In this guide we have illustrated some details about
on ebay, and other domains that will help you weed out the fakes. This is
in no way a conclusive or complete guide to every detail about Balenciaga, but it has
enough information to highly increase you chances of spotting the fake Balenciaga handbags.
Combining some of these brand specific points with the universal tells we have listed should
help insulate you from many of the fake Balenciaga handbags in the open market.
Note: Many of the images we use to highlight a specific tell, may also have another tell
within the same photo. When this occurs we will try to point out the secondary tell.
However, on occasion we may miss some of the secondary tells in the photos. So we encourage
you the reader to inspect the images for other tells, this will help increase your spotting skills.
We recommmend that you read our tutorial: Spot Fake Handbags
first, to learn the universal tips essential to building a solid foundation of fake handbag spotting knowledge, and then reinforce that
foundation with the brand specific tells we highlight here.
As we
get more details we will add them.
Whats hot on ebay:
Also, if you the reader have anything else to add, please email it to us, we will be glad to
add it to the site, info@spotfakehandbags.com.
1. Material:Many fake bags are made from inexpensive leather which has a shiny
and stiff appearance to it. Fake leather bags look cracked rather than distressed.
The tassels/zipper pulls should be the same quality leather. They should hang
loosely, and feel soft in your hand. Many fake bag tassles/zipper pulls are stiff and hard.
Below is an image of an authentic Balenciaga handbag:
Note: The soft and distressed look of the authentic Balenciaga leather.
Below is an image of a fake Balenciaga handbag.
Note: The fake Balenciaga's leather has a shiny, almost cracked appearance.
Note: Authentic Balenciaga will
never have that much leather shine. Also
notice that the bag's material appeared more cracked rather than distressed.
Seemingly as if the lines
were intentionally put there.
Note: An authentic Balenciaga
will usually collapse when empty. This is because the leather is so thin and soft,
whereas the fake
bags tend to hold their shape even when they're not stuffed.
Below is an image of real vs. fake Balenciaga leather:
Note: Notice the stiffness &
cracked appearance in the fake bag versus the soft and distressed look of the authentic.
Below is another real vs. fake image:
Note: Here are a few more comparisons. The first is a photo of an authentic Twiggy Bag above a fake
Twiggy. Once side by side, the differences become even more obvious.
The fake bag is the incorrect size, and there is also a
difference in the placement of the hardware. But the most glaring difference is the leather. It is too soft
stand upright and support itself, unless it was tightly
stuffed.
The second photo is a comparison of the backside of an authentic Black City Classique and a fake Black
Twiggy Bag. Again, note the difference in the appearance of the leather, The authentic
leather appears distressed, while the fake looks more "cracked". There are other differences also, if
you look closely.
Below are the same bags (back):
Below is an image of a fake Twiggy bag:
Note: The hardware on the
fake bag is too silver & shiny. Also, notice the leather
on the fake bag is too even and structured. It looks the same all over the bag.
(More on hardware below)
2. Hardware: The hardware on an authentic Balenciaga bag is either brass or a
matte silver finish. Many times hardware on fake Balenciaga handbags is shiny silver
or gold. Below is an image of authentic Balenciaga hardware vs. fake hardaware:
Note: The hardware that connects the handles on an authentic bag is
hardware is rounder and wider, while the hardware on the fake bag is much more narrow and longer.
Also, the studs on the fake bag have a very flat appearance to them and look
as if they pertrude from the bag. On an authentic bag, the hardware is three-dimensional and appears
to "blend" with the bag. Also, the hardware on a fake bag is single-toned, meaning that it is only a
single shade of silver (or brass). The hardware on an authentic bag is multi-tonal, and looks like
different colors in different light. (more on Balenciaga hardware below)
Below are images of the small hardware rings on an authentic Balenciaga handbag:
Note: Look at the small rings on the zippers where the tassels are tied. There should be
small rings on each of the zippers (the top zipper, the front
zipper and the inner zipper pocket). All of these rings should be sealed or welded
closed so that there are no gaps and/or spaces. (This is a similiar tell to look
for when trying to spot fake Tiffany ). Most of the hardware rings
on fake bags (like fake Tiffany bracelets and necklaces)
have small gaps where the ends of the ring link meets. Where the metal has been pinched or welded
together. Authentic handbag rings are not easily bent and/or pinched, whereas the
rings on the fake bags
tend to be much to thin and can be easily bent or pinched together, or in some cases,
easily fall off.
Below is an image of a fake hardware ring:
Note: Notice the gap. You can clearly see where the metal was pinched together.
Below are images of Balenciaga rivets: (Rivets are flat circle areas on the underside of the handles. Rivets vary from
the older bags to the newer generations. For mid season 05 bags and newer,
there should be a notch on either side that is proportional to the rivet).
Note: Notice the angle and grain of the authentic rivet, which
stands apart from most faked rivets.