How to Authenticate Your Gucci Handbag

Authentic Gucci Handbag

Gucci is a brand favoured by models, the fashion elite, and you. Considered to be one of the most valuable brands in the world, it’s no surprise that super fake Gucci bags are on the rise, therefore, The Handbag Clinic has detailed how you can authenticate your Gucci handbag.

Leather and Canvas

First used in the 1970s, the GG logo was an evolution of the original Gucci rhombi design from the 1930s, and from then it's been an established symbol of Gucci's heritage.

If you look closely at Supreme Canvas designs, you’ll notice the diamonds that interlock each GG. These are a significant giveaway when it comes to assessing if you have a fake Gucci bag, as they aren’t as defined and often look elongated in comparison to originals.
 

Real vs Fake Gucci Canvas

Gucci Canvas

Colour is useful to determine if you have a real Gucci. Typically, the canvas on replica items is made of cooler tones, appearing slightly green, grey, and yellow, rather than the iconic beige/brown combination.

Real vs Fake Gucci Canvas Colouring

Leather designs have their own giveaways when it comes to knowing how to authenticate a Gucci. The Marmont fakes are often crafted excessively, and the quilted leather is too puffy, as shown below.

Real vs Fake Gucci Marmont Quilting

Marmont Quilting

Furthermore, on the back of a Gucci Marmont bag, there’s a signature leather heart sewn to the quilted leather. On a fake, you’ll see the tip of the heart is sharper in shape and essentially pointier, as shown in the images under stitching.

Hardware

When authenticating Gucci bags, the iconic GG hardware is a subtle way to verify when determining if it is a fake. On a real Gucci bag, the GGs should be clearly cut and defined where they overlap, however, on fakes the hardware appears slightly blurred and therefore not clear.

Plus, the GG hardware will appear slightly more elongated in comparison to an authentic Gucci bag, as counterfeiters won’t be able to achieve the perfect shape. Furthermore, hardware can often be too gold when over-processed in illegitimate factories.

Real vs Fake Gucci GG Hardware

Zips

The quality of the zips on fake Gucci bags is poorer and ultimately, made of cheaper materials that don’t host the luxurious finish that Gucci promote. This is due to the machinery used by counterfeiters for stamping the Gucci name onto the zip head – they lack the sophistication of Gucci machines and subsequently, the finished zip looks poor in quality.

Real vs Fake Gucci Zips

The Gucci Dionysus is an interesting item to authenticate as the intricacies involved in the horseshoe of a real Gucci Dionysus cannot be matched. The images below show that the engravings on the fake are shallow when they should be deeper. Also, the carvings are less defined, while the authentic version highlights the intricacies of an authentic horseshoe.

Real vs Fake Gucci Dionysus Horseshoe

An interesting point to mention, which isn’t commonly known, is that Gucci strap chains are notoriously light, compared to other branded bags. A prominent pointer for determining the authenticity of a Gucci is the colour of the chain. Often, they appear ‘too gold’ and ultimately coated, as seen in the image below.

Real vs Fake Gucci Chains

Stitching

Whilst the neatness of the stitch is pivotal when authenticating a Gucci handbag, it will surprise many to know that suspicions will be raised if a stitch line is too straight. This is due to the nature of human error and minor imperfections that come with stitching luxury items by hand.

Unlike other branded handbags such as Chanel, there isn’t a specific stitch count. Typically, this can help in determining the authenticity of an item, but when it comes to Gucci, we instead look at the angle of each stitch.

For example, when verifying Gucci Marmont bags, pay close attention to the heart stitched on the reverse panel. The universal design for the Gucci heart is often overlooked and when crafted by counterfeiters – as mentioned previously, the point will be too sharp and is an immediate giveaway, as shown by the design underneath.

Real vs Fake Gucci Marmont Heart Stitching

Boxes and Dust bags

Gucci boxes and dust bags can be very telling in the authentication process. Typically, both are ‘effortless’ in the sense of being simplistic, muted, and understated. Counterfeiters often overdo these accompanying features and when it comes to Gucci, the tones of the white/black boxes are too bright. Similarly, the more recent Gucci boxes, which display an image, are slightly blurred and off-centre. As you can see below, the vibrancy of the counterfeit box is dull in comparison to the real one, and the font and positioning of the Gucci logo is different to the authentic design.

Real vs Fake Gucci Handbag Box

Authentic dustbags, as shown below, are minimalist in design. They host only a few simple stitches around the Gucci label, as opposed to being perfectly sewn on fakes.

Furthermore, it’s important to note that Gucci has recently expanded its manufacturing operations and now crafts its designs in China as well as Italy, so a ‘made in China’ label doesn’t need to be a deterrent on dustbags.

When it comes to embellished or velour items, Gucci opts to use special double-layered dustbags, to provide the utmost protection to the item. Often, this is overlooked by counterfeiters when they produce fakes and you should look out for this when purchasing your next Gucci.

Real vs Fake Gucci Dustbags

Serial number and Stamping

As you can see in the images below, the fake stamping demonstrates how the lettering is too close together and the thickness of each individual letter is too wide.

Real vs Fake Gucci Stamping

Similarly, the serial numbers are crafted in a similar way to the logo above and are embossed into the leather. As you can see below, the real serial number is subtle on the reverse of the logo, whereas on the fake it’s very prominently engrained and the numbers are positioned too closely together.

Real vs Fake Gucci Serial Numbers

We appreciate your concerns when it comes to the authenticity of your next luxury handbag purchase. Our expert team of authenticators are on hand to assist you in your determinations; please don't hesitate to purchase your authentication today!