Buyer's guide
How to spot a fake designer item
Counterfeits get better every year, but the details still give them away. Use this checklist to judge any pre-owned designer piece with confidence — whether you're bidding on Rūbas or buying anywhere else.
The checklist
Seven things to check before you trust a piece
No single sign is proof on its own. Work through them together — genuine pieces pass every test, fakes usually slip on at least one.
Luxury houses are obsessive about stitching: lines are straight, even and tight, with a consistent stitch count and no loose threads or glue seeping from the seams. Crooked, uneven or sparse stitching is one of the clearest giveaways of a counterfeit.
Genuine hardware feels weighty and solid, never light or hollow. Zippers glide smoothly and are often branded (or YKK / Lampo / Riri on many houses). Logos engraved into buckles, studs and zip pulls should be crisp and correctly spelled — never stamped on crookedly or rubbing off.
Compare the logo against an official product photo: font weight, letter spacing and proportions must match exactly. Watch for subtle misspellings, an extra or missing serif, or a monogram pattern that's cut off awkwardly at the seams — authentic pieces align their patterns carefully.
Many brands use date codes, serial numbers, microchips or authenticity cards. Check the format is right for the brand and era, that the font matches the rest of the item, and that any card's details correspond to the piece. A missing or sloppily printed code is a warning sign.
Real leather is supple and smells like leather, not chemicals or plastic. Linings, canvas and fabric should feel substantial and properly finished. A strong glue or chemical smell, stiff plasticky "leather", or a flimsy lining all point to a fake.
Inspect the interior labels and care tags: the font, country of origin and material composition should be consistent with the brand. Authentic care instructions are cleanly printed or embossed — blurry, glued-in or misspelled labels are red flags.
If a current-season designer bag costs a fraction of retail, be sceptical — deals that look too good usually are. Check the seller's history and reviews, ask for extra photos of the details above, and favour platforms that verify items before they sell.
Still not sure? Get it authenticated
When something feels off, do less and verify more. Ask a trusted professional authenticator, or buy through a marketplace that checks items for you. On Rūbas, every listing is reviewed before it goes live, so you can bid with confidence — and if a piece ever fails authentication, you're protected.
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Every lot on Rūbas is reviewed for authenticity before it reaches the auction floor. Explore what's live now.