Authenticate This COACH - **see first post for format**

[Vlad]

IMPORTANT READ-ME

Please post authenticity questions related to COACH in this thread. No PMs please.
For further information, please refer to the first post on page 1 of this thread.

Please follow the following requests:

• Before you submit a request for authentication, please search this thread to make sure that the item has not previously been authenticated by searching the seller ID and/or item number. This is not a thread to ask general questions about COACH, please refer to our main Coach forum for such information.
• Note that authenticators have the right to refuse any requests. This is a free service, but it is imperative that you help our authenticators by using the following format:
• FOR ITEMS LISTED ONLINE:
  Item:
  Listing number:
  Seller and site where listed
  Link:
  Comments:
  
  
• FOR ITEMS NOT LISTED ONLINE:
  Item:
  Where purchased or how obtained
  Comments:

BASIC PICTURES REQUIRED (but more may be requested): If necessary pictures are in the listing, it's not necessary to upload and duplicate them.

• Front of item
• Back of item
• Full clear and legible creed text and serial number
• Made in tags (when available)
• Measurements
• For bags with turnlock closures, show pictures of back of female side of turnlock
• For bags with magnetic snaps, show pictures of the male part of the snap so that the numbers and letters on it can be read
• If applicable, search interior of bag and/or pockets for small white tag with production information and include a picture of that.

Thank you and be safe!

 

[Hyacinth]

Dear Authenticator, is the attached a genuine Coach bag? Thank you in advance. Btw, I always thought that genuine vintage Coach only came with brass (gold tone) hardware but noticed that some were made with silver tone hardware too.

Seller is Vintagemillybee

https://posh.mk/vZRaOUjlQ8

Genuine City Willis from 1999.

Coach didn't start using silver-tone hardware until the very end of the 1990s, and only on very limited lines and styles in the beginning.

 

[whateve]

Dear Authenticator, is the attached a genuine Coach bag? Thank you in advance. Btw, I always thought that genuine vintage Coach only came with brass (gold tone) hardware but noticed that some were made with silver tone hardware too.

Seller is Vintagemillybee

https://posh.mk/vZRaOUjlQ8

It's authentic. Coach started using nickel (dull silver) hardware in 1997.

 

[whateve]

Hi authenticators, would someone be able to double check this one for me? In hand, let me know if you need any additional pictures.

Item: Courier
Seller: 620jean
Item #: 164321144110
Link: eBay
Comments: noticed the inside pocket has no stitching along the top, maybe normal or repaired?

Thank you, hope the week is off to a good start!

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It's fine. Earlier bags didn't have stitching along the top of the pocket.

 

[Hyacinth]

Hi authenticators, would someone be able to double check this one for me? In hand, let me know if you need any additional pictures.

Item: Courier
Seller: 620jean
Item #: 164321144110
Link: eBay
Comments: noticed the inside pocket has no stitching along the top, maybe normal or repaired?

Thank you, hope the week is off to a good start!

View attachment 4815041

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It's genuine, probably early to mid 1970s? I'm going to defer to @whateve for a more accurate date or for questions about the stitching on the inside pocket.


ETA - Aaaaaand she's got it covered - thanks, Whateve!

 

[Craigers]

Most of the Sonomas from the 1990s were available in 2 different leathers, Natural Grain and Nubuc, so the 2 versions will have 2 different style numbers just like the one you're asking about. Usually the Natural grain style number ran up to 4929 and the Nubuc versions started at 4930.

The Bullseye stamp in genuine bags indicated an item that was either sent to the factory Outlet stores from the full-price stores, or in some items from before the mid-2000 decade indicated an item that had been made SPECIFICALLY for the outlets (MFF) and never been in the inventory of any of the full-price (FP) boutiques. Having that stamp does NOT prove that an item is an authentic Coach so please don't consider it as positive proof of authenticity.

Thank you so much for the number explanation.
So this is a genuine Coach purse that was purchased at an outlet store but it's not certain if it was made for the outlets or if it was transferred from a full-price boutique, right? Thanks again.

 

[Craigers]

We call the "circle ⭕ impression on the creed" an outlet bullet and on an authentic bag, it indicates that a bag that was made for the boutiques and department stores was sent to the outlet. So the bag with a bullet was purchased from a Coach outlet store.

Thank you BB, I'll add this info to my notes.

 

[Hyacinth]

Thank you so much for the number explanation.
So this is a genuine Coach purse that was purchased at an outlet store but it's not certain if it was made for the outlets or if it was transferred from a full-price boutique, right? Thanks again.

Yes, Coach didn't have any "F" serial number code to indicate a bag made just for the outlets until around the middle of 2006, before that both bags transferred or deleted from the full-price stores to the Factory stores AND items made exclusively for the Factory outlets could have a Bulls-eye stamp. I think Coach was making outlet-only items at least as early as the mid 1990s. The first actual Factory Store might have been opened some time around 1989-1990 but that's just a guess.

Usually if the item had appeared on Coach's website or in its catalogs it's more likely to have been a transfer or "delete" from the full-price stores. There have been a few styles that we can't find anywhere in any of Coach's selling sites or catalog pages, so it's possible those are Outlet only (MFF - Made For Factory) items. MFF bags and accessories weren't in Coach's main computer database either so even a computer search by a Coach employee might not be able to find or identify them.

 

[Riezky]

It's fine. Earlier bags didn't have stitching along the top of the pocket.

It's genuine, probably early to mid 1970s? I'm going to defer to @whateve for a more accurate date or for questions about the stitching on the inside pocket.


ETA - Aaaaaand she's got it covered - thanks, Whateve!

Thank you both so much!! You guys are absolute treasure troves of knowledge.

 

[Hyacinth]

Genuine City Willis from 1999.

Coach didn't start using silver-tone hardware until the very end of the 1990s, and only on very limited lines and styles in the beginning.

@daimlerz -
BTW, I'm pretty sure the color of the City Willis is Camel. British or "English" Tan as the seller calls it wasn't available on that style or with silver hardware in the beginning.

 

[houseof999]

I don't see anything that alarms me either but I'm not even sure they're the identical items although they might be from the same collection. Neither listing has some of the same views.

Both listings look good to me.

ETA: The bags with alligator were from 2004-2006-ish.

Thanks. Where can I find the style number for these? And why don't they have serial numbers on them?

 

[BeenBurned]

Thanks. Where can I find the style number for these? And why don't they have serial numbers on them?

I can't answer either of your questions. I checked the wayback though I didn't go through all of the pages.

Also during my search, I found something else that was interesting.

In 2008, Megs wrote about a $7K alligator bag claimed as Italian made but apparently, it's Chinese made and only finishing touches are added in Italy. Yet the bags have "made in Italy" stamps:

Coach Legacy Alligator Purse - PurseBlog

Coach Legacy Alligator Purse It is not just Coach that moved its factory to China, many designer houses have also moved. But those that remain with their “Made in Italy” tags are claiming a little…

www.purseblog.com

And check out the price tag on this one!

NWT Coach Hampton Genuine Alligator Carryall Carry On BAG RARE 11090 . $13,000 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NWT Coach Hampton Genuine Alligator Carryall Carry On BAG RARE 11090 . $13,000 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Craigers]

I can't answer either of your questions. I checked the wayback though I didn't go through all of the pages.

Also during my search, I found something else that was interesting.

In 2008, Megs wrote about a $7K alligator bag claimed as Italian made but apparently, it's Chinese made and only finishing touches are added in Italy. Yet the bags have "made in Italy" stamps:

Coach Legacy Alligator Purse - PurseBlog

Coach Legacy Alligator Purse It is not just Coach that moved its factory to China, many designer houses have also moved. But those that remain with their “Made in Italy” tags are claiming a little…

www.purseblog.com

And check out the price tag on this one!

NWT Coach Hampton Genuine Alligator Carryall Carry On BAG RARE 11090 . $13,000 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NWT Coach Hampton Genuine Alligator Carryall Carry On BAG RARE 11090 . $13,000 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Unb

Yes, Coach didn't have any "F" serial number code to indicate a bag made just for the outlets until around the middle of 2006, before that both bags transferred or deleted from the full-price stores to the Factory stores AND items made exclusively for the Factory outlets could have a Bulls-eye stamp. I think Coach was making outlet-only items at least as early as the mid 1990s. The first actual Factory Store might have been opened some time around 1989-1990 but that's just a guess.

Usually if the item had appeared on Coach's website or in its catalogs it's more likely to have been a transfer or "delete" from the full-price stores. There have been a few styles that we can't find anywhere in any of Coach's selling sites or catalog pages, so it's possible those are Outlet only (MFF - Made For Factory) items. MFF bags and accessories weren't in Coach's main computer database either so even a computer search by a Coach employee might not be able to find or identify them.

Thank you Hyacinth —great info and Coach history lesson. Is there any kind of consensus regarding the quality comparison of MFF versus FP?

 

[whateve]

Unb

Thank you Hyacinth —great info and Coach history lesson. Is there any kind of consensus regarding the quality comparison of MFF versus FP?

Some people won't buy MFF. They are convinced it is lower quality. I've bought both. In some cases, the MFF item is as good quality IMO; in others, the MFF item was lousy quality. Sometimes the difference is just in the lining. Sometimes the MFF item has less detailing. In the case of older, pre-2006 items, I don't think you can tell the difference.

 

[Craigers]

Some people won't buy MFF. They are convinced it is lower quality. I've bought both. In some cases, the MFF item is as good quality IMO; in others, the MFF item was lousy quality. Sometimes the difference is just in the lining. Sometimes the MFF item has less detailing. In the case of older, pre-2006 items, I don't think you can tell the difference.

Thank you Whateve, it will help in what to look for when considering MFF. I mostly shop for pre-2000 Coach purses but I did recently purchase a Legacy Woven Pocket Hobo 12378 & Legacy Thompson Julia because I really liked the styling and we live a fairly causal lifestyle. Again thank you.

 

[whateve]

Thank you Whateve, it will help in what to look for when considering MFF. I mostly shop for pre-2000 Coach purses but I did recently purchase a Legacy Woven Pocket Hobo 12378 & Legacy Thompson Julia because I really liked the styling and we live a fairly causal lifestyle. Again thank you.

I have the legacy woven pocket hobo. It is a very nice bag, and the Legacy Thompson line is amazing.