AUTHENTICATE this COACH

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#8,732
Teastrong said:
Hi. First post here! I just bought a "vintage" coach stewardess bag on eBay (after buying and returning the new version of it, wanted that classic leather) I came across this forum after searching for tips on how to restore it. Now I am concerned about its authenticity. Can you helpful folks check it out for me? And any helpful restoration tips would be appreciated!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181118172819?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
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Welcome to tPF!

The very first post in this thread explains what kind of information we need for authentication requests. And restoration advice has its very own thread at the main Coach forum, called the Rehab And Rescue Club:
http://forum.purseblog.com/coach/coach-rehab-and-rescue-club-624452.html

You'll need to look for information not just on restoring the leather, but also on removing the greeinsh discoloration from the brass and the leather - search the thread for "verdigris". It's very important to remove that completely or it will come back.

The Stewardess is genuine, probably made in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
 
#8,734
sgj224 said:
Now I bought the same style on ebay and want to know if this one is genuine. no creed pics and no mention of it being "authentic."

Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281088266873

Item: Coach Women's Handbag, Vintage Backpack/Sling, Crafted in America, Black

Seller: negril373

Item number: 281088266873

Also I need to email the seller as I think the bag I bought of the same style (9992) is fake) (serial number is A7C-9992. can be seen in pics from auction link below).

The reason I think it's fake is because it just doesn't feel sturdy and the leather is coming apart at the seams (not the quality of coach i'm used to) as you can see in the photos. Also the tag attached to the front is upside down on one side (i have a ton of vintage coach bags and I would assume this screams fake). I don't know if this is violating rules but I figure I'd throw it in this post before I email the seller about how she sold me a fake vintage bag (from 1997). It also has stretch marks on the side. I don't know it just doesn't feel right… any help would be appreciated!!

Link to purchased, possibly fake bag:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-Handl...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

seller: hmgallagher

Also if anyone has any info on this style and how to spot a real one that would be helpful! Been searching for this style a while now...
Thanks!
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I don't understand what you mean by the tag being upside down on one side - are you talking about the hangtag? Can you post pictures of your concerns? I don't see anything in the listing that leads me to suspect a fake.

As far as the first listing you mention, it isn't necessary for a seller to mention authentic in their listing - they would be in violation of ebay rules if they list anything that isn't authentic, whether they mention it or not.
 
#8,735
whateve said:
I don't understand what you mean by the tag being upside down on one side - are you talking about the hangtag? Can you post pictures of your concerns? I don't see anything in the listing that leads me to suspect a fake.

As far as the first listing you mention, it isn't necessary for a seller to mention authentic in their listing - they would be in violation of ebay rules if they list anything that isn't authentic, whether they mention it or not.
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I just need someone to review the serial number and the bag. it just doesn't feel right. it seems like cheap leather was used in between the handles so there is fraying as seen on cheap bags. i've never encountered this with coach bags. yes i meant the hang tag. it's not upright on the other side. if you flip it horizontally it's upside down. i've never encountered this. they should both be upright....

the hangtag is also splitting apart....

hyacinth, perhaps you can help authenticate both items?

ETA: the fact that the serial number is A4C is suspect to me if this was made in 1996. Wouldn't it read A6C? What do you guys think?
 
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#8,737
sgj224 said:
Now I bought the same style on ebay and want to know if this one is genuine. no creed pics and no mention of it being "authentic."

Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281088266873

Item: Coach Women's Handbag, Vintage Backpack/Sling, Crafted in America, Black

Seller: negril373

Item number: 281088266873

Also I need to email the seller as I think the bag I bought of the same style (9992) is fake) (serial number is A7C-9992. can be seen in pics from auction link below).

The reason I think it's fake is because it just doesn't feel sturdy and the leather is coming apart at the seams (not the quality of coach i'm used to) as you can see in the photos. Also the tag attached to the front is upside down on one side (i have a ton of vintage coach bags and I would assume this screams fake). I don't know if this is violating rules but I figure I'd throw it in this post before I email the seller about how she sold me a fake vintage bag (from 1997). It also has stretch marks on the side. I don't know it just doesn't feel right… any help would be appreciated!!

Link to purchased, possibly fake bag:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-Handl...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

seller: hmgallagher

Also if anyone has any info on this style and how to spot a real one that would be helpful! Been searching for this style a while now...
Thanks!
Click to expand...

We can't authenticate the first one without a creed photo.

If the second one that you claim is fake is really coming apart at the seams and the seller says the stitching is all tight, then you'd have a valid reason to return it for being Significantly Not as Described. I don't see any split seams in the seller's photos though. Why don't you post photos of the damage you're seeing?

And the older hangtags were made of 2 pieces glued together that often became separated - it doesn't mean that it's fake. Without seeing photos of the specific problem areas, I don't see any indication that the second one is fake. I'm also completely confused when you say the hangtag is upside down on one side - all hangtags were cut and stamped exactly the same way on one side only with the natural suede on the back before being glued together to make a finished tag so of course one side will be "upside-down" compared to the other, so that both sides are going to look exactly the same no matter which side is showing.

Maybe I'm not understanding your description but I don't understand why you think it's fake. You also mention stretch marks on one side but they're not showing in the photos, at least not what I would consider "stretch marks". All I'm seeing is leather with maybe a bit of surface "crackling" that should have been conditioned more often but if there are stretch marks or split seams they're not in the photos.

"hyacinth, perhaps you can help authenticate both items?

ETA: the fact that the serial number is A4C is suspect to me if this was made in 1996. Wouldn't it read A6C? What do you guys think?"

I also don't understand why you're mentioning serial numbers starting with A4C- and A6C- or that the bag was made in 1996 when both the seller's photos and description show that the number starts with A7C- ? What am I missing?

Maybe Whateve will be able to see something I can't, but nothing I'm seeing says "fake" or even "damaged".
 
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