You'll learn the distinctive hallmarks of true Chanel quality , from serial stickers to leather and stitch count. Be ready to dive into the essential authenticity checks that will help you determine if your Chanel is an original.
Are you a fan of the Chanel classic flap bag? Do you think it's still a relevant and contemporary model? Share your thoughts with me!
Pictured: examples of authentic Chanel date codes. Note how they combine several unique identification and safety features: iridescent speckles, CC logos and 'X' scores on the plastic.
The bag in question needs pelo introduction. One thing is for certain, you can't dispute the craftsmanship.
One of the first steps in learning how to authenticate a Chanel bag is to examine the craftsmanship. Chanel bags are known for their flawless stitching and high-quality materials. The quilting should be symmetrical, and the stitching should be consistent without any loose threads.
While many high fashion designers seek form over function when designing a woman’s bag, Coco Chanel was a realist. Even the name of the bag is practical; the 2.55 debuted in February of 1955 — the second month of ’55. The iconic features of the bag — the quilted wool fabric, chainlink strap, and burgundy interior — all serve practical functions as well as aesthetic ones.
Many Flap Bags even feature an uncommon hidden zipper compartment, rumoured to have been used by Coco to hide love letters during one of many glorious periods in her love life.
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.
More than a mere purchase, it's an investment that warrants careful consideration. I gifted myself the Jumbo Caviar double flap model for my 50th birthday, but prior to that, I visited a Milan boutique twice to try it on.
While the Chanel Classic Flap bag is distinguished by its interlocking CC lock, that bag design came much later. The 2.55 bag featured a sturdy rectangular turn-key lock, ensuring that a woman’s private purse contents stayed private.
It was the first of its elegant and practical kind, each bag designed and made featuring the iconic quilted leather, which is now synonymous with many Chanel bags, Coco Chanel serial number guide loved so much.
The caretakers of the orphanage would dangle their keys from the same type of chains used as the 2.55’s shoulder straps. The same practical chains that safely held those convent keys kept Coco Chanel’s original bags safe as well.
Of course, the Chanel formula is readily available information, so advanced counterfeiters could create a serial number that fits the table above.
The Chanel serial codes were printed on plastic stickers that were then affixed to a location inside the bag that varied with the bag style and year it was produced. Like everything Chanel makes, genuine stickers look professional. If your bag has a cheap-looking date sticker with blurry or uneven text, that would be a fake. If the sticker is missing, it may still be a genuine Chanel; you just won’t be able to authenticate it by the date code.