How to: Authenticate your Chanel Classic Flap bag

Chanel Classic Flap bag in pink

Chanel Classic Flap Bag real vs fake 2024

The Chanel Classic Flap bags are currently one of the most sought bags. Not surprising when the value of this bag increases every year. This makes it very to invest in such a beautiful bag as the Chanel Classic Flap bag. But the more popular the bag, the more copies of the bag appear (unfortunately). For this reason, we want to give you some tips to check a Chanel Classic Flap bag for authenticity. 

Classic Flap Bags (Source: Pinterest)

SIX STEPS TO AUTHENTICATE A CHANEL CLASSIC FLAP BAG

You can separate a real Chanel bag from a fake one with the following steps. So let's get started, woohoo! 

STEP 1: SERIAL NUMBER AND AUTHENTICITY CARD 


The Chanel bags made in 1980, and after, have a sticker with a serial number in the bag and a authenticity card. The numbers on the serial number in the bag and the card match. From about 2000, the serial number inside the bag is adorned with Chanel logos and protected by a clear tape with hologram security features. The sticker, Chanel logo and hologram design depend on the production date.

Serial number stickers may peel off handbags. This is because the serial number was on a real sticker in vintage bags. Authentication cards are also often lost. Hence, Chanel handbags lacking these items can still be authentic.


STEP 2: STITCHING AND LINING


A genuine Chanel Classic Flap bag has up to eleven stitches per panel (that's the distance from one side of the diamond shape). However, a fake bag will generally have a lower stitch count. Lining is another feature that varies between real bags and fake ones. The lining of a real bag lies flat against the material with no visible lumps or bumps.

 

STEP 3: THE INTERLOCKING CC LOCK


The interlocking CC lock can have a raised or flat finish, with the right C overlapping the left C at the top and the left C overlapping the right C at the bottom. False locks generally contain minor flaws such as the shape of the C's, the placement of extra metal above the lock. Also check the snaps for quality and how it feels. Real snaps will keep their appearance even after use, while fake pockets will peel off and fade quickly.

STEP 4: BRANDING AND LOGOS 


The width of the Chanel logo should be 3.3 centimeters. With fake bags they often use a thinner font style and have a poor finish. The logo of a real Chanel Classic Flap bag is engraved in the bag instead of incorporated into the leather. The embossed Chanel logo position should be 1.5 centimeters lower than the filled C. The width of the C's and the gap between them remains constant 0.9 centimeters.

 

STEP 5: THE ZIPPER


Chanel bags have different types of zippers they use, we put them together for clarity.

- No marker zipper: usually found on vintage bags
- Lampo zipper: used on metal teeth
- EP zipper: a pull tag made of leather
- 3 C's in a circle zipper
- OPTI DCM zipper
- Eclair zipper
- DMC zipper
- YKK zipper

STEP 6: THE CHAIN 


The vintage Chanel Classic Flap bags are provided with a link without the leather having been threaded through. Fake straps do not have a link without the leather threaded through it. The leather strap is folded over and stitched through every link. Another way to find out is to feel how heavy the chain is. Real Classic Flap bags often have a heavy chain and are quite flexible. With a fake Chanel Classic Flap bag, the chains are often lighter and a bit stiffer.

chanel classic flap bag

 

Ready to find the perfect Chanel Classic Flap bag? Check out our amazing Chanel Classic Flap Bag collection to find the bag of your dreams. 

Do you have any questions or are you looking for a specific designer item? We are more than happy to help you on our online platforms or welcome you in one of our stores in the center of Amsterdam. Do you want to be kept informed about everything about (vintage) designer? Sign up for our newsletter and we'll be the first to update you on the latest news.

With love, 

Sources:
Yoogicloset
Lovethebag
Lovetoknow
Codogirl
Luxity
Pinterest

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