Trying to authenticate a luxury piece on your own is an extremely daunting process and there is always that nagging doubt of if you matched every detail. While there are a lot of guides online sometimes it’s nearly impossible to to do all the research yourself. Lucky for you there are a few really thorough authentication companies out there that will give you all the piece of mind you need, to purchase and to sell. The list below will tell you everything you need to know about each authentication company from how much an authentication cost’s, what items they authenticate, what their turnaround time is and more.
A small caveat about online authentication companies. All the results the provide and certificates are based on that “authenticators” opinion of what they may have or have not seen in the past. There is no school, education or training to become a luxury authenticator. I believe that someone can be really good at learning the nuances of one brand but when a company states they can authenticate 100’s brands, it’s just not possible on their own so they will have a network of people usually from around the world with a certain expertise.
A few things to note:
- You cannot bring your bag into a brands store and have them authenticate it. SA’s will be terminated for speaking on authenticity.
- If an authentication company states that they are 100%, question that. No one but the BRANDS themselves are 100% reliable and if they push this ask them how they are arriving to that percentage? Will you receive your money back if they’re wrong?
- If an authentication company is also selling, what’s their ulterior motive? Selling their bags or helping you?
When using an online authentication company, make sure you are sending the correct images needed and that they are CLEAR and straight on.
- Front
- Back
- Side
- Bottom
- Logo
- Interior lining, interior logo, interior date code or any other tabs
- Hardware
- Stitching
- Any other discerning areas which are unique to that item
AUTHENTICATION COMPANIES (In no particular order)
Brands: Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Chloe, Celine, Goyard, Gucci, Prada and Chanel (16 Series and older)
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Betsy
How: Send photos via email
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost:
Pre-Purchase Authentication: $25 (3 business days)
Email Authentication: $25 (3 business days)
Authentication & Certificate of Authenticity: $40 (3 business days)
Expedited Pre-Purchase or Email Authentication (24 hour rush): $40 (1 business day)
Expedited Certificate of Authenticity (24 hour rush): $55 (1 business day)
Turnaround: See above
Financial Guarantee: No
Luxury Appraisals and Authentication
Brands: See website for details but supports the following categories: Luxury Handbags, Shoes, Watches, Jewelry, Furs and Ready To Wear
Pre-Purchase Authentication: No
Authentication Expert: Graham Wetzbarger
How: Contact Graham for details
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost: Contact Graham for details
Good For: Businesses or individuals looking to appraise and authenticate collections.
Brands: Louis Vuitton only
Pre-Purchase Authentication: No
Authentication Expert: Chonthicha Guth
How: Via images
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost:
Verbal Authentication: $10
Authenticity Letter (emailed PDF): $20
Authenticity Letter (custom printed card via postal mail): $25
Authenticity Letter (detailed reasoning for claims/disputes): $70
Authenticity Letter (Insurance/Appraisal): $35
Pricing Estimate: $10 ($5 if combined with authentication)
Item identification: $5
For all items prior to 1990 (vintage): Extra $5 per service
Turnaround: Nothing listed but have seen anywhere from a couple of hours to days
Financial Guarantee: No
Brands: Chanel handbags only
Pre-Purchase Authentication: No
Authentication Expert:
How: Via images
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost:
eCertificate: $30
Detailed Analysis with Email Authentication and Evaluation: $40
Authenticity Letter (custom printed card via postal mail): $25
Premium Certificate by Mail: $80
Letter of Authenticity/Non-Authenticity (by mail with enhanced foil certificate): $100
In House Inspection With Free Shipping (returned): $150
Turnaround: Can be quick if you are in her Facebook group as she will give her opinion for free.
Financial Guarantee: No
Technology company that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to authentication luxury bags. Every authentication certificate is backed by their financial guarantee which means for you, even if they get it wrong (there is a process) they will cover your financial loss.
Brands: The top 15 luxury brands
Pre-Purchase Authentication: No
Authentication Expert: Artificial Intelligence with Machine Learning
How: Device with microscopic lens and app (ipod included) takes microscopic images of regions of the bag then AI determines authenticity by comparing to millions of images of real and fake.
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost: $299 set-up fee and monthly or yearly subscription plans
Turnaround: 60 seconds to 60 minutes (24 hours for Hermes), support not available on weekends
Financial Guarantee: Yes
Brands: Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel……..(website does not have a lot of information)
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Carol Ives
How: Send photos via email
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost:
- General questions and email authentications = $7
- Hermes authentications: $30
Turnaround: Not stated
Financial Guarantee: No
Brands: High end designer handbags, shoes, clothing, jewelry and travel
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Angie Houston
How: Fill out online form and include link to website or upload pictures.
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost: See chart below:
- Hermes or Celine Bags – Same Day $235, 2 Days $165, 5 Days $125, 10 Days $95
- Handbag or Wallet – Same Day $50, 2 Days $35, 5 Days $25, 10 Days $20
- Hermes Scarf or Wallet – Same Day $85, 2 Days $65, 5 Days $45, 10 Days $35
- Clothing – Same Day $50, 3 Days $35
- Belt – 3 Days $35
- Jewelry – Same Day $75, 3 Days $45
- Luggage / Travel – Same Day $85, 3 Days $55
- Shoes – Same Day $60, 3 Days $35
- Trunks – Same Day $350, up to 5 days $175
- Certificate of Authenticity for Celine or Hermes $450
Turnaround: Same day to 10 days
Financial Guarantee: No
Brands: Chanel handbags, jewelry, shoes and accessories except for Classic Flaps, Reissue Flaps, and the Le Boy Bags from the 15 million series (15xxxxxx) and beyond
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Michelle, long standing member of the Purse Forum
How: Via email by copy and pasting their form
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost: See Below
- Email Authentication – $7 with Value Estimate – $8 if purchased at same time. Add $3 if purchasing separately
- In House Authentication – $100 and does not include return shipping and insurance
- Written Statement of Authenticity (non authentic) $100 for 72 hour turnaround, $125 for 24 hour turnaround
- Written Statement of Significantly Not As Described (SNAD) $100 for 72 hour turnaround, $125 for 24 hour turnaround
- Certificate of Authenticity – $30 up to 48 hours
Turnaround: 24 to 72 hours
Financial Guarantee: No
Brands: Low to mid range brands
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Ronald Fryer
How: Via email
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost: Pre-purchase – $7.50, additional add-ons like value, original retail value and style name – $4, post purchases – $15 with an additional $4 for style name and or collection, original retail price and value. Claims and disputes – $40 for written report
Turnaround: 24 hours 7 days a week
Financial Guarantee: No
RealityCheckAuthentications.com
Brands: Not stated on website but high end
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Kaleigh Kirby and team
How: Send photos via email
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost:
- Items with a value under $500- $7
- Items with a value over over $500- $14
- Chanel 15 series and up- $25
- Celine, Prada 2013 and up $24
- Hermes accessories/belts/scarves $15
- Hermes bags $30
- Item Identification/Item valuation $7
- Letter/pdf of authenticity/non-authenticity suitable for paypal/ebay/credit card purposes $40
- Rush service (within 24 hrs) $10
- Jewelry/watches over $500 value $40
- Certificate of Authenticity (hardcopy mailed only, with tamperproof serial number hologram matched to item) $40
Turnaround: 48 hours
Financial Guarantee: No
Brands: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Balenciaga, YSL, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Prada, Fendi $ Dior and others
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Melissa Knope
How: Via text and email
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost:
Louis Vuitton starting at $12+
- Certificate = +$18
- Letter + $5
- Louis Vuitton = Starting at $12
Chanel Authentication starting at $20+
- Certificate = $25
- Letter = $5
- Estimated value = $4.50
- Value over $2,500 = $5
Other Brand authentication starting at $18+
- Certificate = $17
- Letter = $5
- Estimated value = $4.50
- Value over $2,500 = $5
Turnaround: Within 60 minutes for Louis Vuitton and within 24 hours for all other brands.
Financial Guarantee: No
Brands: Alexander McQueen, Azzedine Alaia, Balenciaga, Celine, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Louboutin, Hermes, Herve Leger, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik, Prada, Roland Mouret, Smythe, Valentino, and Yves Saint Laurent (Saint Laurent)
Pre-Purchase Authentication: No
Authentication Expert: Fei Deyle, Owner of Lollipuff
How: Via email
Good for Claims: No
Cost: One Handbag Authentication = $25, One piece of clothing, shoes or accessories = $20 each.
Turnaround: 24 -48 hours
Financial Guarantee: No
Brands: High end handbags excluding Prada Saffiano Ciur Bags and Chanel Series 17 (17xxxxxxx) and above.
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Gina Nixon started the company but authentications are outsourced to different people
How: Send photos via email or Dropbox
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost: Value of items =$299 or less = $25 / $300 and above = $50
Turnaround: 2 Business days (approximately)
Financial Guarantee: Authentication fee only
Brands: See website buy basically, everything
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Two girls from Fashionphile created this company, Anastacia Bouzeneris and Jenna Padilla.
How: Via email, text or app
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost:
- $20 for authentication
- $30 for authentication with certificate
- $10 Identification (Style, Size & Material)
- $5 Age
- $5 Color
- $10 Guaranteed 12 Hour Response
Turnaround: 24 hours or less
Financial Guarantee: No
Brands: Hermès only
Pre-Purchase Authentication: Yes
Authentication Expert: Dimity Giles
How: Email photos
Good for Claims: Yes
Cost: Email Opinion:
Leather handbag or wallet – US$65
Exotic skin handbag or wallet (Crocodile, alligator, ostrich, lizard) – US$125
Himalaya Crocodile handbag – US$200
Certificate Opinion:
Certificate Opinions of authentic items describe model, size, leather, color, year of manufacture and include two pictures, of the item and the stamp.
Certificate Opinions of not authentic items list aspects that are inconsistent with authenticity.
Leather handbag or wallet – US$85
Exotic skin handbag (Crocodile, alligator, ostrich, lizard) – US$200
Himalaya Crocodile handbag – US$300
Turnaround: 12-24 hours, three hour express service available
Financial Guarantee: No
Authentication companies we do not endorse due to unethical online reviews and business practices.
Yonnit
Archive Authentications
