Today I will teach you 16 Useful Tips about How to Tell Original Kate Spade Bags. You wouldn't think anyone would bother to make fake Kate Spade bags because the originals are relatively inexpensive (except http://www.6pm.com, http://www.nordstrom.com, and http://www.katespadestores.com/ discount Kate Spade bags store ) - at least compared to other high-fashion bags such as Prada, LV, etc. But as you know, people will do anything to make a quick buck. Fake Kate Spade bags are a little difficult to spot, but here are some tips based on my personal experiences and observations:
Please note: I am not affiliated with 6pm.com,nordstrom.com and katespadestores.com - I just love their products and hate to see people get taken advantage of...
Photos: Also please note that the photos you see to the right are not my photos - they are listings from 6pm,nordstrom,katespadestores - so they may be authentic. I have no control over what listings appear there - 6pm,nordstrom,katespadestores choose them based on the content of this guide - i.e. regarding Kate Spade bags and wallets.
1. Signature fabric: The "C" pattern will be crooked. Except for some newer patterns, like the "optic" or my new favorite "scarf print," the tip of the horizontal "C" facing the other "C" should touch. Also, the pattern should line up and start in the center of the front panel of the bag (same with the back panel). The center seam should go straight down through the middle of the CC's, and the pattern should be aligned horizontally and vertically. Also, the pattern should line up on any front or back pockets, so that it looks like there is no break in the pattern. (Note: Sometimes the pattern does not line up on side seams as this is nearly impossible to do.) The best way to tell is to go to the Kate Spade website and look at the real thing, and then compare it to what you're looking at on eBay and see if the pattern is different.
2. Sometimes the "CC" will actually be a "GG" - how much more obvious can you get! And no, this does not mean it's a Gucci! (I'm not as familiar with Gucci products, but if someone is selling you a "Kate Spade" bag which is imprinted with the letter "G" then logically it must be fake.)
3. The stitching or general construction of the bag looks sloppy - this is a sure sign because Kate Spade does not make sloppy products! Each stitch should be the same length as every other stitch, it should be in a straight line, and there should be no "over-stitching".
4. The bag does not look like any other bag you've ever seen - if it looks "sort of" like a bag you've seen but something is "off" - be careful!
5. Replicas: The seller is listing an unusually large number of the same exact bag. This is a red flag because there are websites where you can purchase good-quality replicas, and I have seen these replicas listed on eBay claiming to be authentic. Note that replicas are usually made of fabric, as leather is more expensive and therefore all-leather bags are less likely to be fake. (However, I have seen fake Kate Spade bags made of all-leather. The all-leather fakes are usually very easy to spot - i.e. the quality of the leather is VERY poor, the fixtures are all wrong, etc.)
6. Photos: Beware of blurry photos or stock photos (a stock photo is one that has been cut-and-pasted from the Kate Spade website, usually with a white background) - this does not necessarily mean the bag is fake, but if you see either of these types of photos, I would contact the seller and ask if they can send you a photo of the actual item they're selling.
7. Authenticity: Take note if there is absolutely no mention that the bag is authentic! If so, ask the seller to verify that they are offering an authentic product. If they fail to respond to your request, this may be a sign that they don't want to incriminate themselves. But be careful! Just because the seller claims it's authentic does not mean that it is.
8. Credo Patch: Most Kate Spade bags have a "serial number" stamped on the inside, on a square patch of leather sewn into the lining. Some of the smaller purses (the "clutch," the "swingpack" and the "mini") do not have a serial number. The serial number typically consists of a series of numbers or a number-and-letter combination. The last 4-5 digits of the serial number indicate the style number of the bag. Careful, though, as fake Kate Spade bags also have a serial number - so just because the bag has a serial number does NOT mean the it is authentic.
**UPDATE** If the patch is not stamped - in other words, embossed into the leather - but is simply printed in ink - beware! The only bags I've seen with the credo patch printed in ink are the newer lines, like the Legacy, where the credo is lettered in gold-colored ink - and even then, it is still stamped into the leather before it's lettered over in gold.
***UPDATE REGARDING "SERIAL NUMBERS"*** History: Bags from the late 1960's did not have any serial number. Kate Spade added serial numbers to the creed in the 1970's - each bag had a unique number - a "serial number" in the true sense of the word. This was apparently true through the 1980's, and it was not until the 1990's that Kate Spade introduced the modern "registration format" of letters and numbers, with the last four digits indicating the style number of the bag - or, in the late 2000's, the last five digits.
9. Fixtures: The "Kate Spade" logo should be stamped on most of the metal hardware - except the older "classic favorite" styles. **UPDATE** The newer Kate Spade bags do not have the Kate Spade stamp on any of the nickel/brass hardware, such as, the Legacy bags. But keep in mind that Kate Spade still makes their regular 'trendy' line of bags, although the newer ones do not appear to have Kate Spade stamped on the hardware (perhaps they are doing away with this). This is a situation where, because the style of a particular bag may change from year to year, you'll need to find a photo of the authentic product - and make sure it's the same style number - to compare with photos from the auction.
10. Zippers: Although the zipper pull on a real Kate Spade bag will be made of leather or a series of rings, the actual zipper mechanism which pulls the two sides of the zipper together should be embossed with the letters "YKK". This is the highest-quality manufacturer of zippers and Kate Spade uses this brand. Sometimes it's hard to see, especially on a photo. Even in person, you may need a magnifying glass to see the YKK, especially with very small zippers. Note: I have never seen a regular zipper pull on a Kate Spade bag - in my experience, they are either made of leather, a single ring, or series or rings. This is one of the wonderful ways Kate Spade makes their products unique, down to the very smallest detail!
If you want to buy discount Kate Spade bags you can visit http://www.6pm.com, http://www.nordstrom.com, and http://www.katespadestores.com/
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