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!

 

[RL Bernstein]

Tonight's last item is a brown wallet. It looks familiar, but I can't place its identity. It measures 5" wide x 3-3/4" tall (when closed) and has 3 card pockets, 2 slip pockets, and a kisslock coin purse on one side, a windowed ID pocket, one card pocket and 2 slip pockets on the other side, and a deep billfold pocket spanning both halves. I'm telling you, they don't make things like they used to anymore. This wallet has the nicest feel to it.

If anyone can help me with either authenticating and/or identifying this little gem, I would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[RL Bernstein]

One more thing, though unrelated to things I presently have. Plenty of 9525 Stewardess bags have crossed my workbench and I've grown fond of restoring them when I find a bargain worth the effort. I stumbled across this listing and would like to see if my 6th sense is correct or not.

Item: Vtg COACH #9525 STEWARDESS BLACK All Leather Shoulder Handbag EUC Inside and Out
Listing number: 262303320335
Seller: jefferka01 (427)
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-COACH-9...320335?hash=item3d127f090f:g:6poAAOSw~OVWy~D9

Comments: Following the advice that all J8H bags should be authenticated. Specific to this listing, I noticed that the wording on the creed is different than that of other Stewardess bags I currently have here (both NYC-made and USA C-production facility, all of which contain the words "The scars, scratches, veins and wrinkles are natural markings characteristic of full-grain leathers"). Also, the overall look of the creed stamp is less "crisp" than I'm used to seeing. Other than that, my untrained eye doesn't see anything glaring like I've seen on other fake Stewardesses.

So I'd appreciate your verdict. Thanks

 

[whateve]

Tonight's last item is a brown wallet. It looks familiar, but I can't place its identity. It measures 5" wide x 3-3/4" tall (when closed) and has 3 card pockets, 2 slip pockets, and a kisslock coin purse on one side, a windowed ID pocket, one card pocket and 2 slip pockets on the other side, and a deep billfold pocket spanning both halves. I'm telling you, they don't make things like they used to anymore. This wallet has the nicest feel to it.

If anyone can help me with either authenticating and/or identifying this little gem, I would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

This is an authentic Lexington continental clutch #4876 from 2001. The reason it feels so good is that it is made of water buffalo calfskin.

 

[whateve]

One more thing, though unrelated to things I presently have. Plenty of 9525 Stewardess bags have crossed my workbench and I've grown fond of restoring them when I find a bargain worth the effort. I stumbled across this listing and would like to see if my 6th sense is correct or not.

Item: Vtg COACH #9525 STEWARDESS BLACK All Leather Shoulder Handbag EUC Inside and Out
Listing number: 262303320335
Seller: jefferka01 (427)
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-COACH-9...320335?hash=item3d127f090f:g:6poAAOSw~OVWy~D9

Comments: Following the advice that all J8H bags should be authenticated. Specific to this listing, I noticed that the wording on the creed is different than that of other Stewardess bags I currently have here (both NYC-made and USA C-production facility, all of which contain the words "The scars, scratches, veins and wrinkles are natural markings characteristic of full-grain leathers"). Also, the overall look of the creed stamp is less "crisp" than I'm used to seeing. Other than that, my untrained eye doesn't see anything glaring like I've seen on other fake Stewardesses.

So I'd appreciate your verdict. Thanks

Yes, it's fake. The creed wording isn't the problem; Coach changed the wording around 1995. All your Stewardesses must be older. The H plant has unique and very recognizable quirks, which are missing from this creed. That fuzziness is a problem too. I believe I see silver grommets. There might be other problems not shown in the photos, which aren't very comprehensive.

 

[RL Bernstein]

This is an authentic Lexington continental clutch #4876 from 2001. The reason it feels so good is that it is made of water buffalo calfskin.

Thank you for all the information. I knew that there had to be a good reason why this wallet felt so nice. It reminded me of the hand of a I believe lambskin 8165 Small Ashton Hobo I once had in the shop. That had pretty much the softest leather I've experienced on a COACH bag. Probably the relative thinnest too. Dress glove and not baseball mitt material.

 

[whateve]

The second item is a very dark brown XL Shopper whose style number and correct name I can't seem to find. It's measurements are similar to the previously verified 5190 Envelope Portfolio and are 15-1/2" wide x 12" tall x 3" deep with straps having an 11' drop.

Your critique and input are both requested and welcomed. Thanks.

Moving right along here.... The third item looks to be a burgundy style 9665 Marketing Tote and I can see that I need to attend to the inside bottom suede panel. It measures 14-1/2" wide x 9-1/2" tall x 3-1/2" deep and has straps with a 10" drop. I wonder how many of bag styles of that era used the long tab exterior strap anchors? A dozen or more?

both are authentic. I don't have a name for the first, I'm sorry. Hyacinth may know.

 

[RL Bernstein]

One more thing, though unrelated to things I presently have. Plenty of 9525 Stewardess bags have crossed my workbench and I've grown fond of restoring them when I find a bargain worth the effort. I stumbled across this listing and would like to see if my 6th sense is correct or not.

Item: Vtg COACH #9525 STEWARDESS BLACK All Leather Shoulder Handbag EUC Inside and Out
Listing number: 262303320335
Seller: jefferka01 (427)
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-COACH-9...320335?hash=item3d127f090f:g:6poAAOSw~OVWy~D9

Comments: Following the advice that all J8H bags should be authenticated. Specific to this listing, I noticed that the wording on the creed is different than that of other Stewardess bags I currently have here (both NYC-made and USA C-production facility, all of which contain the words "The scars, scratches, veins and wrinkles are natural markings characteristic of full-grain leathers"). Also, the overall look of the creed stamp is less "crisp" than I'm used to seeing. Other than that, my untrained eye doesn't see anything glaring like I've seen on other fake Stewardesses.

So I'd appreciate your verdict. Thanks

Thanks. I've yet to handle any authentic H-plant products, so my exposure to them is nill. An yes, the silver grommets as well as more silver than I've seen before feet seemed odd against the clearly brass buckles. As for the wording, I guess inconsistency is the rule. But I have a C-plant Stewardess here made in 2000 that has the "older" wording on it's creed stamp. Perhaps the existing plants were permitted to retain the dies that they had from 1994? Who knows.

Again, your commentary is greatly appreciated.

 

[whateve]

Thank you for all the information. I knew that there had to be a good reason why this wallet felt so nice. It reminded me of the hand of a I believe lambskin 8165 Small Ashton Hobo I once had in the shop. That had pretty much the softest leather I've experienced on a COACH bag. Probably the relative thinnest too. Dress glove and not baseball mitt material.

You're welcome. If you ever find a Lexington wallet in black with silver hardware, the silver is gorgeous, like a milky white matte silver.

The softest Coach bag I ever had was the lamb nappa Tortilla bag from 2005. It was amazing!

 

[whateve]

Thanks. I've yet to handle any authentic H-plant products, so my exposure to them is nill. An yes, the silver grommets as well as more silver than I've seen before feet seemed odd against the clearly brass buckles. As for the wording, I guess inconsistency is the rule. But I have a C-plant Stewardess here made in 2000 that has the "older" wording on it's creed stamp. Perhaps the existing plants were permitted to retain the dies that they had from 1994? Who knows.

Again, your commentary is greatly appreciated.

Are you sure? I'd like to see the creed of your 2000 stewardess. Different plants switched over to the new creeds at different times but none took that long. The wording changed when they started putting the place of manufacture in the body of the creed rather than along the bottom.

 

[RL Bernstein]

You're welcome. If you ever find a Lexington wallet in black with silver hardware, the silver is gorgeous, like a milky white matte silver.

The softest Coach bag I ever had was the lamb nappa Tortilla bag from 2005. It was amazing!

I'll keep my eye out for one, if only but to check it out. And yes the nappa lamb material is in a class of its own.

 

[RL Bernstein]

Are you sure? I'd like to see the creed of your 2000 stewardess. Different plants switched over to the new creeds at different times but none took that long. The wording changed when they started putting the place of manufacture in the body of the creed rather than along the bottom.

The bag I was thinking of isn't here, but I do try to maintain a image record of the creed tags on the bags that have hit my bench. And indeed, comparing that creed to one I found for a 1999 C-plant produced bag makes it seems that something may have been amiss with it. This isn't making me happy.

 

[Hyacinth]

The second item is a very dark brown XL Shopper whose style number and correct name I can't seem to find. It's measurements are similar to the previously verified 5190 Envelope Portfolio and are 15-1/2" wide x 12" tall x 3" deep with straps having an 11' drop.

Your critique and input are both requested and welcomed. Thanks.

It was called a Large Tote, style 9780, made between late 1986 and the beginning of 1988.

 

[Hyacinth]

Thank you for all the information. I knew that there had to be a good reason why this wallet felt so nice. It reminded me of the hand of a I believe lambskin 8165 Small Ashton Hobo I once had in the shop. That had pretty much the softest leather I've experienced on a COACH bag. Probably the relative thinnest too. Dress glove and not baseball mitt material.

If it had this kind of strap it was a Girlie Nappa Hobo 8165, fourth from the left. The Girlie bags were like a sample set of every type of leather and fabric Coach was using at the time or even thinking of using in the future. The picture shows only a small fraction of the different Girlie Hobo styles they made, I counted at least 35 based just on an incomplete list of style numbers..

 

[Hyacinth]

Are you sure? I'd like to see the creed of your 2000 stewardess. Different plants switched over to the new creeds at different times but none took that long. The wording changed when they started putting the place of manufacture in the body of the creed rather than along the bottom.

The bag I was thinking of isn't here, but I do try to maintain a image record of the creed tags on the bags that have hit my bench. And indeed, comparing that creed to one I found for a 1999 C-plant produced bag makes it seems that something may have been amiss with it. This isn't making me happy.

The C plant had stopped using the old "scars, scratches, veins and wrinkles" creed stamp by about April of 1995 according to the photos I've saved. I don't know if they would have kept the actual stamping plate or mechanism or returned it to the main office, but I can't imagine it being hauled out 4 years later for any reason. C0ach had several stamps that were "floaters" and could be air-expressed to a plant that needed a quick replacement. Even though the C plant was probably closed some time in 2000 it was still one of their main production locations in 1999 and would have has whatever equipment they needed, at least until the new Chinese plants needed it more..

Of course, when employees know that they will be losing their jobs to cheap foreign labor within a year they've been known to do some odd and sometimes nasty things (take it from someone who was selling Chrysler products in the 1980s!) but playing games with an outdated creed stamp doesn't seem likely.

 

[BeenBurned]

Thanks. I've yet to handle any authentic H-plant products, so my exposure to them is nill.

Here are some authentic H-plant creeds: