When we last wrote about Chanel serial numbers, metal plates had just been introduced.
After buying and selling thousands of pre-owned Chanel bags, we’ve learned even more. Examining Chanel’s new metal plates is crucial step in verifying its authenticity. This step-by-step guide will help you consider the authentication process we go through, including the new metal plate.
Step One: Examine the Stitching
Examine the stitching for evenness and precision. Look for even, straight lines with no loose threads or irregular spacing. The stitch count should be consistent and tight. Check the stitching on the interior as well; it should be just as neat as the exterior.
Step Two: Examine the Materials
The leather should feel soft and luxurious, not stiff or plastic-like. On quilted bags, the diamond pattern should be symmetrical. The quilting should be puffy and retain its shape, not flat or uneven. For lambskin bags, the leather should be buttery smooth. Caviar leather should have a consistent, pebbled texture. If it’s a fabric bag, check that the material is tightly woven and feels substantial.
Step Three: Inspect the Hardware and Logos
Check that zippers, clasps, and other hardware are branded with CHANEL or the CC logo.
All logos, whether stamped, embossed, or engraved, should be crisp and clear.
Look for clean edges on metal logos. Stamped logos on leather should be straight and evenly pressed. Learn more about Chanel’s hardware.
Step Four: Locate the Serial Plate
Chanel bags produced after Spring/Summer 2021 should have a metal plate inside (though the exact details and implementation might vary depending on the specific model and production date.) We refer to the metal plates as “serial plates.” The rectangular metal plates (about 1.2″ wide) have an engraved Chanel CC logo and an 8-digit alphanumeric code. The serial plate will match the metal on the rest of the bag (e.g. Chanel Classic Flap Bags with gold hardware on the exterior will have a gold metal plate inside.)
More About the Metal Serial Plates
As technology advances, the luxury market is embracing new and innovative methods to outsmart counterfeiters. Chanel replaced all stickers and authenticity cards with metal plates containing microchips in 2021. The metal serial plate is the new serial number.
The metal plaque has a small NFC (Near-Field Communication) chip inside, a key facilitator in blockchain technology. Blockchain is essentially a system of storing information that is virtually impossible to edit. The data is confidential and only accessible to Chanel associates with proprietary scanning devices.
It’s important to note that we do not base our determination on serial plates alone. Counterfeiters may attempt to attach a metal plate with a Chanel logo on it, but they will be incapable of creating NFC technology that matches Chanel’s. Counterfeit bags may lack a metal plate altogether or have one with incorrect markings.
Though you can be assured that any Chanel bag purchased at FASHIONPHILE is authentic, there’s now an additional way for buyers to be even more assured. Buyers may take their resale purchases into a Chanel store where they can be authenticated with a quick scan from a Chanel sales associate.
Chanel Metal Plate FAQ
- Chanel’s serial plates feature an etched CC logo and a mix of 8 alphanumeric digits and letters.
- For bags, the plate is attached to the handbag’s interior. For Wallet on Chains, the metal plate can be found inside the zip pocket.
- Small leather goods will include a serial sticker that has the same alphanumerical format as the metal plates but in sticker form. This sticker has different nuances that we are looking for while authenticating, such as two data matrix codes and a CC printed that can be either black or gold, with some very minimal, fine glitter content.
- Like the numbers on the stickers previously used, these figures are unique to the item, so they will not be repeated in multiple items.
- Presently, there is no connection between the bag’s year of manufacturing and these codes (yet).
- If the item comes with a retail tag, the information containing a data matrix code should always match the code on the item.
FASHIONPHILE’s approach to authenticating luxury brands is a science. We know that our customers trust us to get this right. That’s why they’re here, and we do all we can to earn that trust. When authenticating, our experts look at the entire bag: the material, the hardware, the format of the numbers, fonts, and stampings. We inspect everything—every centimeter of the bag, including hardware, exterior, interior, and what the bag comes with. When purchasing a pre-owned Chanel bag from FASHIONPHILE, you can be assured that you’re getting the real thing.
