What Makes a Coach Purse Authentic?
Authenticating your Coach purse can be done without the use of an online authentication service. The mere fact these services exist are an indication of how rampant an issue "replica" or "knock off" bags are. Knowing the design details of an authentic purse will enable you to weed out the fakes with ease. Does this Spark an idea?
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History of Coach
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In 1941 Coach was a family run workshop turning out high-quality leather goods that quickly gained a reputation for quality craftsmanship. The goods were being created by six artisans in a Manhattan loft. The craftsmanship and unique nature of their work was the foundation for Coach handbags. Today Coach handbags are an iconic symbol of style, fashion-forward design and enduring quality. The brand maintains its exclusivity with premium prices and with availability restricted to namesake stores and high-end department stores.
Commonly Replicated Coach Purses
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The signature monogram line is the most replicated style of a Coach purse found in the black market today. Coach is known for its fun, playful yet timeless appeal with the durability to hold up to everyday use. This style of bag is identified by the "C" found all over the bag and comes in various colors, styles and sizes.
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Exterior Features
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Coach purses use high-quality materials to craft their bags. Heavy metal hardware is distinctly Coach and is evident in its durable look and feel. The artisans at Coach also take great pride in their work, which is evident in the double-stitched seams and straight uniform lines throughout their patterns. The signature line in particular will always have edges, seams and patterns that are balanced and aligned.
A telltale sign of a counterfeit is misaligned single-stitched seams and poorly matched insignias. The "C" on an authentic purse will always be symmetrical along both sides of the bag and will align perfectly at each and every seam, coming together at the exact center of the panel. Any place on the bag that you see a seam, you should look for symmetry. If there is no symmetry, you might have a counterfeit.
Interior Features
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The interior of a Coach purse will have no shortage of luxury or attention to detail and craftsmanship. Every purse made by Coach will be lined, with the exception of the Classic, which is plain leather on the interior. Coach purses define luxury; an interior that feels or looks inexpensive is a sure sign of a fake. As a cost-cutting measure, many counterfeit purse makers will produce bags with cheap fabric or none at all.
Methods of Identification
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Coach, like many luxury handbag makers, uses serial numbers for their purses. Unfortunately, they do so inconsistently and this causes a problem for the brand and the prospective customer. It helps the counterfeiters, as they are aware of this trend and exploit it to their advantage. Serial numbers, while good for authentication in theory, are a less reliable way of authenticating Coach purses.
The best way to authenticate your Coach purse is by carefully and thoroughly examining the seams and the alignment of any logos, stripes or fabrics. Double-stitching is a tried and true feature of every Coach bag and is one of the reasons for the brand's remarkable durability.
Coach purses are heavy. The high-quality metal hardware, the double-stitching and the presence of the lining all contribute to the brand's trademark weight. If it's heavy, that's a good sign.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit handbags image by Bionic Media from Fotolia.com
