When it comes to handbags and many other luxury items, they are not always as they seem. Unfortunately, there are many knock-offs and counterfeit items that are sold as if they were genuine. The good news is that there are a number of ways that you can spot the fakes so that you end up with the real thing. A Louis Vuitton purse is one of the many products that gets copied an passed off as the real thing. You can’t always rely on an online site or even a well-known store to filter through all of the fakes for you. It is just best to know the correct color for the interior of the bag you are buying as well as what the proper date code is. It should also be priced correctly.
Finding the small imperfections in a fake bag can be difficult unless you know exactly what you are looking for. It never hurts to do a little research on your favorite luxury brand so that you understand how they create their masterpieces. For example, if you see a Louis Vuitton that is black for sale, you’ll automatically know that it is a fake because it has never been done. You can check the Louis Vuitton website or use Elux to see if you can find a similar one for sale and compare or you can even get a few pointers from an expert in the field.
What to Look For
When shopping for a Louis Vuitton purse, you need to carefully inspect it and look for the telltale signs that will show whether or not it is, in fact, a genuine Louis Vuitton. If you notice that the spots are rather sloppy or there is back and forth stitching it is probably a fake. If the pattern does not match or if there is stitching between the letters in the logo, it is another sign that you may be looking at a counterfeit product. The pattern should always match exactly on either side of the seam, and the hardware should feel genuine as well. It should feel heavy and genuine not cheap or hollow.
You should also pay attention to where it as made. Certain Louis Vuitton lines were made in Spain such as the cherry blossom line, but it will specify that it was made in France which is incorrect and this an inclination that it is a fake. If you are familiar with the bag that you are buying you will know things such as what type of material it will be lined in or what colors it is available in. It is also important to know where the monogram is supposed to be placed. Louis Vuitton, in particular, has been producing high-end designer items since 1854 and their monogram is a big part of their products. The monogram is an important part of any Louis Vuitton process and is always carefully placed on each piece. The LV monogram is always perfectly symmetrical from side to side.
Pay Attention To Those Stitching Patterns
The stitching is always very even and regular and the same number of stitches can be found in the same location is on the same bags. The only time you see differences in stitching patterns is in vintage pieces. In fact, you may need to study up even more on the differences in vintage pieces as there are even more exceptions but in general, if you are looking at a vintage piece, and it does not follow the guidelines of more modern pieces don’t rule out that it may not be a genuine piece right away. A fake bag will often have uneven stitching or sloppy stitching and is overall a poorly made purse.
Country of Origin
Another important thing to look for is where the bag was made. Louis Vuitton bags were made in France for over 25 years, but they were also made in Spain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. Each Louis Vuitton bag will have a date code found on a small piece of leather inside the bag that will tell you where the bag was made.
The Louis Vuitton Symbol
Certain bags will have upside down LVs on the backside, and this is because the piece of leather that was used to create the purse was one piece and when it wraps from the front to the back to makes one continuous piece you end up with some of the LVs being upside down. If there is a seam joining the two pieces, they’ll not have any upside down monograms. Many of the Speedy styles will have the upside down LVs as well as the Papillons, and Keepalls to name a few.
The Patches
Some older versions of Louis Vuitton bags have patches on the exterior and interior that were not present in the genuine bags but you may find them in vintage pieces. Some modern pieces will also have them, but Louis Vuitton uses a certain font. The lining will also be made of cheap material, and the color consistency may not be uniform or consistent. The color may even be wrong entirely. If the piping is not leather or the bag does not smell like leather it is probably a fake.
Where To Buy a Louis Vuitton Bag
There are a number of places to buy your next favorite Louis Vuitton bag such as on well-known websites such as eBay. But it is always best to buy directly from the company’s website where you will be guaranteed a genuine Louis Vuitton. If you buy one anywhere else, you do take the risk of getting one that is not a genuine but if you now out stuff and you want to save a few hundred bucks, then go for it!
It is always best to avoid buying a Louis Vuitton purse that is not a fake, to begin with, but if you do suspect that you have gotten a lemon you can sometimes get your money back if you shop with a reputable company such as eBay. When you are shopping, you want to make sure that you get a guarantee that you are buying a genuine item or at least have the option to return your item. If there are not very many pictures, you can always contact the seller for more so that you can inspect your bag thoroughly before committing to buying it. You don’t have to be an expert in finding fake products, but you need to know what to look for, and there are a number of ways that you can find a fake product. You don’t need to be an expert in all of the bags that Louis Vuitton ever made but just the one that you are interested in.
There are many different lines such as the Pouchette, Epi Leather form Murakami, and the Speedy collection. No matter what the design of the bag is, there will be a cantered logo and a serial number or hologram located inside the bag. The pockets should be in the correct places an there should be the correct number of pockets for that particular model of bag. A fake bag will often have uneven stitching or sloppy stitching and is overall a poorly made purse. If you take the time to get to really know your Louis Vuitton bags you will also have a greater appreciation for them as well.
