Shop De Cru assures that each item has been rigorously authenticated by a trained authentication specialist. All authenticity details pertaining to every piece in our collection are always described in each listing. Aside from sourcing from credible collectors and purveyors, we have an in-house authentication specialist that meticulously authenticates each piece based on known standards for each fashion house – serial numbers, stiching, hardware, stamps, provenance, density of material. We will not list a piece on our website that has any speculation of authenticity. Each piece goes through an extensive clearing process before it can be listed online so that you can shop with confidence. Below you will find helpful information to strengthen and guide your own authentication acumen.

Louis Vuitton 

Authentic Louis Vuitton handbags always have a date code but do not come with an authenticity card — the date code includes the factory code, month/week of production, and year. Prior to 2006, the date code specified the month of production. After 2006, it specified the month. We list all of these details on each Louis item; you can refer to this list for factory codes: 

France:  

A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS (Special Order), AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, CO, CT, CX, DR, DT, DU, ET, FL (also USA), LA (also USA), LM (also Spain), LW, MB, MI, ML, MM, NO, RA, RI, SA (also Italy), SD (also USA), SF, SK, SL, SN, SP, SR, TH, TJ, TN, TR, TS, TY, VI, VX

Italy:

BC (also Spain), BO, CE, FH (also USA), FO, FP, MA, NZ, OB, PL, RC, RE, SA (also France), TB, TD

Spain:
BC (also Italy), CA, LO, LB, LM (also France), LW, GI, UB

USA:
FC, FH (also Italy), FL (also France), LA (also France), OS, SD (also France), TX

Germany:
LP, OL

Switzerland:
DI, FA

Now, try this one! SL1023

Chanel

Chanel handbags most always will have a serial sticker on the interior of the handbag and often a pertaining authenticity card. Occasionally, due to age, the serial sticker can peel off. In that case, the piece is authenticated based upon hardware, stitching, provenance, comparative analysis with similar models from the same collection.

The serial sticker offers more information than meets the eye! Specifically, you can identity the year of production via the serial sticker. Here is a guide:

YEARDATE CODE FORMAT
202030XXXXXX
201927XXXXXX or 28XXXXXX or 29XXXXXX
2018 – 201926XXXXXX
201825XXXXXX
2017 – 2018 24XXXXXX
201723XXXXXX
2016 – 201722XXXXXX
2015 – 201621XXXXXX
2014 – 201520XXXXXX
201419XXXXXX
2013 – 201418XXXXXX
2012 – 201317XXXXXX
201216XXXXXX
201115XXXXXX
2010 – 201114XXXXXX
2009 – 201013XXXXXX
2008 – 200912XXXXXX
2006 – 200811XXXXXX
2005 – 200610XXXXXX
2004 – 20059XXXXXX
2003 – 20048XXXXXX
2002 – 20037XXXXXX
2000 – 20026XXXXXX
1997 – 19995XXXXXX
1996 – 19974XXXXXX
1994 – 19963XXXXXX
1991 – 19942XXXXXX
1989 – 19911XXXXXX
1986 – 19880XXXXXX

Prada

Our authentication specialist has a very specific standard of processes when authenticating a Prada as often times a vintage Prada will not come with its corresponding authenticity card. The Prada bag has to concretely meet the following criteria.
The second leg of the R on a Prada logo needs to be upturned and can never connect to the loop. The zippers are always Lampo, Riri, YKK as Prada uses those suppliers exclusively. 

The logo placard is very significant and would be the first glaring sign of an inauthentic piece.
An authentic Prada bag will have PRADA / MILANO / DAL 1913 and include the brand crest on front logo placard. The R in PRADA is very specific. Pay attention to the font, and specifically the R’s notch and upturned leg. The right leg of the ‘R’ should have a gap between the ‘R’ loop and the ‘R’ leg. Same goes for the interior logo placard. The R should have a curve and say PRADA / MADE IN ITALY.

The next thing to look for is the zipper. The zipper brands that Prada uses are Opti, Lampo,IPI, Riri, or YKK exclusively. Older vintages will not have these brands stamped on the zipper as they were produced prior to Prada’s contract with these zipper suppliers.
Most Pradas will come with a factory code on a little tab on the interior, with the exclusion of the very early released Prada Tessuto Sports from 1998. A Pocone nylon piece, for instance a Prada Tessuto Sport: the placard should always be tonal with the pocone nylon material.

Fendi

A Fendi handbag will always have a serial number in the interior of the handbag. Either embossed on the fabric or on a narrow leather tab. The serial number is a 16 or 17 symbol number and it will be sewn in a seam in one of the corners or pockets. It is never made of fabric so please be sure to be cognizant of that.

The hardware on a Fendi bag will say ‘Fendi’ or possibly ‘Fendi Roma’. A Fendi bag will always say ‘Fendi Made in Italy’ on the interior. Pay close attention to the stitches as they should be very neat and aligned. The ink should be even and neat. If it appears to be crooked and uneven, there is a high likelihood the piece is inauthentic.

Some Fendi bags will have an RFID tag which will be sewn onto a tag. It is very similar technology that is used on credit cards but basically with a special RFID device you could scan the tag and determine the full provenance of the piece – its color, model, serial number, and all manufacturing and production details pertaining to the bag. It would even give a blurb on the bags’ history! Pretty cool.

Fendi hardware is very crisp and elegant. The Fendi house is notorious for including a lot of Fendi stamps on all hardware pieces. For instance, on the clasps, the closures, the base feet.

For a Fendi Baguette, aside from the serial number on the interior—the material will be the signature fendi Jacquard, with a tight weave, VERY sturdy. And if the exterior is the FF Jacquard Zucca print, the interior will never have a printed lining.
The FF clasp is rectangular, elongated. The two arms of the FF are always staggered. The snap closure beneath needs to be a square shape and say FENDI.
The serial number will include 8BR in its style/art code if it is a leather good — in this case the Fendi baguette is considered a leather good due to its lining and strap.

GUCCI

The interior of an authentic Gucci bag will always have a serial number. It can be printed on a leather tab or directly on the material of the inside lining. The logo will always be a three lined heat stamped/embossed tag with the following details: the trademark ®, GUCCI (in caps), and made in italy (all in lowercase). The backside of this leather tab will have a serial number which will be between 10-14 numerical digits split up into two lines. The first line of the serial code refers to the style/model of the handbag while the second line indicates the supplier and the batch of production.

Older vintage Gucci pieces often will have only one row of digits with fewer than 10-13 numerical numbers as the production facilities and standard of processes were entirely different. Keep in mind that the leather label and serial number was developed in the late 1990s. In the 70s for instance, Gucci bags did not have a serial number.

What is very cool is that the more recent Gucci bags, starting in 2016, will have a QR code on the interior of a handbag that can be scanned with your Iphone or smartphone! Super neat and a great way to idenify a counterfeit.
And finally, the craftmanship of an authentic Gucci bag is stellar. Gucci handbags feel luxurious and high end, and they always have.

If a Gucci handbag comes with an authenticity card, you will notice it is called a ‘controllato’ card (control). It will be grey and include 10 numbers.