With today’s technology and innovations, replicas can easily be made. This mainly happens with large, luxury, well-known brands. For example CHANEL. A new, authentic CHANEL bag costs at least thousands of euros. Of course, not everyone wants and can spend so much money on a bag and the producers of replicas respond to that. Or, of course, you can also purchase an original, second-hand CHANEL bag for a much better price. But it is often difficult to check whether this is the authentic, original. Have you scored a second-hand CHANEL bag and would you like to know how you can check whether it is the original CHANEL? Keep on reading!

But what should I pay attention to? Example: CHANEL Classic Small Double Flap bag vintage 

1. Packaging
   First of all, you can look at the font used on the box. The letters CHANEL on the original box have a slightly wider font. The font is called “couture”.
   The box contains a folding flap (with which you open it). With the original CHANEL, you will notice that you can easily fold this flap (forward and backward) and that it is nice and neatly finished. You can tell it’s good quality.
   
   
2. Accessories 
   It is difficult to determine on the basis of the accessories whether you have received an original bag or not. Original accessories can be placed with a replica bag in the box. What you can pay attention to is the authenticity card. You can notice the text and numbers are well and deeply engraved in it. The card is also quite sturdy. It is not as thick as a credit card, but it is sturdy.
   
   
3. The size
   Of course, it depends on which model you purchased. In this example, we inform you of the dimensions of the CHANEL Classic Small Flap Bag Vintage. This one has a length of 25.40 cm (10¨), width of 5.08 cm (2.5¨) and height of 15.24 cm (6¨). The chain (handle) has a length of 40.64 cm (16.25¨).
   
   
4. The material – the smell 
   The CHANEL Classic Small Flap Bag Vintage is made of real leather. You often smell high-quality leather. In that case, it has a typical leather smell. Fake leather can often be distinguished from real leather by smell.
   
   
5. Texture & details
   The texture of the bag is deeply engraved into it. With a replica, you can often feel the texture a bit more on the surface. Furthermore, the material does not feel as hard as the original. It is a bit smoother, softer, and not very stiff. The seams will be less visible and will also be deeper engraved in the bag. You will see that it is very neatly finished. And of course, don’t forget the figures on the bag (in this case the diamonds). With the original, the figures are finished nicely at the ends of the bag and the seams match the figures.
   
   Let’s not forget the handle (in this case the chain)! It should slide easily through the rings.
   
   
6. Color
   The color says it all! The color of the real CHANEL Classic Small Flap Bag Vintage has a ‘matte look’ and is a little bit darker.
   The colour is the chain is light gold, a bit gold-yellowish. Also, the logo is in this color.
   
   
7. The inside
   Just like with humans, the inside of this bag is also an important indicator. So what should you pay attention to on the inside? Well, you will notice that the zipper is not stiff. The zipper should slide/zip easily.
   
   If you look at the logo on the inside of the bag, you will see that the distance between the C&C is the same everywhere. Everything is nicely symmetrical. The letters CHANEL are quite close to the CC logo. Finally, last but not least: the date code. This is located on the original in the lower left corner of the bag.
   
   We always recommend investigating a bit before purchasing an expensive item online. This blog is based on the CHANEL Classic Small Flap Bag Vintage.