How to Recognize Real Brighton Purses

Brighton handbags are some of the most premium and desired bags on the market. Fashion-forward, classy and timeless, these bags are not only an accessory but an investment. By ensuring your bag is a legitimate designer piece, you guarantee resale value and save yourself from overspending on an imitation.

Instructions

1. Arm yourself with a physical description of the Brighton bag you wish to authenticate and go to a store that you know to be selling authentic, top-quality Brighton handbags. Take a close look at the item. Note the details of stitching like color and thickness, placement of identification tags and the serial numbers which should appear on the reverse side; you can even request to see the dust bag. If you are not able to locate a retail store, look at the official website. (See References.) Printing out detailed images from the official Brighton website can establish your reference point for whatever bag you are trying to authenticate.

2. Consider the source of the Brighton bag. Where you buy your bag can be the first indicator of its authenticity. Being offered a money-back guarantee, store receipt or authenticity card does not ensure you are buying an authentic Brighton. If you are considering buying from an online source or a site that offers bidding, find out how many bags are for sale, and, if possible, read the satisfaction surveys of previous customers. If your seller has a large number of the same item for sale, this should raise some red flags. If you are buying in person, comparing the seller's name to an original (nonhandwritten) receipt can be a good way to authenticate the bag. Make a call and ask for the record of purchase.

3. Check the dates of your bag's release by requesting the model number and style details from a seller if you are buying, or the bag serial number if you are authenticating a bag in person. If you are authenticating a Brighton bag from a past collection, ask customer service at the Brighton website to help you verify the styles and dates of production. Current collections can be viewed by entering the handbags section on the Brighton website and viewing the color, size and style options.

4. Find out the different variations of the Brighton bag you wish to purchase by viewing them on the Brighton website; all color, size and style varieties will be listed and available for viewing once you enter the section for handbags. During different seasons and different years, Brighton releases particular colors and designs. If the seller claims the bag dates from a certain era, make sure the design was offered in that shape and style in that particular collection. If this information is not immediately visible, contact customer service via the Brighton website or a retailer.

5. Compare your notes on the authentic bag to the Brighton you are authenticating. Everything should match, from the placement of brand names and details to the type of stitching and the angles of the material. If you took photographs from the website or store, compare them to reinforce your conclusions; you are looking for color of hardware, stitching and tag placement as well as normally overlooked details like the lining of the bag, pattern line-ups if any exist in that style and even the logos on the paper sales tag. Fake bags can be very convincing, and it will help if you examine minor manufacturing features, like the positioning of key holes if the bag has a lock, the exact angles of the stitching and even the bottom of the bag. As all styles and colors have different stitching and hardware to match, a general rule cannot be given for what to look for, but certain characteristics, like the font and size of the logo, will never change.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the bag to an authorized retail shop for a second opinion to verify its authenticity. If you have recently purchased the bag and have a money-back guarantee, get that opinion before the guarantee expires.

References

• "Brighton Online"