While each secondhand bag or accessory may tell a different story, there are some tell-tale features you should be on the lookout for to ensure that the bag you’re buying is indeed the real deal.

In the past few years, there have been a lot of new players in the secondhand market, which is great for shoppers, but can also be overwhelming. The most important thing when buying vintage is to trust the company you’re buying from.

We sat down with the LXR authentication team to discuss their authentication process how to know you’re making a smart investment.

Sorry Samantha Jones, your knock-off Fendi Baguette probably won’t cut it.

Authenticity is the foundation of LXR’s business, and we have been expertly curating our selection for over 10 years. We take pride in our rigorous authenticity protocol and stand behind all our products with 100% authentication guarantee.

See Also: Experts Reveal Which Vintage Designer Bags Will Make a Comeback in 2022

We source our curated selection through private vintage luxury auction houses, long-term vintage suppliers, and through our customers own collection which they offer us in-store and online.

Before being purchased, our products undergo a rigorous protocol and are evaluated by our highly skilled team of authenticators under every angle (stitching, serial number, material, hardware, engravings, embossing, etc.).

Due to their 5-10 years of experience purchasing vintage luxury accessories, our authenticators can weed out some non-authentic products very quickly before starting to do the in-depth authentication. Something as simple as the touch and feel of the leather or the canvas or even the smell can be the first indicator of its authenticity!

Once every step of the process of the authenticity control has passed, the products are sent to our head office where they are checked in.

Another team of authenticators goes over a second authenticity control for each product arriving at the office. We then record every detail of the product in our internal database. This goes from giving the item a rating based on their condition to describing any wear the product bears, to their measurement and serial number as well as any other specific specs this product might have.

The items are then photographed in high resolution so that all our customers can see on their browsers the same details we see in person. Our goal is to be as transparent about the condition of the product as possible so that our buyers can buy in total confidence.

The last step before the item ships out is to do one last quality control and to provide an authenticity card certifying the item has undergone all in-house authentication steps confirming the item being purchased is 100% authentic. At this point, the product is ready for the next chapter in his new home!

If you you’re not sure about what should be your first vintage purchase, stick to the classics. The Classic Chanel 2.55 Flap is always a great investment. In fact, between 2003 and 2021, the price of a Chanel Medium Classic Flap increased by 500%, compared to gold, which has increased by 400%. The Louis Vuitton monogrammed Keepall travel bag is a great option for a first-time luxury vintage buyer. Another iconic bag is the Hermès Birkin.

Even seasoned vintage shoppers can get stumped by the counterfeits out there, but a good rule of thumb is that, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t get excited too quickly if you find that rare item you were looking for at a bargain, exercise caution. This is especially true when shopping on marketplaces where anyone can upload an item without going through an authentication process like our experts do at LXR.

Happy shopping!