Authenticity Quiz: Can you spot the Balenciaga vs. Super Fake?
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I could see that Black was fake because of the ugly stitching. It is so sad that they have made fake bag that looks really ok. Prior to this I have seen Bal fakes (and very expensive) but they looked terrible. In my country there is a legal brand that makes bags too much inspired by Balenciaga (and Falbella bag for example). Is there any legal way that could be stopped? I am thinkong about writing them an email.
Let's hope we won't be seeing fakes like this one.
Let's hope we won't be seeing fakes like this one.
Super scary. I guessed right, that the black is fake (but voted wrong by accident!) and like others have said, side by side it was still hard to tell. Can you imagine when trying to discern with pictures that are not as clear or well lit?
If I do no have the privilege of having the pictures side by side, I'll only feel uncomfortable over the black when looking at the leather tag. I'm not familar with all the numbers but the printing is one that makes me uncomfortable...
Roey, I hope you did not receive this from someone who think she is consigning a real deal with you..
Roey, I hope you did not receive this from someone who think she is consigning a real deal with you..
Thanks for looking! I'm sorry the poll was a little confusing to select the Authentic Balenciaga instead of the fake.
I completely agree that next to an authentic bag makes it much easier to see the incorrect elements on one of them. Plus, I photographed the areas that were most obvious signs of authenticity between the bags.
What about pics of the bags individually...and not super close-up?
^ Do those pictures make it harder to spot?
I want to clarify that the numbers underneath the leather interior tag and the reversal of them does not indicate one way or another as to the authenticity of the bag. The Giant Hobo was shown to have its numbers both ways, per these threads: http://forum.purseblog.com/balenciaga/giant-hobo-help-119720.html & http://forum.purseblog.com/balenciaga-reference-library/hobo-owners-a-little-help-please-474074.html
Both bags are made of leather and the Black one feels a little thin and slightly rough, but some Balenciaga bags have thin-feeling and/or slightly rough leather too. More importantly, its hardware color is not the rich yellow 18k gold-plate we'd expect, and the studs felt hollow. The buckle hardware detail: it's shape doesn't match Balenciaga's giant hardware was more notable for signaling it's a counterfeit bag. Overall, the Black bag felt insubstantial and flimsy to me.
Another one of the biggest tell-tale signs was the "E" in BALENCIAGA on the interior tag, it's obviously not the right font without the shorter center line. However, please note some super fakes get the font so close, it could seem like typical stamping variation. The stitching and cut/shape neatness of individual pieces of leather, like the strap connection loop, sealed the deal that the Black Gold Giant Hobo is the super fake and the Sandstone Gold Giant Hobo is the authentic Balenciaga bag.
These super fakes have fooled many Balenciaga fans and been circulating around the auction sites for years now. I have even purchased a few bags on those sites that upon arrival were definitely not real Balenciaga, including blatant bait-and-switch where the photos were not the actual item received. There are multiple batches of super fakes and the companies that make them have been working hard to make them closer and closer to real looking and feeling. It can be very difficult to authenticate from few and/or poor-quality pics that may or may not show the small details that indicate it's a counterfeit.
I personally authenticate every single bag that's sent to my shop before it goes into our listing queue. I have been sent and returned about half a dozen fake bags over the years and believe the senders did not know they were fake. It seems reasonable to me that one of the reasons the bag wasn't loved and kept was that its vibe wasn't quite right. All of the fake bags I've felt had something off when touched and I've inspected around 2,000 pre-owned Balenciaga bags now so my intuition definitely kicks in. I don't like breaking the bad news, but only offering authentic Balenciaga is why I started RDC in the first place as I've seen/heard fake bags for sale at department stores, multi-brand consignment shops and past-season discount sites.
Try to stay safe from the fakes and fakers, use the Authenticate This! thread when in doubt and/or shop with Reputable Sellers and Authorized Balenciaga boutiques. When in doubt, take your own photos of all the elements requested by the authenticators b/c fake bags never get every single little detail right.
I completely agree that next to an authentic bag makes it much easier to see the incorrect elements on one of them. Plus, I photographed the areas that were most obvious signs of authenticity between the bags.
What about pics of the bags individually...and not super close-up?
^ Do those pictures make it harder to spot?
I want to clarify that the numbers underneath the leather interior tag and the reversal of them does not indicate one way or another as to the authenticity of the bag. The Giant Hobo was shown to have its numbers both ways, per these threads: http://forum.purseblog.com/balenciaga/giant-hobo-help-119720.html & http://forum.purseblog.com/balenciaga-reference-library/hobo-owners-a-little-help-please-474074.html
Both bags are made of leather and the Black one feels a little thin and slightly rough, but some Balenciaga bags have thin-feeling and/or slightly rough leather too. More importantly, its hardware color is not the rich yellow 18k gold-plate we'd expect, and the studs felt hollow. The buckle hardware detail: it's shape doesn't match Balenciaga's giant hardware was more notable for signaling it's a counterfeit bag. Overall, the Black bag felt insubstantial and flimsy to me.
Another one of the biggest tell-tale signs was the "E" in BALENCIAGA on the interior tag, it's obviously not the right font without the shorter center line. However, please note some super fakes get the font so close, it could seem like typical stamping variation. The stitching and cut/shape neatness of individual pieces of leather, like the strap connection loop, sealed the deal that the Black Gold Giant Hobo is the super fake and the Sandstone Gold Giant Hobo is the authentic Balenciaga bag.
These super fakes have fooled many Balenciaga fans and been circulating around the auction sites for years now. I have even purchased a few bags on those sites that upon arrival were definitely not real Balenciaga, including blatant bait-and-switch where the photos were not the actual item received. There are multiple batches of super fakes and the companies that make them have been working hard to make them closer and closer to real looking and feeling. It can be very difficult to authenticate from few and/or poor-quality pics that may or may not show the small details that indicate it's a counterfeit.
I personally authenticate every single bag that's sent to my shop before it goes into our listing queue. I have been sent and returned about half a dozen fake bags over the years and believe the senders did not know they were fake. It seems reasonable to me that one of the reasons the bag wasn't loved and kept was that its vibe wasn't quite right. All of the fake bags I've felt had something off when touched and I've inspected around 2,000 pre-owned Balenciaga bags now so my intuition definitely kicks in. I don't like breaking the bad news, but only offering authentic Balenciaga is why I started RDC in the first place as I've seen/heard fake bags for sale at department stores, multi-brand consignment shops and past-season discount sites.
Try to stay safe from the fakes and fakers, use the Authenticate This! thread when in doubt and/or shop with Reputable Sellers and Authorized Balenciaga boutiques. When in doubt, take your own photos of all the elements requested by the authenticators b/c fake bags never get every single little detail right.
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I must admit that I would never be able to tell the fake from the real without the hints...Had I have to inspect this bag on it's own and not as here compared to another, authentic, bag then it's probably mostly the tag that would have given me clear signals that something was wrong
The details about the hardware are really interesting and as for the leather, I can think of earlier leather that at least looks like this with slight alterations.
I guess this goes to show you really need to look at the whole bag to authenticate.
Thanks so much for doing this, Corey.
The details about the hardware are really interesting and as for the leather, I can think of earlier leather that at least looks like this with slight alterations.
I guess this goes to show you really need to look at the whole bag to authenticate.
Thanks so much for doing this, Corey.
No way would I have known the Black was fake on it's own. It'S so well done for a fake. This is a huge eye opener for me & a few of us, I'm sure. Thanks Corey, your a gem. 