Thursday, May 15, 2014

How To Authenticate Gucci Shoes (Men)




Guccio Gucci has been producing his fine products since the time of 1921 when he started in Firenze in Italy. His products are, no doubt, of high quality which represent heritage and nobility. In today's time, Gucci's products are highly faked and there are tonnes of knock-offs in the market which makes it quite difficult to authenticate the genuine products from the fakes. It can be really hard but nothing is impossible, right? No matter how hard they try, they can't make their fake products match the original ones, they always leave a mark which separates the fake thing, from the real thing. Today, I'll be guiding you on how to authenticate shoes by Guccio Gucci.

Note: This authentication guide is only for men










         Gucci Lace Up Sneakers
     









The Designs

First and foremost, you have to spend some time on the website of Gucci in order to know what different designs of these loafers are on the market. You can also go through the magazines which comprise of the designs of their shoes. The main key to authentication of these shoes is that you know that the design you're purchasing is actually a real one, you can make sure of that by going through the website, if it is. Then, it's perfect! You've probably gotten your hands on an original one but just to make sure of that, you'll have to go in details and ensure the fact that what you're buying is actually the genuine thing.


The Price

If you're going to buy these shoes from an official Gucci store, you don't have to worry about authentication but make sure that the store you're purchasing it from is listed in their store finder. These loafers are of extremely high quality and high quality, plus, a well renowned brand means nothing more than 'expensive', you're never going to get these shoes on a low price, you'll never spot them on sale and if you do, they're probably going to be fake, luxury branded products rarely go on sale and if they're genuine, you're lucky. These loafers will start from $300 and they range to $2000 so you can expect something extremely good from this. The price itself defines the product that you're purchasing. 


The Packaging


Good things come in good packaging, the packaging itself is going to be very attractive and temping. Theloafers come in a bag which is dark brown and consists of two ropes on the top, the ropes will be of good material and you can feel that the belt is worth something just by touching the bag. The bag has the G pattern engraved on it and it will have GUCCI written on it in capital, in silver color. On the bottom of the bag, there would be written Firenze 1921. The handbag would consist of a box with GUCCI written on it in capital in silver and on opening the box, you'll see your shoes in a type of dustbag, as you open the box, you can smell the fine scent of perfect leather which assures you that the loafers are worth it.


The Stitching


The stitching is one of the most vital things about their products. Their stitching is visible to the naked eye and less like their fake products, their stitching won't be in the zig zag formation or done by a sewing machine. As you all must know, one thing about Gucci is that their stitching has no or very less capital involved and it's all the product of fine workmanship.

The Receipt 


If you're buying these shoes online, make sure you always ask for the receipt. Most of the people might say, "I lost it" or something along the lines of that. The receipt is one of the main keys to authenticating the products, the receipt would have the price listed on it, the store where you bought these shoes from, the clerk's name and the product. It is kind of an authentication card of every product.


The Sole

The sole wouldn't just be glued to the shoe but would be stitched to it. Make sure that the sole is of leather, the sole would be made of fine leather which is stitched to the shoe and not just glued to it. The sole would have GUCCI engraved on it in capital letters followed by the 'Made In Italy' which would be written underneath it.


The Serial Number


If you're still having a doubt, you can always use the serial number! The serial number would be located inside the shoe, probably on the left side of the shoe just above the sole, it is located to the left of the place where the size of it is stated. The serial number would be 8-digit, if you insert the serial number on Google, it would direct you to the Gucci's official website and the product. 

Monday, February 24, 2014

How To Spot A Fake Louis Vuitton Wallet




Louis Vuitton is one of the most faked brands and it's belts and wallets' copies are getting produced more and more. In this guide, you'll learn how to authenticate wallets by Louis Vuitton.

If you're going to buy a wallet from another source, make sure that the design is available on the website of Louis Vuitton to see whether or not this design was ever introduced to Louis Vuitton, this is for all the products by any brands. In order to see whether it's a copy or an original, you must first know the product you're buying.



Know the parts of the wallet, check for pictures on their website for the interior and the exterior of the wallet. One must know where the monograms should be placed, how it should be stitched and where the Louis Vuitton text should be i.e in the belts, you can see it on the inside, perfectly centered. If you're buying the wallet, make sure it only comprises of one canvas, if the wallet is in the Damiere Ebene Canvas, the lining would also be in the same canvas.

Make sure you know what canvas the design is made in, study the canvas, the canvas will help you authenticate the wallet from it's exterior. The lining would also be in the same canvas.



Louis Vuitton's text is very different and unique, although the people who fake products are getting very close to it, they still haven't perfected it yet. Study the text that Louis Vuitton uses and make sure that the wallet is made in Spain, France, Germany, Italy  or USA.

The wallets wouldn't be cheap, Louis Vuitton is a luxurious brand and a high-end company, the wallets would never go on sale. If you're getting it for a very low price, it is more than obvious that the wallet is fake. The wallets are highly expensive and they would never be sold so cheap. Louis Vuitton tries it's best that their products are not being sold that cheap. If you're going to buy a wallet, make sure you do it right!

Buy the wallet from authentic Louis Vuitton stores. The stores are listed on their websites. Buying the products directly cuts down risks of buying fakes and ensures you that you're getting hooked up with an original product.

When you hold the wallet, make sure that the wallet is heavy and not of light material. Cheap, tawdry and light material is the key to authentication, if the product comprises of that, it is a definite fake. 


The wallets are well-packaged. The wallet comes in a bag which has Louis Vuitton embossed on it, it is in a dark brown color and has two ropes on it, the ropes are slightly lighter in color than the bag. The bag consists of a box which has Louis Vuitton written on the right of it. The box is a little more than or slightly less than 5 inches. It has a leather rope which is slightly revealing, if you pull it, it slides open showing you a dust bag. The dust bag is light yellow-ish mustard color. It has Louis Vuitton on the bottom of it. It consists of the same ropes which were on the bag. You pull the ropes and there is your Louis Vuitton Wallet. 

Always be sure to ask for the receipt, the receipt is the easiest way to authenticate the product. The receipt would have Louis Vuitton watermarked on it. It would state which store the product has been bought from as well as the cashier's name. 

Note: I am not responsible for how you may interpret this guide

Saturday, February 22, 2014

How To Spot A Fake Gucci Wallet






Gucci wallets, often faked, many copies are being sold so it's hard to differentiate between the original ones and the knockoffs. The best way to get through it is to buy your wallets from the authentic Gucci stores. This guide will help you in authenticating most of the wallets by Gucci.

Lets start off with the usual, make sure you do your research, in order to authenticate the wallet, you must know what design you're authenticating and how an authentic wallet looks like. Go through the Men's > Wallets section in order to see different designs, open a specific wallet and check their details. There are many different designs and these wallets range from $150 - $1200. One should know how the designs are and what the logo looks like.

Study the Gucci print, the Gucci print with interlocking G's that is on most of the wallets, belts, caps and other products. Most of the wallets would comprise of that. Pay diligent attention and see whether the wallet's print has any imperfections, if it does so, it's a fake, it shouldn't fade and there should be no smudges. 

Like all the other products, wallets themselves are made out of high quality and expensive materials too. They're extremely well crafted. The wallets should feel heavy and not light, light signifies cheap and  tawdry. The wallets would be well-sewed, consisting of no imperfections. The fake wallets wouldn't be as well-sewed as those authentic ones, there would be mistakes. The monograms would be poorly applied and not in the correct order. When you get the wallet, compare it with the original one to see whether the monograms are in the right order.

Check the price, like I said wallets by Gucci are highly expensive and that they range from $150 - $1200. Different wallets are made out of different expensive materials but they're extremely well-crafted like all of the other products by Gucci.

When you get your hands on the wallet, check whether the wallet came with the authentication card and an identification card. This helps signifies whether the wallet is original or not.


If you're not buying it directly from the Gucci store, be sure to inquire about the receipt. The receipt is one of the keys to authentication, it's easy and not time consuming. The receipt would also consist of warranties and guarantees. It would be stated which store the wallet has been bought from. The receipt would help a lot.

The packaging, make sure you double check the packaging of the wallet. The wallet would come in a small dust-bag like all the other products by Gucci. The dust-bag would have Gucci written on it and it would be dark-brown in colour. It would come in a box. If it is wrapped in plastic, the wallet is a definite fake.


Always buy your products from authentic stores. In this case, buy your wallets from the authorized dealers, the stores are listed on their website.

Thank you for reading the article. If there are any questions, please comment.

Note: I am not responsible for how you may interpret this guide


Thursday, February 20, 2014

How to Authenticate a Ferragamo Belt Part2/2

Buckle 3's Backside
Buckle 3's Backside


Buckle 3's Backside
Buckle 3's Backside






Coming to the straps, if you look at the straps very closely, you'll see that there is a lot of difference between the strap which is of the fake belt and that strip which is of the original one. Make sure that the 'Salvatore Ferragamo' and other characters are engraved and not embossed on the strap. Look at those pictures in order to differ:

Fake Belt Strap
Original Belt Straps







The engraving on the original belt's strap

The last of the guide, the packing contents. Make sure that you check the receipt and what it comprises of. These are the packing contents of the belt: 

The receipt holder
The box



The receipt

This was all! Thank you very much for reading the guide. I hope this helps. I am not responsible for how you might interpret this. Always buy your products from authorized and authentic stores. Don't go for the ones on the sale, they might turn out to be fake.

Courtesy: qisincanada




How to Authenticate a Ferragamo Belt Part 1/2


Hello people! I'm really glad I got great reviews from you all, it was an honour to see that my blog got so many views over such a small period of time. I'm glad to see this feedback, I hope you keep on reading and you like these articles. Please note that this article has two parts, for the next part please click on How to Authenticate a Ferragamo Belt Part 2/2

Now, I would like to continue with the article so this one is all about how to authenticate belts by Salvatore Ferragamo. As you all know Salvatore Ferragamo is a renowned brand and obviously like other brands, this brand has way too many copies and this one might be hard to authenticate so I'll guide you in a detailed way. 


In this picture, you'll see the most popular belt's buckles by Salvatore Ferragamo. The Ferragamo sign must be on all the buckles which obviously all of the fakes would comprise of, don't let it trick you. These are the most renowned buckles design by Salvatore Ferragamo. Pay conscientious attention to the buckles, check where it's chrome finish, matte finish or brushed nickel finish.

Buckle 1
Buckle 3
Buckle 2


Pay diligent attention towards the logo of Salvatore Ferragamo, it is one of the ways to catch the knockoffs. If there is any mistake in the logo, the matter is elucidated that it's a knock-off. Most commonly, the mistake made is at the line on top of the 'O' at the end of Ferragamo. The logo would be engraved in the belt's buckle somewhere. It would either be 'Salvatore Ferragamo' in the belt's buckle or just 'Ferragamo' but make sure it's engraved exactly as it is in the logo. It would mostly be placed in the middle of the plate, leaving some empty place to the right and to the left, perfectly centred. 
 



The backside of the buckle is always important, it comprises of the best ways to check whether the belt is a copy or an original one. Make sure that 'Ferragamo' is engraved on the teeth flap, what types of teeth that the teeth flap consists of. Most probably, the belts have a serial number under the teeth plate, don't worry if your belt doesn't have one because the old ones didn't use to come with it. Be attentive, check what screw is being used in order to insert in the hole, the screw would not be as those of Gucci Interlocking G Buckle's belts - round from the top. Instead, it would be more of the pointy one. Take a look at the images to make sure of it:

Buckle 1's backside
Buckle 1's backside


Buckle 1's backside


Buckle 1's backside














Buckle 2's backside
Buckle 2's backside
Buckle 2's backside
Buckle 2's backside
























For the next part please click on How to Authenticate a Ferragamo Belt Part 2/2



Tuesday, October 15, 2013

How To Spot Fake Ray Bans

How To Spot Fake Ray Bans

Finally, I'm writing on something other than belts. This is my first time so please omit the mistakes. Although what I've learnt from my experience is that there are tons of fake Ray Bans. It won't be hard to authenticate one as it is pretty easy. First I'll show you the most famous designs by Ray Ban




These are some of the renowned designs by Ray Ban. Ray Bans are expensive and obviously their features won't be the same as the counterfeits. Ray Bans are heavy in weight, indeed they might look light from the distance but you don't judge a book by its cover, right? If you can't feel the weight of the Ray Bans, they must be an imitation. 

Check whether the Ray Ban logo is on the glasses. It won't just be stuck on them, not a sticker, it would be etched on to the glasses. The quality of the glasses defines Ray Bans. Expose them to light and take a look, you'll know for sure.

The rubber components on the side of the glasses would be kind of soft, not hard or brittle but they won't break easily either.

The model number would be on the inner side of the glasses, you can search them off at the Ray Ban official website. Also check whether there is a Ray Ban logo on the inner side of it. 

Take a look at the nose pad of the Ray Bans, check whether they have the logo overthere. Many classic imitations miss out on those ones. 

Take a look at the case in which the glasses came in. Check whether or not it has the Ray Ban logo on it.

Firmly hold the glasses, check the quality, the weight, think to yourself whether or not you're buying the right/authentic product or not.

Written and Edited by: Annas Larik 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

How To Authenticate Beats Headsets

How To Authenticate Beats Headsets

Hello, this is a guideline on how to authenticate Beats Headsets. This can be really tricky as it is faked too much. Perfect fake copies can also be found so try not to get tricked but as I always say, they'll always have to leave a mark behind. You might need to read this twice before you understand it. Believe me I took too much time reading on how to spot fake Beats but it's still pretty hard for me. The left ones are going to be the original one and the right one is the fake.

The foremost mark is that they'll have to leave the trademarks and copyrights symbols behind, so here's how it looks:
So if you look real close, the left one is the real because after the E in dre, it consists of a TM (Trademark). The right one doesn't have any so it's a fake. You can also see the mark after studio written in the bottom. The other thing is that if you look really closely, you can see that their is a difference in the color
  If you take a look at the back of the box, you'll notice that the headsets are in two different positions. It will also lack the TM mark. Have a look: 


Here's another thing, Dr.Dre's pictures are different and the '|' is replaced with a '/'

You can see that the wordings are clearly changed over here:

The Monster Clean Cloth officially provided with the headsets, the pattern is totally different, you can clearly see it:

The documents provided with the original headsets, the fake one doesn't have any. *Note* Both documents are those of the original ones*:


This would be it. Some say that the pin which is inserted is golden, I'm not sure about that so I can't confirm it and I don't want to be posting fake facts here but it could be a plus one. Thank you for taking out the time to read this article.

Written and Edited by: Annas Larik