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#9,256
Hyacinth said:
The Prairie Bag seems ok.

I'm worried about the Beaumont. I don't have any photos saved of proven genuine versions, but the Holiday Preview 1998 catalog shows it as "New" so how did it get a September 1994 year and month code? There's always a remote possibility that it's a very early production version that was postponed until 4 years later, that double seam stitching down the front is also a style feature of the Lexingtons and Tribecas from 1998. It wouldn't be the first time Coach introduced and then put a style on hold for a few years.

If anyone here has a known genuine Beaumont, I hope they'll compare the two.
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From your picture I see also that the strap is different, mine is wider, and has an adjustable buckle, it also has those chunky clasps, and the one in your photo has trigger clasps..

Never mind about the strap - after looking on ebay every one of the Beaumont bags has a strap like mine, NONE like the one in the stock
photo. That is so strange.
 
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#9,257
thecollector629 said:
I do hope someone else can compare the details. One thing I wanted you to note was the numeral 8 in the style number, it looks like it was upside down. I don't know if that means anything?
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I just noticed the upside-down 8. It's hard to figure out how a Coach stamping mechanism could even manage to flip the number like that. Something like that can't be explained by production changes. I've never seen that on any bag before, fake OR genuine. That pushes it more toward the "fake" side.

ETA - Here's another nail in the coffin - A 9076 Companion Flap with the same September 1994 prefix - BUT that style wasn't introduced until the 1999 Preview catalog, and the style number sequence fits the 1999 date and not the 1994 date.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-COMPA...712?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item3cda930c00

I have to say Fake to both now.

Make that all three - THIS style wasn't introduced until 1999, also the 1999 Preview catalog -and again the style number sequence fits 1999, not 1994.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lad...258?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item27dc63bfea

In Completeds there's also a 9060 that was "New" in the Holiday Preview 1998 book, and a 9988 Saddle Bag introduced in Spring 1997. All with a J4K- serial prefix, and all very close copies of the real ones.

And in the "Fakes" folder where I just saved those pics there was an earlier set of photos of a J4K-9033 Ergo Pocket Zip, introduced in Summer 1997. Someone out there made some darned good fakes, apparently.
 
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#9,258
Hyacinth said:
I just noticed the upside-down 8. It's hard to figure out how a Coach stamping mechanism could even manage to flip the number like that. Something like that can't be explained by production changes. I've never seen that on any bag before, fake OR genuine. That pushes it more toward the "fake" side.

ETA - Here's another nail in the coffin - A 9076 Companion Flap with the same September 1994 prefix - BUT that style wasn't introduced until the 1999 Preview catalog, and the style number sequence fits the 1999 date and not the 1994 date.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-COMPA...712?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item3cda930c00

I have to say Fake to both now.

Make that all three - THIS style wasn't introduced until 1999, also the 1999 Preview catalog -and again the style number sequence fits 1999, not 1994.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lad...258?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item27dc63bfea
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I have to agree with you.
I also tried comparing some details in the stitching, and I found that the stitching is not the same on the strap ends, where it is attched to the D-ring. Notice on the "authentic" bag (I stole the pic from someone's completed sales) how the stitching goes around in like a U- formation, but on my bag it is just straight across.
 

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#9,259
Hyacinth said:
I just noticed the upside-down 8. It's hard to figure out how a Coach stamping mechanism could even manage to flip the number like that. Something like that can't be explained by production changes. I've never seen that on any bag before, fake OR genuine. That pushes it more toward the "fake" side.

ETA - Here's another nail in the coffin - A 9076 Companion Flap with the same September 1994 prefix - BUT that style wasn't introduced until the 1999 Preview catalog, and the style number sequence fits the 1999 date and not the 1994 date.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COACH-COMPA...712?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item3cda930c00

I have to say Fake to both now.

Make that all three - THIS style wasn't introduced until 1999, also the 1999 Preview catalog -and again the style number sequence fits 1999, not 1994.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lad...258?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item27dc63bfea
Click to expand...
I think that J4K should be officially added to the "known" counterfeits on serial number prefix list, or at least as highly suspect.
Do you know of any authentic bags with this prefix?
 
#9,260
#9,261
thecollector629 said:
What do you think of this briefcase? The inside flap/pocket seems oddly shaped and small,
and it has the notorious J4K prefix.
Seller: wheelah1228
Auction # 221330334398
Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Coach-Briefcase-Messenger-Bag-No-J4K-5180-Light-Brown-Leather-/221330334398?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26LH_Complete%3D1%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D221330334398%26_rdc%3D1&nma=true&si=KaMKl8GNE2iOlj8%252BvBnLcRwrd64%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
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There were a couple of briefcases with that prefix but I don't have any photo files for any briefcase styles, and don't have the intro dates for most of them either. Maybe Noshoepolish can study the Current and Completed J4K- briefcase style details when she gets a chance.

The 5180 also has the wrong shape turnlock for a late 1994 brief. That might be the first time I've seen one of the squared turnlocks faked. Whoever was making these fakes wasn't afraid to spend a little money to get the right hardware.

ETA - the second one was a 5266 and has apparently just been removed, here's the original listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTH-Coach-...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I think we have to consider all of them fake. So far there hasn't been any solid evidence of a K plant operating in 1994 in the US.
 
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#9,262
Hyacinth said:
There were a couple of briefcases with that prefix but I don't have any photo files for any briefcase styles, and don't have the intro dates for most of them either. Maybe Noshoepolish can study the Current and Completed J4K- briefcase style details when she gets a chance.

The 5180 also has the wrong shape turnlock for a late 1994 brief. That might be the first time I've seen one of the squared turnlocks faked. Whoever was making these fakes wasn't afraid to spend a little money to get the right hardware.

ETA - the second one was a 5266 and has apparently just been removed, here's the original listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTH-Coach-...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I think we have to consider all of them fake. So far there hasn't been any solid evidence of a K plant operating in 1994 in the US.
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Well, thank you for saving me yet again - though I am stuck with this one YET AGAIN!
I have a ton of older Coach bags that I refurbish from time to time, so now that I have met you gals I have been submitting them as I get ready to work on them. It's too late for me to
send them back where they came from. But still I am so glad that you saved me from
a lot of ebay violations - the dreaded MC999 message....:nogood:
Thank you!
 
#9,263
thecollector629 said:
I think that J4K should be officially added to the "known" counterfeits on serial number prefix list, or at least as highly suspect.
Do you know of any authentic bags with this prefix?
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I haven't seen any. I have seen a bunch of fakes though!

BeenBurned said:
Yes, I'm looking forward to the warmer weather, but that means speedy melting before the ground is able to absorb it and that = flooding. :(

Oh, well. Supposedly, we "love" and chose New England because if you don't like the weather, you just "wait a minute."
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Your mailbox is full. :D
 
#9,264
thecollector629 said:
I think that J4K should be officially added to the "known" counterfeits on serial number prefix list, or at least as highly suspect.
Do you know of any authentic bags with this prefix?
Click to expand...

Don't remind me - I REALLY need to post a new Fakes List here. But having to bring the old one up to date while keeping to the 10,000(?) character limit for posts makes it a PITA.

One of these days, I promise!

And poor Daria48 over at Ebay says that every time she makes any kind of correction to her Fake Numbers list there, the blasted thing disappears. She's afraid to touch it now.
 
#9,267
Leahelizabth said:
This is so riveting! You guys are so thorough. Very very impressed
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Maybe not as exciting as watching "Sherlock" but a lot more relevant to our lives and shopping habits!

(Now if we could bring Benedict Cumberbatch here as a fakes-sleuthing trainee, it could get even MORE riveting!

("Riveting"... why does that sound so naughty?)

RIVET ME, BABY !!!! :D
 
#9,269
Can someone please lend me your expertise regarding my Phoebe. I posted pics a few post back but haven't heard anything. I recently purchased it from eBay and I just want to be certain it authentic. Thank you in advance.
 
#9,270
Hyacinth said:
Don't remind me - I REALLY need to post a new Fakes List here. But having to bring the old one up to date while keeping to the 10,000(?) character limit for posts makes it a PITA.

One of these days, I promise!

And poor Daria48 over at Ebay says that every time she makes any kind of correction to her Fake Numbers list there, the blasted thing disappears. She's afraid to touch it now.
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But seriously...
this is the BEST fake I have ever seen or handled - if not for the serial number date/year being off this would have gone through. The quality is as good as authentic, and the other ones on ebay you pointed out look just as good. They used all the right hardware, and most of the right stitching.
 
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