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

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#47,869
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!
 
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#14,446
Good afternoon ladies! I picked up this dark green bag today (estate sale). Would you kindly authenticate? The closure on the outside has to be pulled to open the snap. What is this style? Age? It looks similar to a court bag, but wider. Kindest regards.
approximate measurements: L-11.5" x H 7.25" x W 1.5"
 

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#14,448
Good afternoon experts. Would you please be so kind as to confirm/refute my suspicions. Thank you.

Item: Auth Vintage COACH Black Large STEWARDESS SHOULDER BAG HANDBAG PURSE 9525
Listing number: 401106056796
Seller: franjaviva (2998)
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auth-Vintag...056796?hash=item5d63c8b65c:g:J6cAAOSw1DtXECKD

Comments: I've seen plenty of strap modifications, so the two additional silver grommeted holes aren't a concern, but the "M9S" and "IN THE UNITED STATES" on the creed stamp are bothersome (since I thought that S was designation of the (first?) Chinese production facility.
 
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#14,449
RL Bernstein said:
Good afternoon experts. Would you please be so kind as to confirm/refute my suspicions. Thank you.

Item: Auth Vintage COACH Black Large STEWARDESS SHOULDER BAG HANDBAG PURSE 9525
Listing number: 401106056796
Seller: franjaviva (2998)
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auth-Vintag...056796?hash=item5d63c8b65c:g:J6cAAOSw1DtXECKD

Comments: I've seen plenty of strap modifications, so the two additional silver grommeted holes aren't a concern, but the "M9S" and "IN THE UNITED STATES" on the creed stamp are bothersome (since I thought that S was designation of the (first?) Chinese production facility.
Click to expand...

You're right to be skeptical. Those additional strap grommets look like hell, although that could have been done by a clueless owner.

Below are the earliest "S" code creeds I have on file - one from June 1998, one from March of 1999, and both from China and both pre-dating the one in the fake. The texture of the leather looks "off" too. I wish there were photos of the complete inside pocket zipper out past the pocket edges, and of the back of the turnlock.

What's interesting is that it looks like there's an outlet stamp near the upper right corner of the creed, which goes to show that outlet marks can be deceptive and as fake as the bag. The bag may have been "switched", or returned to a store where they didn't examine it closely and just re-tagged it and sent it to an outlet. Or the stamp itself might be fake. OR it's remotely possible that the plant code is actually a C rather than an S and there's a flaw in the leather that makes it look like an S. The other small details of the creed and serial strongly resemble my 1999 C plant photos. OR the S code if that's what it really is could have just been a mistake, which would explain the fast trip to the outlet.

I'll post a copy of the creed and stamps as the third photo.

More opinions are welcome. I'm hesitant to call it fake without any "structural" proofs like the turnlock or inside pocket.
 

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#14,450
Hyacinth said:
You're right to be skeptical. Those additional strap grommets look like hell, although that could have been done by a clueless owner.

Below are the earliest "S" code creeds I have on file - one from June 1998, one from March of 1999, and both from China and both pre-dating the one in the fake. The texture of the leather looks "off" too. I wish there were photos of the complete inside pocket zipper out past the pocket edges, and of the back of the turnlock.

What's interesting is that it looks like there's an outlet stamp near the upper right corner of the creed, which goes to show that outlet marks can be deceptive and as fake as the bag. The bag may have been "switched", or returned to a store where they didn't examine it closely and just re-tagged it and sent it to an outlet. Or the stamp itself might be fake. OR it's remotely possible that the plant code is actually a C rather than an S and there's a flaw in the leather that makes it look like an S. The other small details of the creed and serial strongly resemble my 1999 C plant photos. OR the S code if that's what it really is could have just been a mistake, which would explain the fast trip to the outlet.

I'll post a copy of the creed and stamps as the third photo.

More opinions are welcome. I'm hesitant to call it fake without any "structural" proofs like the turnlock or inside pocket.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. Indeed, if you're going to fake a creed, how hard could it be to toss in a bulls-eye for good measure. Nice touch actually as it could be used to "excuse" obvious defects.

I'll volunteer that I saved the photo of the creed stamp, zoomed in, and filtered the image. It's an "S". Also, I'll share with you that even accepting that photos taken at angles do distort appearances, the proportions of this bag look a touch off (with either the strap appearing relatively too large or the bag appearing relatively too small). I'm going to steer clear of this one.
 
#14,451
CoachHarvey said:
Good afternoon ladies! I picked up this dark green bag today (estate sale). Would you kindly authenticate? The closure on the outside has to be pulled to open the snap. What is this style? Age? It looks similar to a court bag, but wider. Kindest regards.
approximate measurements: L-11.5" x H 7.25" x W 1.5"
Click to expand...

I'd like to see a picture of how the long strap is actually attached, but it looks like a genuine Avenue Bag style 9886 from around 1990-91.
 
#14,452
RL Bernstein said:
Thanks for the input. Indeed, if you're going to fake a creed, how hard could it be to toss in a bulls-eye for good measure. Nice touch actually as it could be used to "excuse" obvious defects.

I'll volunteer that I saved the photo of the creed stamp, zoomed in, and filtered the image. It's an "S". Also, I'll share with you that even accepting that photos taken at angles do distort appearances, the proportions of this bag look a touch off (with either the strap appearing relatively too large or the bag appearing relatively too small). I'm going to steer clear of this one.
Click to expand...

That's the best thing to do. I wouldn't want it reported without more proof, but I sure wouldn't be brave or foolish enough to risk buying it.
 
#14,458
Catbird9 said:
Hello, could someone please authenticate this bag? Thanks!

Seller: josephresaleshop
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Red-L...670419?hash=item1a11f8d753:g:YmwAAOSwmmxW2guH
Click to expand...

Hyacinth said:
It's a genuine Madison Spence bag style 4400 from 1993.
Click to expand...

I may be wrong, but it appears that someone may have altered the adjustable strap (by removing the shorter (buckle) end and shortening the longer end (by cutting it back beyond the holes and terminating it at the fitting that formerly attached the short side to the bag). That would explain the 8" drop handle (and not adjustable strap typical of Spences).

Coincidentally, I recently had a red Spence pass through the shop that also had its strap shortened, though it still retained the two-piece adjustable configuration. In that case, an number of inches was removed from terminal end of the longer side and a new loop made to reattach it to the end fitting.
 
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#14,460
RL Bernstein said:
I may be wrong, but it appears that someone may have altered the adjustable strap (by removing the shorter (buckle) end and shortening the longer end (by cutting it back beyond the holes and terminating it at the fitting that formerly attached the short side to the bag). That would explain the 8" drop handle (and not adjustable strap typical of Spences).

Coincidentally, I recently had a red Spence pass through the shop that also had its strap shortened, though it still retained the two-piece adjustable configuration. In that case, an number of inches was removed from terminal end of the longer side and a new loop made to reattach it to the end fitting.
Click to expand...

Hmm, yes, I wondered about the strap length too. Thanks for your detailed observations, RL!
 
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