Gaining insight into the disparities between vintage and contemporary Chanel bags can aid in identifying characteristics appropriate to their era.

Learning how to tell if a Chanel bag is real has become both art and science. Today’s most respected dealers do not rely on their experience alone to determine a Chanel bag’s authenticity. They also utilize technology to better assess each bag. Yet, many authentication apps have come along that are far less reliable than they claim.

The Art of Spotting Fake Chanel Bags Expert Chanel authenticators examine dozens of tiny details to determine whether a purse is a genuine Chanel bag or a fake. It takes a highly trained eye. But the most important things for you to look for when learning how to tell if a Chanel bag is real are:

You might be wondering whether Chanel still gives authenticity cards. In 2021, Chanel revised their serial code system and replaced stickers and ID cards with metal plaques that have microchips inside the bags.

 Caution: Presence of an authenticity card does not guarantee that the Chanel bag is authentic. Cards can be easily counterfeited.

At the top of the logo, the C on the right comes in front of the C on the left. At the bottom, the C on the right passes behind the one on the left. You can tell the bag is fake if the logo is flat or not perfectly centered vertically and horizontally on the leather flap.

Finding out whether or not a Chanel bag is authentic is a multi-step process that requires careful inspection of a variety of components.

Chanel bags are among the most coveted and collectible fashion accessories on the planet. In fact, these luxury handbags are considered exceptional investments with an impressive ROI. But this is true only for genuine Chanel.

Weighing in on the iconography of Chanel bags, sustainability expert, fashion commentator and author of 

Always an innovator, Gabrielle Chanel created a bag that she needed herself: an accessory which freed up the hands. In February 1955, Chanel changed handbag history forever: she introduced the 2.

The initial number of a seven-digit Chanel date code and the first two numbers of an eight-digit code correspond to the year the bag was manufactured. The date codes are made up entirely of numbers; there are pelo Xs. The letter X in the chart above simply indicates the place of a random number.

The authenticity of the Chanel handbag can be ensured by purchasing it from an official Chanel boutique, or from a retailer that has been authorized to sell second-hand Chanel goods or from other luxury brands.

Caution: If Chanel serial number sticker doesn’t contain how to authenticate a Chanel bag either CC logo markings, an ‘X’ shape cut into the tape or iridescent speckles, it could very well be fake.

It goes without saying that the stitches should be impeccable without any loose threads, inconsistencies, or irregularities.