At FASHIONPHILE, when it comes to ultra-luxury, authenticity is paramount.
The Chanel Mini Square Flap is a coveted accessory that is often imitated, making it important for serious Chanel buyers to distinguish the real deal from the fake. Inspecting areas of the hardware and interior and examining Chanel’s new metal plates are crucial steps in verifying its authenticity. In this side-by-side comparison of an authentic and fake Chanel Mini Square Flap bag, we’ll give you the inside scoop on some key characteristics to look out for when confirming the authenticity of this style, starting with hardware.
Watch our YouTube Shorts video comparing an authentic and fake Chanel Mini Square Flap.
Inspecting Hardware on the Chanel Mini Square Flap
The hardware on this style, and many Chanel handbags, includes the CC turn-lock, chains, zippers, rivets, screws, and more. These all carry crucial information for Chanel authentication. When handling Chanel hardware, it should feel weighty and substantial and have a smooth finish with precise detailing. In this example, the finish on the CC ball is incorrect. It is very hard to pinpoint from the photos alone, but by using a loupe, our experts identified inconsistencies immediately. It’s always in the details.
Additionally, the color of the hardware is incorrect and is too shiny. You can learn more about all the different types of Chanel hardware here. By closely examining the hardware of a Chanel handbag, you gain valuable insight into its authenticity. But that’s not all. Taking a closer look at the details inside the bag can reveal so much, too.
The Details Inside the Chanel Mini Square Flap
Chanel Interior Lining
Never judge a bag by its “cover.” Aside from the hardware, looking inside the bag and taking a closer look at other components can reveal so many truths. For instance, in this example, the lining quality does not add up. How so? The fake Chanel Mini Square Flap exhibits a lining that is too thin, which is very obvious when handling the bag in person. This level of inferiority does not meet the high standards of Chanel.
Additionally, the lining on the authentic Chanel Mini Square Flap is constructed of the correct denim (a sturdy cotton twill fabric woven with high-quality yarn) that has straight and evenly spaced stitching and overall feels uber luxurious. Generally speaking, the denim color on the fake Mini Square Flap does not match the collection, which immediately is a telltale sign of a counterfeit.
Chanel Foil Stamps
Another area to look closely at is the foil stamp. You may notice here that the fake Chanel Mini Square Flap has the incorrect font style. The logo should be clean and centered, with even spacing between the letters.
Chanel Metal Plates
Starting in 2021, Chanel slowly launched metal plates in replace of their hologram stickers and authenticity cards. This new system no longer follows Chanel’s previous serial coding system, which, when decoded, would reveal the production year. Instead, these new metal plates contain a unique series of letters and numbers that are unique to that item.
In this example, the engravings on the fake Mini Square Flap’s metal plate are incorrect, and just like much of the rest of the hardware, the fake plate is too shiny.
With counterfeit versions of this popular style flooding the market, it is essential to remain updated with the most current characteristics pertaining to the bag of your choice – in this case, the Chanel Mini Square Flap. To ensure you are investing in not only a high-quality product but an authentic one, it is important for serious Chanel buyers to have the expert resources to distinguish the real deal from the fake.
