ELLE Interview – Brand Authenticator Reveals Which Chanel Second-Hand Bags Hold Their Value Best! Are People Trying to Identify Chanel’s Authenticity Online a Scam?

Are you a Chanel fan too? Do you know enough about the second-hand Chanel handbags produced in the 80s and 90s? In recent years, many women have been obsessed with second-hand handbags, all because the old styles are no longer produced. Under the circumstance of scarcity and high price, it is difficult to find a high-quality second-hand Chanel handbag. But if you spend tens of thousands of yuan to buy a second-hand handbag, of course you have to do your homework. As for which type of bag is the most valuable and how to distinguish the authenticity of second-hand Chanel handbags, ELLE invited the well-known brand authentication master Zijian to reveal all the facts about second-hand Chanel handbags to you.

1. From what year can a second-hand Chanel handbag be called "second-hand"?

Everyone talks about vintage bags, but what counts as used? Zijian, who has many years of knowledge about vintage bags, explained to us that there is actually a clear dividing line for used Chanel handbags in terms of years. "We can call Chanel handbags produced between 1986 and 2005 'used handbags'. Since 1986, each Chanel handbag has a serial number, and the serial number records the year of production of the handbag." When a handbag does not have a serial number, many people find it difficult to know its authenticity when buying it, and they have to hand it over to an appraiser to verify it.

Zijian also explained: "Chanel handbags produced before the 1980s are quite different from today's Chanel handbags in terms of appearance and workmanship. There are many Chanel handbags from the 1960s and 1970s on the Internet now, and it is really difficult to distinguish the authenticity because there is no complete guideline to help you distinguish. Even with the development of technology now, it is difficult to search for all the characteristics of Vintage Chanel handbags on the Internet."

2. Identification experience is more important than certification

Zijian believes that it is difficult for ordinary customers to distinguish the authenticity of second-hand handbags by themselves, because it requires a lot of identification knowledge and people with a lot of experience in dealing with second-hand handbags. Some certifications for appraisers in the market can be obtained in as short as half a day or a week of courses, which seems to be more in name than in reality. From Zijian's point of view, experience is always more important than a certificate when it comes to appraisal.

3. Set a purchasing criterion for yourself

“When buying a second-hand Chanel handbag, I think it is very important for customers to set their own standards for buying bags. You must buy a handbag that is within your knowledge and understanding and that you think is flawless.” He continued, “For example, some people must have a serial number or a guarantee card before they buy. That is fine. In fact, the serial number of a handbag with decades of history can fade and the guarantee card can be lost. Does that mean the handbag is fake? Actually, it is not. But if you feel at ease only when you have the above standards, then you should just buy a handbag that meets these standards.”

Zijian also recommends that buyers go to reputable, even international, second-hand handbag websites to compare and see if the style is the same as the handbag they want to buy, so there is no need to make impulse purchases.

As an experienced brand authenticator, Zijian will not judge a handbag's authenticity just because there is a problem with one part. "For example, many people believe that Chanel does not use 'cross' screws behind the buckle, but must use 'slotted' screws. But if a user loses a screw on her handbag and happens to have a 'cross' screw that fits, does it mean that the Chanel handbag is fake after replacing it?"

"Absolutely not. So remember, don't read an article on the Internet that tells you how to distinguish authenticity and then apply those methods to all second-hand handbags. This is incorrect." Of course, if you are really worried and you don't know much about second-hand handbags, it is best to patronize a reputable store.

4. The most inquired Chanel second-hand handbags

In Lovintage, a second-hand luxury goods store run by Zijian, the Chanel Diana Bag, Classic Flap and Camera bag are the most popular items. The Diana bag, which is famous for being used by Princess Diana, is classic and elegant. The second-hand Camera bag comes with a carved hook, and it has all the classic characteristics of Chanel, so people love to find it.

Compared with the Camera bag, the current Classic Flap has greater potential for maintaining its value, especially the black Classic Flap that is less than 25 cm.

Chanel has always launched the Classic Flap. If you buy a Classic Flap in a specialty store, it will cost about NT$60,000 to NT$70,000. Since Chanel raised the price, the second-hand Classic Flap has sold better. "Because the second-hand Classic Flap and the current Classic Flap have the same style, for example, a second-hand Classic Flap produced in 1991 in our store is currently priced at more than NT$30,000, which is half the price of a new one, so customers will be more willing to buy it."

5. Expensive handbags must be maintained

When talking about handbag maintenance, Zijian said with a smile that Hong Kong people are really rich. When handbags are scratched or worn, they don't care. At the same time, they store them carelessly and don't even know they are moldy. "When handbags are scratched and ignored, the marks will actually get worse. Everyone should remember the principle of 'the disease is treated at the earliest stage'. Many people don't want to take them to a maintenance shop. First, they are afraid of the master's hand gestures, and second, they are afraid of integrity issues, fearing that some parts of the handbags will be replaced." With a mentality of preserving second-hand handbags, Zijian decided to launch a handbag maintenance service in his own store. "I hope that customers can repair handbags at a small price. Because in the past 10 years, the number of second-hand handbags has become less and less. Around 10 years ago, it was much more difficult to buy a good quality second-hand handbag. The reason is that people no longer cherish these second-hand handbags, so I have to keep educating the public to take care of their handbags in time when necessary."

6. The importance of drying bags

Many ladies have experienced moldy handbags. Humidity is the biggest reason. The second reason is the storage space. When handbags are placed in wardrobes, boxes, or even under the bed, these unventilated and dark places will easily mold for too long.

"In fact, if you have a shelf or glass cabinet at home and display your handbags one by one, this is the best environment to store your handbags. If you put them in a cabinet, I suggest taking them all out every month, ventilating them, exposing them to light, and then wiping them clean. This simple method can easily prevent mold."

Zijian shares his handbag storage tips with us.

Postscript: After visiting Zijian, I learned a lot about Chanel second-hand handbags. Friends who are interested in second-hand handbags may want to go to his Lovintage store in Causeway Bay to communicate with the appraiser. Lovintage will also launch a thank-you event in July, where second-hand handbags will be sold at a discount of up to 40%.

Original URL: Brand authenticators reveal which second-hand Chanel handbags are the most valuable! Are you lying when you try to identify the authenticity of Chanel bags online? BY ELLA BELLE, EDITED BY CHERIE CHAN
https://www.elle.com.hk/fashion/all-about-buying-chanel-vintage-bag