How to spot a fake Louis Vuitton bag

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 4: Check the quality
Method 2 of 4: Be confident in the seller
Method 3 of 4: Pay attention to detail
Method 4 of 4: Pay attention to the overall design
Tips

When buying an expensive bag from a well-known brand, for example, from Louis Vuitton, I would like to know for sure that you are choosing the original. Most of the fakes can be distinguished even by the appearance and quality of the bag itself. In other cases, the manufacturer's tag can help you learn more about the bag's authenticity.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Check the quality

Genuine Louis Vuitton bags are perfectly tailored.

1 Check the stitches. It is best to do this yourself, but if this is not possible, ask the seller to send you as many close-up photos as possible. Another indicator is the number of stitches per inch of seam. Better bags have the highest number of stitches per inch, as this gives the bag extra strength. A real bag will have significantly more stitches than any fake.
2 Don't even go near bags with blurry patterns. The original bags are distinguished by their clear, neat and proportional pattern. If you see a blurry ornament on a bag that does not fit other decorative elements, then this is most likely a fake.
3 Look for the upside-down "LV" on the back of the bag. This, of course, is not for all real bags, but still most of them, especially if the pattern is made on one seamless piece of leather, as if "wrapping" the bag. These letters can be found on bags from the Speedy, Keepalls and Papillons series.

Method 2 of 4: Be confident in the seller

The reliability and reputation of the seller can also be a good clue in determining the authenticity of the bag.

1 Check the seller information, especially if you are buying your bag at an online auction or similar online store. Review seller reviews. Look for sellers with the best customer reviews and avoid sellers with negative reviews, newbies, or hidden reviews.
2 Avoid sellers who do not accept returns.
3 Read between the lines. If a product description makes you doubt its authenticity, trust your instincts.
4 If you cannot see the bag in person, pay the attention of sellers with high-quality photos of the goods. Buy a bag only after you have at least seen the front, rear, interior, trim, code, and the "Louis Vuitton Made in" stamp.
5 Ask the seller to send you more photos. They can use pictures of real bags to sell fakes.
6 Look for the best price, but beware of the sellers who offer the biggest discount. A real bag won't cost $ 100, much less a new one.
7 Avoid sellers who sell new models of bags that are not already in stores.
8 Avoid sellers who claim to be selling "full sale" and "close shop" bags. Louis Vuitton does not offer discounts, stock stores, or full sales. If the seller claims otherwise, he cannot be trusted.
9 Do not buy Louis Vuitton bags from street vendors as the company does not allow street vendors to be licensed to sell them.

Method 3 of 4: Pay attention to detail

Small details like zippers, inner stitching and date of manufacture will serve as your next clue. Each model is different, but there are many similarities between the models of the same brand, so this may help you too.

1 Avoid bags with a sewn-on tag. Most official Louis Vuitton bags do not have labels attached. On the contrary, the label is often put in the pocket of the bag. Examine especially labels that look cheap and are sewn with more than one stitch.
2 Pay attention to the inner stitching. Most fakes are sheathed in cheap suede or plastic. A real bag can be trimmed with various fabrics, depending on the design, but most models are trimmed with canvas, quality micromonogram textiles, leather, polyester or microfiber suede.
3 Beware of bags with plastic wrapped handles. Oxidized natural leather does not need protective plastic, and pens sold with this plastic may be fake.
4 Look for clasps or other hardware. Real bags use copper or gilding, but many fakes use plastic coated with a layer of gold paint.
5 Find a logo LVprinted on the lock.
6 Check out the "Made in" label. Initially, real Louis Vuitton bags were made only in France. For the past few decades, however, the company has also produced bags in the United States, Spain, Germany and Italy.
7 Check the manufacturing date. Most bags manufactured after the 1980s have a production code stamped on the bag. Since the 1990s, the code has been in two letters or four numbers. Some also have a simple three-digit code.
- Look in the right place. Usually, the code is located under the D-shaped ring.
8 Know the distinguishing features of each bag. Even if there are many similarities between bags of the same brand, there are no absolutely identical models. Find out what kind of trim, bottom and base, among other details, is inherent in this model. Check it out on the company's website or ask your nearest boutique.

Method 4 of 4: Pay attention to the overall design

First of all, an indicator of the authenticity of a bag can be considered its design. Some fakes can only be distinguished by their appearance, but sometimes it will take a little longer to search.

1 Check the bag for authenticity. Chances are that if you don't recognize the design as typical of Louis Vuitton, it could be fake. If in doubt, check the design of this bag in the boutique, on the official Louis Vuitton website or in the catalog.
2 Be careful with designs that look real but are actually fakes. Multicolor, Cherry Blossom and Cerises designs are not available on all bags. Vintage bags are also very often counterfeited.
3 If you buy a bag with the patented monogram print, make sure the gold lettering is easy to read over the brown lines. Avoid monochrome or green-tinted monograms.

Tips

Find comparison photos of real and fake bags online. Remember how you can tell a fake from an original.
Don't be fooled by the details. Cases, receipts, gift boxes, identity cards, and care instructions are also forged. If all this is included, it is not a guarantee of the authenticity of the bag.