The tissue paper included in the Chanel box may be more convincing than the cards. Authentic Chanel bags come with soft, high-quality tissue paper that is hand-folded.

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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:

Chanel bags also feature high stitch count: in most cases there should be 10 or more stitches per edge of the diamond quilting.

Featuring the signature interlocking C’s introduced by the legendary Karl Lagerfeld in the 1980s, The Chanel Flap bag can now be purchased for around $6000 (R80 000) and resold without a gargantuan loss.

Technological developments and improved production have given rise to “super fakes” that can fool even experienced collectors.

Finally, we'll delve into the type of leather employed in the bag, which is another critical factor. Chanel primarily uses Caviar and Lambskin, each with distinctive characteristics that contribute to the bag's overall look and feel.

While many vintage Chanel handbags may not possess an authenticity card or serial number , it is essential to inspect the quality of material, stitching, logos, and hardware to ascertain authenticity.

When checking the authenticity of a Chanel bag, always examine the leather straps on the linked chain. The straps should be even with pelo bumps, and the stitches should be equal throughout.  

 Andrea Cheong states "I purchased my 1996 small classic flap in caviar leather second-hand in Japan. I paid about £3.8k and I do think it’s worth it. However, that’s in the context of really admiring the style and being interested in purchasing a Chanel bag.”

Seven digit serial number printed on white sticker covered with clear tape with two Chanel logos."X" cut-lines prevent sticker from being removed without damage. "CHANEL" appears on rightright side of the sticker. Dark line appears on left side of sticker. Gold speckles appear throughout sticker.

Seven digit serial number printed on white sticker covered with clear tape with two Chanel logos."X" cut-lines prevent sticker from being removed without damage. "CHANEL" appears on rightright side of the sticker. Dark line appears on left side of sticker. Gold speckles appear throughout sticker.

A major part of how to authenticate a Chanel bag is understanding the materials used. Chanel bags are crafted from the finest leathers and textiles, such as lambskin and caviar leather.

Although there’s been an evolution of the style throughout the are vintage Chanel bags a good investment years—from tweed iterations to saturated colour and heart shaping, its key characteristics have remained and the Classic Flap remains part of its core collection.