Zippers, even those can be fakes!

• I know this has been longer than a week, but the Holidays have kept me busy! Sometimes I even have a few minutes to make it to the gym! Through the busy season, I do hope that each and every one of you finds a moment to pamper yourselves....maybe a new bag in mind?

Through my search for references and guides to authenticating bags I always come accross the same topic. Zippers. Amazingly enough, counterfeiters are even faking the zippers. Designers are pretty specific about details, and the details do not tend to vary from bag to bag. Even the zippers meet the highest marks of quality.
The following is a short guide to some of the bigger names and their zippers. This is only a guide! All details vary from stlye to style and designer to designer! Please remember, I am no expert. These are just a few tips I have learned along the way. I am always happy to answer questions, see my group to post all of your questions there! If you are ever in doubt- take your bag to a reputable boutique. They can authenticate your bag for you. I do hope these tips are helping someone!

By Designer:

Balenciaga (Oh, how I love that squishy leather!)

All authentic Balenciaga bags are made with Lampo zippers. Although most people know this, they don't know that Lampo makes two different types of zippers. When you are looking at the bottom of the an authentic Balenciaga's zipper you will see Lampo written in italics with a line underneath that extends from the bottom of the L to the TM symbol in the right have corner. The second type of Lampo zippers, which is printed in uneven capital letters, will not be found on a Balenciaga bag. A lot of fakes bags has the Lampo engraved rather than in raised letters.

Marc Jacobs (my personal favorite!)

The name on the zipper pull should be engraved on only one of the egdes, and the name should start at the end of the pull and read down towards the bag. The zipper pulls on some of the fake bags have the name engraved on both sides and the name is backwards (reading from the inside of the pull towards the outside).

Many of the Marc Jacobs bags are made with RiRi zippers. RiRi zippers are marked with the name RiRi as well as the size of the zipper on the underside of the head. There may be two or three different sized zippers on the same bag. Some of the older MJ bags have the original RiRi zippers which are marked with the word swiss and have no sizes marked. Some of the newer versions of the "classic" bags are now using Lampo zippers. Marc Jacobs bags have NEVER been made with YKK zippers (this does NOT include the black tagged Marc by Marc Jacobs bags, which ARE usually produced with YKK zippers).

Prada (my second favorite!)

Authentic Prada bags have zippers from riri, Lampo and IPI. All the same rules apply here, even zippers can be fakes, so make sure you know what the authentic zippers look like. Most of the Prada bags I have seen have the IPI zippers.

Gucci

Gucci uses YKK zippers and they often emboss their zippers with Gucci. The zipper heads as well as the flat metal piece on the end of the zipper will have the name Gucci.

Fendi

The Fendi zipper heads will usually have the Fendi logo, FF. Even on the inside of the zip pockets. Some Fendi leather styles use RiRi zippers.

Louis Vuitton (a great classic!)

Authentic zipper pulls do NOT say made in France on them. The authentic LV zipper pulls are NOT a teardrop shape, nor are they just plain. An authentic vintage Louis Vuitton zipper pull will be marked with an interlocking LV symbol. Some vintage zippers MAY be marked Talon or Eclair or C & C insted of LV. These vintage items with this type of zipper pulls were made by the French Co under license of Louis Vuitton in the 1970s and 1980s and are generally authentic. Vintage travel items made by the French Co do not have any date codes erroneously known as serial numbers. In fact many vintage pieces do not have date codes as LV started ading these in the late 1980s early 1990s

These are just a few of the many rules of authentic zippers! Your basic tips to remember are that-

1. Know what type of zipper the authentic bag has. They can very from designer to designer and from bag to bag.
2. The zippers should always be made from quality materials. They normally feel heavy and are metal, not cheap plastic or aluminum.
3. Even zippers can be faked. Just because the bag has an authentic zipper, if there is another detail that is not correct about a bag, chances are it is fake.
4. Always ask for photos. If you are not purchasing directly from a designer retail store get photos. Especially from auction sites such as eBay, eBid, and others. Even an on-line store should be willing to accomodate you if you are generally interested. Specifically ask for photos of the underside of the zipper heads and pulls.Hope this zips up any questions! (ha! that was funny!)