We continue in our fake spotting series with the French luxury label Hermès. Named after the actor Jane Birkin, the Birkin Bag by Hermès stands for luxury and wealth like no other designer handbag. The popularity and luxurious price of this bag is also the reason why the black market of Hermès bags is booming. Therefore, we show you which details you have to pay attention to when buying a Hermès Birkin Bag in order not to fall for the counterfeiters.

1. Authentication card

Unlike other luxury labels, you don’t get an authenticity or authenticity card when you buy an original Hermès Birkin Bag. Many unsuspecting buyers see this fake “certificate of authenticity”, usually in orange, as a sign of an original bag, but the opposite is true because this is already the sign that it is almost certainly not an original bag.

2. Invoice

The invoice receipt is not, as many buyers assume, in orange, but is almost always contained in a white pocket or in an envelope on which the logo has been embossed. If sellers with allegedly original invoices in an orange envelope are curious, caution is called for, as this is a further indication that it is possibly plagiarism. When buying online, therefore, always ask for pictures or videos on which, for example, the invoice can be seen.3

3. Hermès Padlock

Another feature that you better take a closer look at is the castle that is so characteristic of Birkin Bags. Most of the Birkin Bags have the embossed Hermès writing very close to the upper edge of the lock, while the number is usually engraved on the lower edge, rather small. Also, be careful if the lock is number 121 because there are many fake bags with this number, but there are also original Birkin Bags with this number.

4. Handle

If you have the opportunity to inspect the bag personally, make sure to check the handles. If they are unusually round or bent at the sides, it is most likely a fake. Fake products often show exactly these characteristics, because the quality of the materials is not high quality or the bag was stored in too small boxes or not correctly. If you have the impression that the bag does not look high quality or badly manufactured due to various characteristics, do not touch it in any case. Hermès only works with the highest quality materials and checks each bag in advance for any quality defects.

5. Printed trademark

Each original Hermès Birkin Bag is stamped with the “Hermès Paris Made in France” stamp. Of course, almost all fakes have this stamp, but a close look is often enough to unmask the fake bag. On the original bags, the stamp is always very close to the top edge and never in the middle between the top edge and the metal plate of the closure. Furthermore, fake products may contain spelling mistakes in the stamp or look inferior in quality. When buying Vintage Birkin Bags you have to take into account that until 1965 the stamp only contains the words “Hermès Paris” and the addition “Made in France” was added later.

6. Blind stamp

Many luxury labels use individual data systems that provide information about the year of manufacture, for example. For this reason, Hermès has been applying a so-called blind stamp to most Birkin bags since 1945, which is usually on the underside of the handles, straps or clasps. Note, however, that many fakes also have a blind stamp. However, if this is noticeably large, you are most likely holding plagiarism in your hands. If you would like more information about the individual data codes, just click here.

We hope that you have not yet fallen into the trap of the counterfeiters and maybe soon you will be able to hold your original favorite Birkin Bag in your hands.

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