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Siopaella
Authenticity
All items are put through a multi-point, brand-specific authentication process by our Head Authenticator, Ella de Guzman, who, along with over 10 years of professional industry experience, has also received specific authentication training in the U.S.A. Ella inspects each and every item before it is released for sale and her knowledge of the designer handbag industry goes back to the mid 1990s when she first started buying and selling designer bags and clothing privately in her home city, the birthplace of so many consignment stores, Vancouver, BC, Canada. To this day she inspects each and every item and has never outsourced this aspect of the job to anyone else or to any other party.
Ella inspects all goods for appropriate brand markings, date codes, serial tags and hologram stickers. Everything passes through our strict authenticity tests before it is curated into daily sales both in-store and online. Unlike other consignment stores who rely on technology or external parties to authenticate items, we are proud to do all of our authentication in house. We do not need to rely on computer technology to tell us what is real and what is fake. We prefer to see and feel items to ascertain their provenance and we genuinely love learning about the different brands we carry.
Should you have any further questions on our authenticity process, please email us at info@siopaella.com
Can you Authenticate a Handbag for me?
Our Founder and Chief Authenticator, Ella de Guzman, has to this day always authenticated all the designer bags and accessories that Siopaella have resold. We truly believe that technology will never be superior to individual careful inspection and traditional experience and knowledge. We are happy to offer a detailed authentication report on designer handbags and accessories, whether it a pre-purchase query or if you’re simply looking for the answer to the question ‘Is my handbag real?’ - Siopaella will put your mind to rest.
Siopaella offer two services to authenticate bags:
1. "Basic Report" - A simple YES OR NO report on whether a designer item is authentic or counterfeit - €20
2. "Full Report" - A detailed authentication report that states why we believe a bag is real or fake - €50
To avail of this service, select an option below, complete the form attached, make your payment and we will be in touch within 24 hours.
*Terms & Conditions apply
Authenticate This
Authenticating Chanel
Below are just some of the key indicators we look at when authenticating Chanel pieces here at Siopaella.
STITCHING & LEATHER
Stitching should maintain a consistent pattern and line up evenly on the back pocket and sides. In saying that, as all Chanel bags are handmade there may be slight discrepancies with the stitching so we always examine multiple points of each item.
HARDWARE
If the lock has a stamp it means it was made in France whereas if it doesn’t feature a stamp it means it was made in Italy.
The back of the lock will always be made with flat screws not rounded.
The logo engraving will be evenly spaced and a very clear font.
On the CC lock - The C on the right goes over and under the C on the left.
The CC lock will always be centered and have a flat finish – not rounded.
The gap between the two CCs will be the exact same as the width of both the Cs.
The logo writing on the interior of the bag will match the bag’s hardware i.e. if it’s written in silver it will have silver hardware
CHAIN & STRAP
An authentic chain strap will be heavier than its fake counterpart. Stitching on leather entwined in strap is always clean and seamless. On many vintage Chanel bags you will find that the leather strap is folded together and woven into the chain and not sewn.
Authenticating Chanel Continued..
CARD & SERIAL NUMBER
Every bag from 1980 onwards will come with an authenticity card with serial a number on it.
Authenticity cards will have a gold outer line going around the card. This line, if put in a certain light and held a certain way, should be uniform in the gold color – show no rainbow.
The serial number on the card will correspond to a little tag on the interior of the bag on which you will see the EXACT same serial number as is on the card.
From 2000 on this tab in the bag is protected by a layer of clear tape with a hologram security feature.
On the tab there is also little gold specs that shimmer when moved under light.
- From 2000-NOW the “0” on the serial numbers will have a strike through it.
- From 1986-1994 the “0” on the serial numbers will have no strike through it.
- From 1997 – NOW the “1” will have feet at the end.
- From 1994 – 1997 the the “1” will have no feet at the end.
- From 1986-1994 the “1” will have feet at the end.
- If the bag was made between 1984 and 1986 it will feature 6 digits, if it was made between 1986 and 2004 it will feature 7 digits, and if was made from 2005 onwards it will feature 8 digits.
- A 6 digit code: 1984 - 1986
- A 7 digit code: 1986 - 2004
- An 8 digit code: 2005 – present day
Chanel does not produce bags with serial numbers of 9 digits or more.
Bags from 2005 and onwards feature a grey circular symbol at top right of card.
If the authenticity card does not have a symbol at the top right, it means that it was made pre-2000
Authenticating Louis Vuitton
A little bit of history
YEARS OF INTRODUCTION:
Damier Canvas was introduced in 1888
Monogram Canvas was introduced in 1896
Epi Leather line was introduced in 1985
Taiga Leather line was introduced in 1993
Vernis Leather line was introduced in 1997
Multicolore Monogram Canvas was introduced in 2003
Damier Graphite Canvas was introduced in 2008
Below are just some of the key indicators we look at when authenticating Pieces pieces here at Siopaella
LEATHER & MATERIALS CANVAS:
The likes of Speedy and Keepalls will be made by only one piece of canvas so the back of the bag the monogram LV will be upside down
HARDWARE:
Crisp clean imprinting and lettering on all hardware
DATE CODES:
Date codes which will either be a small leather tab or will be engraved into lining of bag.
Prior to early 1980s. No date codes.
Early 1980s. Three or four numbers with the first two numbers representing the year and last number(s) representing the month. E.g. "836" would indicate a manufacturing date of June, 1983.
Early to late 1980s. Three or four numbers followed by two letters with the first two numbers representing the year, the next number(s) representing the month and the last two letters representing the country (see right sidebar for factory location codes). E.g. "874VX" would indicate a manufacturing date of April, 1987 and factory location in France.
Authenticating Louis Vuitton Continued..
Late in the 1980s, the letters representing the factory location came before the three or four numbers representing the manufacturing date.
1990 to 2006. Two letters followed by four numbers with the first two letters representing the factory location, the first and third numbers representing the month and the second and forth numbers representing the year.
2007 and newer. Two letters followed by four numbers with the first two letters representing the factory location, the first and third numbers representing the week of the year, and the second and forth numbers representing the year Letters indicate factory location
Check the “Made in XXX” and make sure the code matches factory location
France - A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS, AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, DR, DU, CO, CT, ET, FL, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SD, SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TJ, TH, TR, TS, VI, VX Italy - BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, RC, RE, SA, TD
Spain - CA, GI, LO, LB, LM, LW S.A. - FC, FH, FL, LA, OS, SD
Switzerland - DI, FA
Germany - LP
HEAT STAMPS:
The tail on the L is very short The O's are a perfect round circle and look bigger than the L The T's are almost touching each other or are so close that it looks like it
* Terms & Conditions
Siopaella is an independent luxury designer resale business and is not affiliated with any designers, including the designer reviewed and we have no personal connection with any of the parties involved in the transaction.
Opinions provided by Siopaella are based upon their extensive knowledge obtained from over 20 years of collecting, selling and buying designer bags and accessories.
Every effort is made to ensure opinions rendered by Siopaella are accurate and Siopaella are not liable for any loss resulting from the opinions rendered and does not have control over the final decision rendered by the third party handling any disputed claim.
The individual who has retained Siopaella to provide this written opinion has agreed to hold Siopaella harmless for opinions expressed by Siopaella Authenticators based upon their assessment of the item and information provided by its clients.