In the world of fashion, there are handbags, and then there are Louis Vuitton handbags. Known as one of the most luxurious brands in the world, Louis Vuitton handbags are iconic statements of fine craftsmanship, style and class. Among dozens of luxury labels, Louis Vuitton is considered the gold standard of the industry, which is impressive for a company that started more than a century ago.

Why Is Louis Vuitton so expensive?

There are many reasons why genuine Louis Vuitton handbags fetch such high prices. As one of the trendsetters of the fashion world, Louis Vuitton specializes in creating custom, handmade goods that use only the highest quality materials, including leather, lambskin, crocodile, and even camel skin.

Louis Vuitton is also known for exclusivity. Their products are made by hand by a small group of highly skilled workers and are only available in limited quantities through specific sales channels. The fashion house never discounts their products, they work exclusively with high-profile designers, and their policy states the price of one of their bags must be equal to an employee’s yearly salary. The company also offers a custom personalization service in their branded stores, so even the most demanding customers can get a tailored Louis Vuitton product that is truly one-of-a-kind.

How Do I Know I’m Getting the Real Thing?

Louis Vuitton handbags are so coveted that they are also popular targets for counterfeiters, who have gone to great lengths to produce high quality knock-offs to fool buyers. However, with a few of our helpful tips, you’ll be more likely to spot a deal that may be too good to be true.

  • Materials – Made of high-quality, soft cowhide leather or specially treated monogram canvas, Louis Vuitton handbags are expected to be soft and supple, yet last for decades with minimal wear and tear. If your handbag is made of pleather or vinyl, or smells of strong chemicals, that’s a sign the bag’s a fake. Also, take a close look at the bag handles and trim. Handles on legitimate Louis Vuitton handbags will darken naturally over time due to oxidation, and the trim will be a deep burgundy red.
  • Lettering – Because the brand is so exclusive, there are usually subtle signs on the tag lettering to verify whether your bag is legit. For example, if the full name is spelled out, the “O” will be a circle, not an oval, and while the full name is normally spelled with capital letters, the brand uses a distinct font that is difficult for counterfeiters to duplicate.
  • Stitching – Again, there will be subtle signs, but because Louis Vuitton prides itself on its craftsmanship, there is a level of precision in their handbags that simply can’t be matched. For example, if the number of stitches on each handle is identical, you’ve probably got a real bag. However, while the number of stitches should match, they should not be uniform. This indicates that whoever made it used a machine, which could mean it’s fake.
  • Date codes – Hidden inside the lining, there should be an embossed leather tag with a specific combination of letters and numbers, which marks when and where your bag was made. If you check that against the date code online and confirm it matches the stamp in your bag, your Louis Vuitton bag is likely the real deal.
  • Stamping – There are a lot of tiny stamping details that forgers either ignore or just get wrong. On the embossed leather tag mentioned above, it should have “Louis Vuitton Paris” stamped in a unique font that is tricky to copy. Matching this with the date code is a sure way to verify authenticity.
  • Accessories – While some luxury brands throw in free accessories for their bags, genuine Louis Vuitton handbags are so special they don’t need extra accessories to attract buyers. There’s only one bag that offers an optional strap for purchase, so beware of retailers offering free exclusive extras to distract you.
  • Monogram – Authentic Louis Vuitton bags are made with a continuous piece of leather, and the placement of the logo is critical. If you spot extra seams, or the monogram looks crooked, cut off or inconsistent, say “bye bye” to that bag!
  • Hardware – Real Louis Vuitton handbags feature brass hardware in two options – shiny or matte. Even on used Louis Vuitton bags, the shiny brass hardware should be bright and reflective. By contrast, fake bags will usually include hardware covered in plastic to prevent tarnishing. Quality brass doesn’t tarnish, so there’s no need to wrap it in plastic.
  • Authenticity certificates – At first glance, a luxury handbag sporting a certificate “proving” its authenticity may appear to be a good thing. However, genuine Louis Vuitton handbags will never contain an authenticity certificate.

Why You Should Trust Gene’s Pawn Jewelry

Since Louis Vuitton is one of the world’s most popular – and expensive – fashion brands, it makes sense to be cautious and take time to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. By using the tips above, you can better protect yourself and your hard-earned money, just by paying close attention to several key details.

Because Louis Vuitton bags are such high-profile targets for fraud, we here at Gene’s Jewelry Pawn also take verification seriously. Before we even offer such products to our customers, we carefully examine each item, looking for specific characteristics that stand out from the rest. We also work with a verified authentication service, which helps capture minute details even experts might miss, to ensure the product’s validity.

You can rest assured that our friendly, professional staff at Gene’s Pawn have your best interests at the heart of all we do. With three locations across the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Gene’s Pawn is committed to treating you like a member of our family. Our business is built on trust, honesty and reliability. We carefully evaluate, assess and validate every high-end luxury item that comes into our stores to ensure we are offering only the best and highest quality merchandise at prices you can afford. Visit one of our greater Charleston area shops today and see all the amazing treasure we have for sale. We look forward to seeing you soon!