WHO WHAT WEAR AUSTRALIA: How can you spot a counterfeit handbag?
VICTOIRE BOYER CHAMMARD: Each brand has its own criteria that we need to ensure the item meets. For example, we will look at everything from the touch and smell of the material, to the fastenings used, and the finish of the item. We also check that the serial number matches to the brand, item, and year. This is because depending on the year, the details of a brand are not the same, for example, the zipper could change or the typography could be different.
WWW: What's the number one biggest giveaway of a counterfeit product?
VBC: The finishing of an item is the main giveaway that a product is a fake. An item might be real gold with diamonds and it could look authentic to most eyes, but when under a microscope, our experts can pick out if the setting or finishing doesn't match the standard of that brand. Similarly, with luxury bags we will touch and smell the leather as the feel of premium leathers is very different to counterfeit pieces, and it will often smell strongly of glue.