Here are a few key notes to keep in mind about Gucci Handbags:
Gucci tag fonts may be different depending on what region of Europe they were manufactured.
But the majority of the time the font is a big tell for spotting fake Gucci.
Gucci is also one of the few designers to sell out of season imperfects or overtocks in their outlet stores and to brokers.
For Spring 08 Gucci has changed the bottom row number for many of their handbags.
These numbers have been in place for several years, this will create some modest difficulty for buyers and sellers.
Up until the current season, the bottom row serial number has been one of the biggest indicators of a non authentic Gucci product.
Interior Characteristics:
Always check out the label inside of the handbag.
Here we will highlight some points to look for that will indicate whether a handbag is authentic or not.
The REAL label, to the LEFT, the quality of the matierial, the even stitching and the clarity of the logo impressions.
Use this image as a reference to compare the real features with the images of the fake features.
[The letter U, and the correct font detail is visible from this picture angle (more on the Gucci fonts below)].
The FAKE label, to the RIGHT, the poor impression (the clarity of the stamp) and the uneven stitching.
Also note that the impressions looks like the top of the letters have a trail that points to the left.
This happens when the stamp is done poorly, and it is not struck fast enough, or the stamp is adjusted at the last second.
What is left an almost scraping or dragging effect, like what is seen in the logo above.
The tops of the letters with the trail off to the left is evidence that the stamp was placed on to the label and then as it was being pressed, was shifted quickly to the right, possibly as a late attempt to center the label, and during the pressing, it left the trail that is seen.
It is most notable on both prongs of the the letter U.
The contrast between the REAL label (left), and the FAKE label (right), is quite clear.
The Font:
Often times the Gucci font on fake bags will be incorrect.
Gucci has a very distinct font (although in rare cases it may vary depending on the area of Euprope it was manufactured), furthermore, it is something that is rarely perfected by counterfeiters.
Notice the letter U font.
This is always the most notable of all the font issues, and one that can be detected in most pictures.
The left side of the letter is slightly thicker than the right side of the letter.
Often times the FAKE Gucci handbags will not have this font feature, or if they attempt it, it will be of lower quality.
Based on the image of the authentic Gucci label and font, the letter by letter breakdown should shed some light on what to look for when inspecting a Gucci handbag label/font.
Letter G: It is important to understand that th Gucci font is not a traditional arial etc.
The letters do not curve or have a perfect concave.
The letter G starts to curve, but has two pivot points in the curve like the letter U (below), [but also has a third point in the middle of the curve], and then at the bottom of the letter stops and pivots up and to the right, and then strait up to finish the hook of the G.
What this stop and pivot means is that the font will not look entirely circular.
The font will have some slightly strait angles within the overall curve.
This will give the letter G more of a boxy look, than circular.
[The best way to tell that the G has that extra pivot, is by looking at the insides of both G and the C, and you can clearly see that the spacing shape inside the letters is not the same.]
Letter U: Other than the fact that the left side should be thicker than the right, the same rules apply to the U as do the G.
The bottom of the U is not a perfect half circle, instead the line starts going down and to the right, and then stops and pivots up and to the right, and then strait up to finish the letter.
This stop and pivot will also give the U a more boxy look.
Double C: The letters C have the same stop and pivot in two main places.
First the letters starts to curve up and to the left, then stops and pivots, curving down, then stops and pivots again at the bottom of the letter, curving up and to the right and finishing the letter. Another detail about the pivot points in the C is that they will be directly above each other.
You can measure strait up from the bottom pivot to the top pivot point.
Letter i: There is nothing overly special about the letter I font, other than there is generally a slight serif typeface (feet) at the top and the bottom of the letter.
Here is an example of a FAKE Gucci label. The overly round (wide) letters are missing some of the correct pivot points.
First the G (left) has a pivot directly in the center of the letter, which is an attempt to give the G the correct boxy look, the only problem is that it is poking out too far left and actually makes the letter look overly wide, and by extension, overly circular.
The most obvious problem with the letter U is that the left side of the letter is the same size (width) as the right side of the letter.
However, they did try to create the pivot effect at the bottom of the letter, the problem there is that because the letter is the same width on both sides, it just makes the letter U look lopsided.
The letters C both have the same issue as the G, instead of having slightly different backs (then the G), they have the same backing or curve, with the center of the curve poking out too far to the left, giving the letters C the same overly curved look as the G.
The letter I looks (like the rest of the letters), like it has an overly dramatic serif typeface on the top and bottom of the letter.
The serif typeface on an authentic Gucci font is more subtle.
Here is a video to further your knowledge.
You can purchase Gucci Bags from these authorized retailers:
