The first question I get when talking to someone about buying a preloved luxury good is how do you know it’s authentic? The answer is to get it authenticated. Even if you have bought and how much of an “expert” you may think you are fakes have gotten really really good. (Super fakes are literally the scariest things ever and one of the reasons if I was to buy more current season Chanel I would likely buy straight from the boutique.)
The second question inevitably is a combination of what company should I use and how does it work? If those are the questions you have then this article is here to help.
What Company should I use?
REAL AUTHENTICATION
Real Authentication allows you to authenticate from literally anywhere. They also authenticate a wide variety of luxury items including clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelry. Create an account and once you have done that just upload your images. Their turn around time is between 12 to 24 hours for their basic services but if you need it quicker they even have instant turnaround. Every item is looked at by two authenticators to confirm whether the item is authentic or not. This is my preferred authentication service and the one I currently use.
Real Authentication‘s pricing is as follows:
- Basic authentication is $20. The following chart shows the additions you can make to your basic authentication.
Real Authentication authenticates all the following brands- 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander McQueen, Alexander Wang, Audemars Piguet, Balenciaga, Baume & Mercier, Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Bottega Veneta, Breitling, Bulgari (Bvlgari), Burberry, Carrera Y Carrera, Cartier (High- Res Photos Required), Celine, Chanel, Charles Krypell, Charriol, Chloe, Chopard, Christian Dior, Christian Louboutin, Coach, Corum, David Yurman, Dolce & Gabbana, Doony & Bourke, Fendi, George Jensen, Girard Jensen, Girard- Perregaux, Givenchy, Goyard, Graff, Gucci, Hermes, Hublot (High-Res Photo Required), IWC, Jager Le- Coulter, Jimmy Choo, John Hardy, Judith Leiber, Judith Ripka, Lago, Lanvin, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Michelle, Mikimoto, Miu Miu, Montblanc, Mulberry, Nancy Gonzalez, Oliver Peoples, Omega, Panerai, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Prada, Proenza Schouler, Roberto Coin, Rolex, Simon G, Stella McCartney, Stuart Weitzman (shoes only), Saint Laurent, Tacori, Tag Heuer, Tiffany & Co., Tissot, Tom Ford, Ulysee Nardin, Valentino Garavani, Van Cleef and Arpels, Versace, Yeezy, Yves Saint Laurent and Zenith.
AUTHENTICATE FIRST
I have used Authenticate First before and have had a good experience with them. They also had great customer service when I had an issue with a certificate I got from a seller on Tradesy. (To learn more click here.) They do have a slower turn around time of 2 days. This timeline can be shortened if you pay for expedited service. They do a photo authentication service and an in-house authentication service where you send it your item to them to be reviewed.
Authenticate First has a more complicated pricing structure so I attached the pricing chart below. They are more expensive on the Hermes front (unless its an SLG email opinion) but are cheaper for most brands email opinion authentications then Real Authentication.
Authenticate First authenticates all the following brands- 3.1 phillip lim, Adamo, Adidas, Alaia, Aldo Cipullo, Alexander McQueen, Alexander Wang, Alice + Olivia, Alviero Martini, Anya Hindmarch, Armani (Giorgio Armani), Auguste Raymond (watches only),B Makowsky, BCBG Max Azria, Baccarat Crystal, Baccini, Badgley Michka, Balenciaga, Bally, Balmain, Bebe, Belstaff, Botkier, Bottega Veneta, Brahmin, Breil Watches & Jewels, Breitling Watches, Bruno Cucinelli, Bulgari (Bvlgari), Burberry, Caludio Orciani, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Cartier (Handbags and wallets only – no jewelry), Cavalli, Celine, Certina (watches only), Chanel (16 series and below ONLY), Chloe, Chopard, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Christian Louboutin, Chrome Hearts, Ciccinelle, Coach, Coccinelle, Cole Haan, David Yurman, Delvaux, Diane von Furstenberg, Dior (Christian Dior), Dodo Jewels, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Dooney & Bourke, DSquared2, Edox (watches only), Elizabeth & James, Emanuel Ungaro (handbags only), Emilio Pucci, Erdem, ETRO, Equipment, Fede, Fendi, Ferragamo (Salvatore Ferragamo), Ferrari, Fossil, Francesco Biasia, Frye, Furla, Gianni Versace, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Goyard, Gucci, Guess, Guiseppe Zanotti, Halston, Hartmann, Harley Davidson, Haute Hippie, Helzberg Diamonds, Hermes, Herve Leger, Hogan, Hugo Boss (sunglasses only), Isaac Mizrahi, Isabel Marant, Issa, Jason Wu, Jean Paul Gaultier, Jimmy Choo, John Hardy, Johnstons (scarves only), Judith Leiber, Judith Ripka, Juicy Couture, Karl Lagerfeld (jewelry only), Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, Kieselstein-Cord, L.A.M.B., Lacoste, Lagos, Lana Marks, Lanvin, Liu-Jo, Loewe, Longchamp, Loro Piana, Louis Vuitton, Luella, Manolo Blahnik, Mansur Gavriel, Marc Jacobs (Marc by Marc Jacobs), Marino Orlandi, Marni, Max Aria, MCM, Michael Kors, Michele Watches, Mikimoto, Miu Miu, Moncler, Mont Blanc, Moschino, Mou, Movado, Mulberry, Murano Glass/Crystal, Nancy Gonzalez, Nanni Milano, Nike, Nina Ricci, Oakley, Oliver Peoples, Omega, Oscar de la Renta, Paloma Picasso, Pandora, Peuterey, Phillip Lim, Prada, Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, Ralph Lauren, Ray Ban, Rebecca Minkoff, ReCarlo Jewels, Roberto Cavalli, Rock and Republic Jeans, Roger Vivier Shoes, Rolex, Saint Laurent (Yves Saint Laurent), Salvatore Ferragamo, Salvini Jewels, Seiko, Sergio Rossi, Sophie Hulme, Stella McCartney, Stuart Weitzman, Swarovski, Tag Heuer, The North Face, Tiffany & Co., Tissot (watches only), Tods, Tom Ford, Tory Burch, True Religion Jeans, Tumi, UGG, Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Vera Wang, Versace, Victoria Beckham, Vivienne Westwood, Waterford Crystal, Yves Saint Laurent, and Zac Posen.
There is an exception to their Chanel photo services based on the series number.
PROAUTHENTICATORS
Proauthenticators is not a service I have used before but has come highly recommended especially when buying Louis Vuitton products on Ebay. The authentication service focuses solely on Louis Vuitton.
Proauthenticators pricing is as follows:
- Item Identification is $5.
- Pricing Estimation is $10. (The price is reduced to $5 if combined with authentication)
- Verbal authentication is $10. This means that you get your results via Facebook messenger, email or text.
- An authentication letter is $20. This included an emailed PDF letter.
- An authentication letter that is printed and mailed out is $25.
- An authentication letter for insurance/ appraisal purposes is $35.
- An authentication letter for claim or dispute purposes is $70.
- Also please note that any item that is pre-1990 has an extra $5 service fee attached to it.
Proauthenticators only does Louis Vuitton Products.
Overall I now solely use Real Authentication just because of their speed and mobile app function.
How does it work?
Let’s take the service I use and love the most- Real Authentication. I always use their Mobile Authentication services which means I can upload all my photos and get my results via my phone.
Real Authentication requires the following information for your authentication:
- Front
- Exterior Log (if there is one)
- Made In Tag (if there is one)
- Serial Number/ Date Code (if there is one)
- Hardware engravings
- ** If they need more photos they will message you and ask
Once you check out that is all you have to do! Its really simple and a great service.
When your authentication is ready they email you. You then log in and will see a screen like this:
Hopefully you see the green check mark because that means its authentic. If not you will see a red a mark like below. If they need more pictures they will email you that and tell you what pictures they require.
What should I get authenticated?
Honestly the sad answer is everything. I would obviously authenticate anything that does not come pre- authenticated. So that would be anything from Ebay, Tradesy, Poshmark (even the items over $500 because I do not trust their authentication services), Mercari, and Depop to name but a few. Even companies like Fashionphile and The Real Real have been known to let fakes slip buy even though they allegedly authenticate everything.
Also return fraud to luxury stores is a real thing so always be careful when purchasing in store and ask questions. For example when I am at Louis Vuitton I always ask where the date code is in a piece that I am buying.
More Questions?
Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or leave a comment on this article!