How to Spot Fake Dooney and Bourke Handbags

These days, everyone wants a Dooney and Bourke handbag, but few can afford them. These increasingly sought after designer accessories are quickly joining the ranks of Coach, Chanel and Gucci. Which is to say coveted by most, and copied by many. Telling a real from a fake requires a trained eye.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Glance at the leather logo tag, visible on the front of the purse. If the stitching is not the same color as the thread that's used on the seams, it's a phony.

2. Examine the handbag. British tan trim adorns all Dooney and Bourke handbags. If the one you're examining is any other color, you're not looking at the real thing. The purse handles also are always British tan leather.

3. Study the metal details. Any hardware on a Dooney and Bourke will be brass, whether it's the protective feet, studs or the strap knobs. If you see silver, you know it's not a real Dooney.

4. Peer inside the bag for more tip-offs of fraud. You'll know it's a fake if you don't see a leather duck logo with visible stitching and a red, white and blue registration number sewn beneath a leather seam. You might not be able to do this if you're just trying to size up whether your husband's ex-girlfriend is carrying a real Dooney and Burke or a knock-off.

Tips & Warnings

• Shop at a Dooney and Burke boutique or a department store for an authentic bag. EBay can be a great resource for better-priced Dooney and Burke handbags, as long as you deal with sellers with primarily positive feedback whose ratings rank in the thousands. You can also find bargains on Overstock.com and BagBorrowOrSteal.com.
• Avoid buying Dooney and Burke handbags from eBay sellers with little or poor feedback, especially if only vague photographs are supplied.
• While it might be tempting to purchase a Dooney and Burke knock-off, remember it's against the law, not to mention unethical.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Search eBay for a Dooney and Bourke Authenticity Checklist.

[liwhi]

on 1/27/2009 I just wanted everyone to know that takes this info to heart that it is NOT entirely correct. For example this article states "British tan trim adorns all Dooney and Bourke handbags." When if fact when Dooney first started making purses you could custom order your trim color so there are many authentic 'vintage' dooneys out there that will NOT have the british tan trim.

[ar92bes]

on 8/10/2008 I am looking for the new DB handbag featured in Lucky magazine. Any suggestions?

[LanaeH]

on 7/15/2008 Has anyone else had a problem with the brass shoulder strap rings peeling? My DB purse slices my arm each time I wear it. I am not sure whether I registered this bag or not, I think I did but do I really need to mail it off for this problem? Do I get a 'loaner' bag? Any suggestions?

[tassie]

on 6/27/2008 I just bought the large tassel black with multi colored DB monogram and mutli-colored zipper IT bag from the Dooney line and L.O.V.E. it! I also have the quilted black with red wristlet and the lunch tote for work. I love Dooney and Bourke!

[froggie899]

on 2/23/2008 I have 2 Dooney's that are going on 10 years old, and they are still in excellent condition. They are both Drawstring style, and neither has the tan trim or the tan strap. NOT ALL of them do. Nor do all of them have the duck stitching inside. I do have the brass tag, and the red tag with the registration number. I think that the original poster needs to do more homework.