When shopping Chanel, head straight for resale sites like Lampoo. There, you'll find a selection of authenticated pre-loved Chanel for a fraction of the retail price.
Starting from around the year 2000, Chanel began using hologram stickers with a clear tape containing a hologram security feature. These stickers also feature:
Since the mid-1980s, Chanel has included a serial number in each bag encoded according to the date the bag was issued. Deciphering these numbers and codes is essential to authenticating Chanel bags made before April 2021, when Chanel started using microchips. Therefore, previously-loved Chanel bag authentication often relies on serial numbers and date codes. Let’s look at how to tell if a Chanel bag is real by examining the code.
This characteristic ensures that if you choose to sell your Chanel years later, you'll likely fetch a handsome sum. I previously owned the medium model, bought secondhand (almost new, complete with box and invoice), and even managed to resell it at a slight profit.
I talk about material versus cultural value and how over time (especially due to social media) we gravitate heavily towards the latter. Chanel straddles this line very well.
to the Catholic orphanage that Coco grew up in. It was where she learnt to sew. And as with all of her creations, each detail mirrored an intimate part of Coco’s life and heart.
Closure/Opening: Mademoiselle, as you may know, is a name traditionally used for an unmarried woman (Coco never married). Chanel designed the rectangular Mademoiselle Lock that twists at the center to open.
This groundbreaking design featured an adjustable chain strap, a practical back slip pocket, and a deep burgundy leather lining—a detail inspired by how to authenticate a Chanel bag Chanel’s childhood uniform at the Aubazine Abbey convent in France.
Authentic Chanel dust bags should be made of white cotton with a black drawstring or black felt with white lettering, with a distinctly soft feel and a sharply printed, centered logo using the original font.
Take a close look at the font and quality of the lettering in the stamp reading Chanel. Fake Chanel bags and super fakes often have blurred stamps that are not crisp and clear, and the font is taller and thinner than on genuine Chanel.
Eight digit serial number printed on white sticker covered with clear tape with two Chanel logos."X" cut-lines prevent sticker from being removed without damage. "CHANEL" appears on rightright side of the sticker. Dark line appears on left side of sticker. Gold speckles appear throughout sticker.
Bags that are marked with the phrase "Made in Paris" should be avoided because they could be fakes. Genuine bags are those that are marked with the phrases "Made in France" or "Made in Italy." Additionally, you should be wary of bags that have flat or puffy quilts and leather of low quality.
While Chanel bags in pristine condition often command a premium over retail, Sotheby’s offers a curated selection of these bags in a variety of the most sought-after colors and sizes through our marketplace. By shopping with Sotheby’s, you can purchase a store-fresh Chanel bag without the need to visit a physical store. While Chanel boutiques offer these coveted designs, their inventory is often limited, making it challenging to find a specific color, style, or size.
Also, if you find "Chanel" printed at the top or the bottom of the sticker it is not a real Chanel handbag. It is a common trait among copyright stickers. "Chanel" is supposed to be printed on the side of the sticker.