AUTHENTICATE This COACH

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

Status
Not open for further replies.
#1,457
Wow thank you so much for the information. I guess mine could be fake? Oh well I think I'll keep it since the quality is great. :shrugs: I wish I have signed up for this forum sooner, you girls are so knowledgeable! :)


Hyacinth said:
Your friend isn't really correct, there are no "accepted ranges" for vintage bags, it all depends on condition, demand, color, and a lot more variables. "Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it" is the ONLY criterion to determine what price any used item should sell for.

Also technically speaking if we use 20 years or older as the time period for a bag to be considered Vintage, this one isn't, since it was supposedly made in 1996 according to the year code in the serial number.

There are a few things worrying me though. None of them are solid proof of authenticity or lack of it but they'd make me hesitate to bid on that bag. One is the plant code "J", while it may possibly have been used in US-made bags (or Chinese-made bags marked Made in the United States), it's usually used as a plant code for Chinese-made bags from about 2001 or later.

The position of the strap mountings (the leather tabs on the sides of the bag that hold the D-rings that the strap clips attach to) is lower than on other Court Bags I've seen, the strap clips themselves are almost but not quite identical to the ones used by Coach, and I've never seen nickle hardware used on a bag from as early as 1996. The earliest I can find nickle hardware offered as an alternate to brass is sometime in early to mid 1998 and then only on a few colors like black, gray and lavender. Camel wasn't available with Nickle according to the catalogs until late 1998 or early 1999, and the Camel color itself wasn't even available in 1996. The color MAY be a light version of British Tan but the bag in the photo looks more like Camel. British Tan almost always used Brass hardware.

As I said, there's no solid black-on-white proof that your bag isn't genuine, but there are too many questions and discrepancies for me to think that it is, sorry. If it's counterfeit, it's an extremely "good" one but we've seen a lot of very accurate Coach counterfeits before.
Click to expand...
 
#1,458
Originally Posted by Hyacinth Your friend isn't really correct, there are no "accepted ranges" for vintage bags, it all depends on condition, demand, color, and a lot more variables. "Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it" is the ONLY criterion to determine what price any used item should sell for.

Also technically speaking if we use 20 years or older as the time period for a bag to be considered Vintage, this one isn't, since it was supposedly made in 1996 according to the year code in the serial number.

There are a few things worrying me though. None of them are solid proof of authenticity or lack of it but they'd make me hesitate to bid on that bag. One is the plant code "J", while it may possibly have been used in US-made bags (or Chinese-made bags marked Made in the United States), it's usually used as a plant code for Chinese-made bags from about 2001 or later.

The position of the strap mountings (the leather tabs on the sides of the bag that hold the D-rings that the strap clips attach to) is lower than on other Court Bags I've seen, the strap clips themselves are almost but not quite identical to the ones used by Coach, and I've never seen nickle hardware used on a bag from as early as 1996. The earliest I can find nickle hardware offered as an alternate to brass is sometime in early to mid 1998 and then only on a few colors like black, gray and lavender. Camel wasn't available with Nickle according to the catalogs until late 1998 or early 1999, and the Camel color itself wasn't even available in 1996. The color MAY be a light version of British Tan but the bag in the photo looks more like Camel. British Tan almost always used Brass hardware.

As I said, there's no solid black-on-white proof that your bag isn't genuine, but there are too many questions and discrepancies for me to think that it is, sorry. If it's counterfeit, it's an extremely "good" one but we've seen a lot of very accurate Coach counterfeits before.

icedlotus said:
Wow thank you so much for the information. I guess mine could be fake? Oh well I think I'll keep it since the quality is great. :shrugs: I wish I have signed up for this forum sooner, you girls are so knowledgeable! :)
Click to expand...

I'd also suggest keeping it, some of the better-made copies are very good quality leather and will probably last a long time. I'd suggest taking off the Coach hangtag though. And when you're ready to get rid of it, that you not sell it or donate it since if it's counterfeit, you'd be violating Coach's trademark rights.
 
#1,459
Is this bag below authentic? I tried to do a search on the serial number in the picture but 4922 came up as a sling and this looked more like 4921. (http://reviews.ebay.com/Coach-Natural-Grain-Leather-Sling-4922_W0QQugidZ10000000004564098). Are these ebay guides any help or do they add to the confusion. I have bought a few older coach bags of late and will probably find out some are not authentic.
Cheers :-)

Item: Womens Leather Satchel Purse
Listing number: 330604417306
Seller: relytinc
Link: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VINTAGE-...H_Handbags&hash=item4cf98f111a#ht_7187wt_1139
 
#1,461
life01 said:
Is this bag below authentic? I tried to do a search on the serial number in the picture but 4922 came up as a sling and this looked more like 4921. (http://reviews.ebay.com/Coach-Natural-Grain-Leather-Sling-4922_W0QQugidZ10000000004564098). Are these ebay guides any help or do they add to the confusion. I have bought a few older coach bags of late and will probably find out some are not authentic.
Cheers :-)

Item: Womens Leather Satchel Purse
Listing number: 330604417306
Seller: relytinc
Link: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VINTAGE-...H_Handbags&hash=item4cf98f111a#ht_7187wt_1139
Click to expand...


I'm just gonna say this. ALL EBAY GUIDES ARE BOGUS. all the information is wrong, outdated or both. Also looking up a vintage serial number on google won't help much either unless the bag was made in 1999 or later. There are guides here on TPF all about serial numbers and creeds. Just ask hyacinth for the link or just do a search. It will help you become more knowledgable in vintage bags and could help you in the future.
 
#1,462
CoachCatcher45 said:
I'm just gonna say this. ALL EBAY GUIDES ARE BOGUS. all the information is wrong, outdated or both. Also looking up a vintage serial number on google won't help much either unless the bag was made in 1999 or later. There are guides here on TPF all about serial numbers and creeds. Just ask hyacinth for the link or just do a search. It will help you become more knowledgable in vintage bags and could help you in the future.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for that very helpful tip! That will make things much easier. Now that I joined TPF I have somewhere to go and ask for help. Appreciated!
:-)
 
#1,463
life01 said:
Thank you so much for that very helpful tip! That will make things much easier. Now that I joined TPF I have somewhere to go and ask for help. Appreciated!
:-)
Click to expand...

Yes the authenticators here BeenBurned, Hyacinth and Dem Ram are all very very knowledgeable and can answer all of your questions. This is a very friendly place so I say WELCOME to TPF!!
 
#1,464
Thank you Coach Catcher, you've already made me feel welcome!!!:D
I just found some references about the particular bag on this forum a few days back which helped.

While I am at it I might as well check if this vintage piece is authentic?

Item: COACH VINTAGE LEGACY BLACK LEATHER SATCHEL W/TAG EUC
Listing number: 120747780701
Seller: selisep
Link: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/120747780701#ht_506wt_1139

I was quite excited when I saw this bag at the sale price as I already have a tan one (bathed and conditioned and looking almost new). The black one has also come up nicely but didn't need as much work as the tan. Hopefully it turns out to be authentic.
Cheers!
 
#1,465
life01 said:
Is this bag below authentic? I tried to do a search on the serial number in the picture but 4922 came up as a sling and this looked more like 4921. (http://reviews.ebay.com/Coach-Natural-Grain-Leather-Sling-4922_W0QQugidZ10000000004564098). Are these ebay guides any help or do they add to the confusion. I have bought a few older coach bags of late and will probably find out some are not authentic.
Cheers :-)

Item: Womens Leather Satchel Purse
Listing number: 330604417306
Seller: relytinc
Link: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VINTAGE-...H_Handbags&hash=item4cf98f111a#ht_7187wt_1139
Click to expand...

I believe that bag was authenticated a few days ago. The same seller had 2 of the same style and both had major "creed" problems.

That creed IS a mess but the bag itself looks genuine for a "Sonoma Satchel". I owned that same style for many years and see nothing wrong with that one.

:smile1:
 
#1,466
CoachCatcher45 said:
I'm just gonna say this. ALL EBAY GUIDES ARE BOGUS. all the information is wrong, outdated or both. Also looking up a vintage serial number on google won't help much either unless the bag was made in 1999 or later. There are guides here on TPF all about serial numbers and creeds. Just ask hyacinth for the link or just do a search. It will help you become more knowledgable in vintage bags and could help you in the future.
Click to expand...

life01 said:
Thank you so much for that very helpful tip! That will make things much easier. Now that I joined TPF I have somewhere to go and ask for help. Appreciated!
:-)
Click to expand...


Actually, not ALL ebay guides are bogus. Though many are riddled with misinformation, there are a few that are extremely helpful and have accurate information. (I'm not sure if I can "link" them here, so I won't).

In the meantime, the following information is available right here on this forum:

Coach Serial Numbers:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-shopping/answers-to-authenticity-questions-94198-3.html#post1944848

About Coach Creeds:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...enticity-questions-94198-23.html#post11024432

Early Coach Creeds and Factories:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...enticity-questions-94198-38.html#post18945918

Fake Serial Number List, updated:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach-sh...enticity-questions-94198-37.html#post18503288

:smile1:
 
#1,467
i have another one from ebay for the authenticity queens :)
i'm looking everywhere for a nice looking carly ... can anyone authenticate this? it has a great shot of the creed this time :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25088009329...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_4405wt_1037


item: cOACH SIGNATURE CARLY Large Hobo Bag 10620
listing: 250880093294
seller: a_dorabelle



thanks so much for all your help, i'm doing all the research i can on tpf from all the input so i can learn more!
 
#1,468
#1,469
ashleyms625 said:
i have another one from ebay for the authenticity queens :)
i'm looking everywhere for a nice looking carly ... can anyone authenticate this? it has a great shot of the creed this time :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25088009329...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_4405wt_1037


item: cOACH SIGNATURE CARLY Large Hobo Bag 10620
listing: 250880093294
seller: a_dorabelle



thanks so much for all your help, i'm doing all the research i can on tpf from all the input so i can learn more!
Click to expand...
Authentic.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top