Thanks BB. I thought they were a little later than 2003, but started second guessing myself because I really didn't look the bag over that well. I'll continue to avoid M3U bags.
answers to AUTHENTICITY questions!!!
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Thanks BB. I thought they were a little later than 2003, but started second guessing myself because I really didn't look the bag over that well. I'll continue to avoid M3U bags.
You don't need to avoid them. Just have them authenticated and if fake, return.
Coach didn't start using 5-number style numbers starting with 10*** until very late in 2005 to be sold as 2006 styles, so all M3U- prefixes in bags with any 10*** or higher 5-number style number, OR accessories with any 40*** or higher 5-number style number, are fake, no exceptions.
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Thank you Hyacinth. That helps a lot. I like the definite, no exceptions. Makes it easier for a newbie like myself.
FAKE SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX H5G-
Here's another one that's been turning up a lot in the last few months. It's found in both real and fake bags and ANY bag with this prefix needs to be authenticated, especially since the fakes have been outnumbering the genuine ones recently.
The genuine ones have a very specific and noticeable font and stamping and will all be classic leathers. The fakes have been turning up not just in copies of leather styles from 1995 but also in fake Signature styles and other styles that weren't even made until long after that year.
Even though some people might question the first one pictured below because of the uneveness of the letters and numbers, this is actually one of the REAL ones. The second one is probably fake, but there have been as many different fonts and stamping styles of the fake creeds and numbers so far as there have been of the fakes themselves. Please let the experts decide.
Here's another one that's been turning up a lot in the last few months. It's found in both real and fake bags and ANY bag with this prefix needs to be authenticated, especially since the fakes have been outnumbering the genuine ones recently.
The genuine ones have a very specific and noticeable font and stamping and will all be classic leathers. The fakes have been turning up not just in copies of leather styles from 1995 but also in fake Signature styles and other styles that weren't even made until long after that year.
Even though some people might question the first one pictured below because of the uneveness of the letters and numbers, this is actually one of the REAL ones. The second one is probably fake, but there have been as many different fonts and stamping styles of the fake creeds and numbers so far as there have been of the fakes themselves. Please let the experts decide.
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Hyacinth -
I've been studying both G and H codes for a while now...
Have you noticed that the creeds with the G plant codes still have the "old" wording into 1997?
I have examples in my files from FEB 1995 through MAY 1997, all with the old wording. I have nothing yet for JUNE, JULY, and AUG 1997, but SEPT 1997 and forward have the new wording.
Just curious...
I've been studying both G and H codes for a while now...
Have you noticed that the creeds with the G plant codes still have the "old" wording into 1997?
I have examples in my files from FEB 1995 through MAY 1997, all with the old wording. I have nothing yet for JUNE, JULY, and AUG 1997, but SEPT 1997 and forward have the new wording.
Just curious...
I haven't seen any for 1997, but I've only started collecting "G" examples over the last few months, and concentrating mostly on *5G- numbers. If you want to post a few here or maybe a link to a public album somewhere I'd be very interested to see them. I'll be searching Ebay this morning to see what turns up
The G plant always struck me as being temporary, at least to Coach's corporate thinking. Just the thrown-together look of the serial number stamp makes it seem like that plant ended up with every else's cast-offs. "H" had the same feel, they both give the impression of being part-time plants for much of their production history.
It sounds like you've been studying these for a long time. If you'd like to share any of the information you've put together, you'll have a very appreciative audience right here.
It sounds like you've been studying these for a long time. If you'd like to share any of the information you've put together, you'll have a very appreciative audience right here.
Yes please! I love the older & classic leather bags, and need some schooling.
I haven't seen any for 1997, but I've only started collecting "G" examples over the last few months, and concentrating mostly on *5G- numbers. If you want to post a few here or maybe a link to a public album somewhere I'd be very interested to see them. I'll be searching Ebay this morning to see what turns up
The G plant always struck me as being temporary, at least to Coach's corporate thinking. Just the thrown-together look of the serial number stamp makes it seem like that plant ended up with every else's cast-offs. "H" had the same feel, they both give the impression of being part-time plants for much of their production history.
It sounds like you've been studying these for a long time. If you'd like to share any of the information you've put together, you'll have a very appreciative audience right here.
Since I collect this stuff for my own personal use (edification? Heck - I have no real idea WHY I collect it!) all of my files are in WP. This means they're not easy-to-share jpg files...
I gave it a shot, putting together a few examples and printing them out on paper to scan & post. I tried it in color, but that didn't go too well, so I reprinted in gray scale.
I'm going to post a couple of pages worth - I HOPE some of it is legible enough to at least see that the creed wording is the old style. Here goes...
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Thank you! They all have the same spacing. Most of the fakes I've seen have the numbers squished together.
Great information, thanks for your effort with the photos!
I also found one today on Ebay from July 1997 with the NEW creed and an outlet stamp, so with all those photos the G plant from the mid-90s is confirmed as long as the serial number font(s) and layout matches, and the change happened in or around July
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Super! Thanks, Hyacinth. Okay, then, so JUNE or JULY 1997 it is. If I figure out which, I'll let you know.
Hmmmm... I would think it's possible (?)
I have photos of about 3 dozen "H" plant creed patches, and not a single one of them has a transposed month/year. That said, I don't have one for March, April, or May of 1995.
The rest of it looks right, compared to the others I do have.