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]

Thank you, I've read the whole guide now I hadn't seen it before, sorry to waste your time!

It's not a waste of time if you finally found an accurate Guide that can answer some of your questions.

 

[Hyacinth]

oh Wow!!! every time I see one of these Carrier Briefs, it's being called a Musette. I'll research the difference. Thank you so much!

The differences are simple. Besides the Carrier being VERY slightly larger, the Carrier has an open slip pocket on the back, and the Carrier's inside pocket has a zipper. The Musette has neither.

The Carrier was actually introduced in Fall 1987 as the Musette Bag Large but Coach quickly changed the name. This is the 1987 Holiday catalog, the one right after the name change:

 

[umadam]

well you've simplified it.

The differences are simple. Besides the Carrier being VERY slightly larger, the Carrier has an open slip pocket on the back, and the Carrier's inside pocket has a zipper. The Musette has neither.

The Carrier was actually introduced in Fall 1987 as the Musette Bag Large but Coach quickly changed the name. This is the 1987 Holiday catalog, the one right after the name change:

View attachment 4866203

Oh my goodness thank you!!! Ive been wanting the musette and accidentally bought the carrier. It's definately bigger on me lol

 

[umadam]

well you've simplified it.

Oh my goodness thank you!!! Ive been wanting the musette and accidentally bought the carrier. It's definately bigger on me lol

 

[umadam]

Does this help for authentication? I am hoping someone changed out the turnlocks because they are new looking.

 

[umadam]

Sorry, also the strap is finshed leather on both sides and thinner .

 

[erinnhenkle]

Is this the listing?

Vintage Coach Devon Bone Leather Crossbody Satchel Bag Purse 9908 Turnlock Flap | eBay

<p>Vintage Coach Devon Bone Leather Crossbody Satchel Bag Purse 9908 Turnlock Flap. Condition is Pre-owned. Vintage very clean. No marks inside. Inside pocket. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail for $8.95 and funds must be received within 3 days of auction close. Thanks</p>

www.ebay.com

Unless it's been over 90 days, listings remain viewable. You can either find it in your purchases and click the purchased item or you can do as I did and search completed/sold listings.

The bag is authentic, made in 1994.

Yes - that's the listing - thank you!

 

[Hyacinth]

Does this help for authentication? I am hoping someone changed out the turnlocks because they are new looking.

Sorry, also the strap is finshed leather on both sides and thinner .

I can't judge the strap, maybe @whateve can. But it wouldn't surprise me if an owner or seller had replaced a strap that was more than 30 years old.

But the turnlocks may be replacements, I'd need to see closer pictures of the back plate where the prongs are. It looks like the plate has indentations for the prongs, which would mean they've been replaced with non-Coach hardware.

ETA - BTW, just to ease your mind, the briefcase itself is genuine, it's just the strap and turnlocks that may have been replaced. That's not uncommon with vintage bags, that's why Coach and 3rd-party sellers have replacements available. The 3rd-party pieces usually aren't exactly the same as the original Coach parts, but that's more a matter of keeping the prices affordable than anything else.

 

[BeenBurned]

Sorry, also the strap is finshed leather on both sides and thinner .

I can't judge the strap, maybe @whateve can. But it wouldn't surprise me if an owner or seller had replaced a strap that was more than 30 years old.

But the turnlocks may be replacements, I'd need to see closer pictures of the back plate where the prongs are. It looks like the plate has indentations for the prongs, which would mean they've been replaced with non-Coach hardware.

In this picture (from the listing) of the buckle, it looks awfully thin, not like other buckles used on Coach bags.

 

[whateve]

In this picture (from the listing) of the buckle, it looks awfully thin, not like other buckles used on Coach bags.

View attachment 4866291

I think it is just the light. It looks okay in the picture of the back of the bag.

 

[whateve]

Sorry, also the strap is finshed leather on both sides and thinner .

I don't see any issues with the strap although I've never owned one of these. I feel being finished on both sides might make it stronger.

 

[Huskycat]

Hi- would someone take a look at this thrift store find. The store was closing and I took a chance. I believe it is an Abbie 9017.
Dimensions are:
6 3/4” wide
6 1/4” high
2” deep
Strap drop 21”

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hyacinth]

Sorry, also the strap is finshed leather on both sides and thinner .

In this picture (from the listing) of the buckle, it looks awfully thin, not like other buckles used on Coach bags.

View attachment 4866291

On the subject of the strap - the official Coach catalog pages seem to show that the Carrier strap holes didn't have any metal grommets, but the Carrier you bought does. So that would seem to indicate it might be an aftermarket replacement strap.

More opinions would help, I've never owned one of those.

 

[Hyacinth]

Hi- would someone take a look at this thrift store find. The store was closing and I took a chance. I believe it is an Abbie 9017. View attachment 4866296View attachment 4866297View attachment 4866298
Dimensions are:
6 3/4” wide
6 1/4” high
2” deep
Strap drop 21”

Thanks in advance!

View attachment 4866292

It looks good, you were lucky.

 

[umadam]

On the subject of the strap - the official Coach catalog pages seem to show that the Carrier strap holes didn't have any metal grommets, but the Carrier you bought does. So that would seem to indicate it might be an aftermarket replacement strap.

More opinions would help, I've never owned one of those.

Thank you ALL. i was thinking, I've never seen a thin strap finished on both sides. But it's a lot I haven't seen! I also took notice of the grommets. So relieved that the bag is genuine, though i might stay on the look out for a genuine Carrier strap. I really appreciate your efforts. Thank you