of reach for most. So if one finds LV at very affordable rates it could potentially be a signal that something amiss.
For authenticated pre-loved finds, sites like Fashionphile, Yoogis Closet and The RealReal are safe bets backed by authentication guarantees. Protect yourself further by using credit cards when making bigger ticket luxury buys in case you need to dispute charges.
Hope this information helps you make an educated purchase and that you can enter exciting world of iconic LV with full confidence and craftsmanship legacy that warrants the price tag and your hard-earned investment.
