Everything Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel designed had a utilitarian purpose and meaningful significance to her own life. Do you know the reasons why Chanel added the details she did?

Learning how to tell if a Chanel bag is real has become both art and science. Today’s most respected dealers do not rely on their experience alone to determine a Chanel bag’s authenticity. They also utilize technology to better assess each bag. Yet, many authentication apps have come along that are far less reliable than they claim.

To celebrate the birthday of Chanel 2.55 flap bags, we’re going to take a look back at the history of the Chanel flap bag to learn how Gabrielle’s jersey handbag became the most iconic handbag in the world.

Inspect the CC logo on the locks to work out whether it is a fake or real bag. Always ensure that the right C overlaps the left C on top and the left C overlaps the right C at the bottom. 

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At the top of the logo, the C on the right comes in front of the C on the left. At the bottom, the C on the right passes behind the one on the left. You can tell the bag is fake if the logo is flat or not perfectly centered vertically and horizontally on the leather flap.

An authentic bag always uses flathead screws on the backplate of the lock, never Phillips-head screws, which are a clear indicator of a copyright.

At Maison Vivienne, we always advise buyers to match the serial number on the bag’s interior with the number on the authenticity card. Additionally, the serial number sticker inside the bag should be intact and free from any tampering.

95. Most people will quickly recognize that the crazy low price and shoddy materials make it easy to figure out how to tell if a Chanel bag is real. But these days, fakes are becoming more impressive and harder to spot.

Interior Lining: The burgundy/garnet leather in the original 2.55 was the color of the uniform that Chanel had to wear at the Aubazine orphanage where she was raised.

When verifying the authenticity of a Chanel bag, it's essential to check the serial number and authenticity card. Each Chanel bag comes with a serial number that corresponds to the year of manufacture.

Vestiaire Collective, a globally acclaimed online vintage emporium showcasing an extensive array of Chanel creations.

On the contrary, a low stitch count, often fewer Chanel serial number guide than 10 stitches per inch, or uneven stitching are telltale indicators of a copyright Chanel bag.

Did You Know? Since 2021, Chanel has moved on from hologram stickers and started using a microchip with a serial number in a bid to protect their products from replication and allow easy authentication.