How to Spot A Fake Goyard Bag

Although Goyard is known for being exclusive and has a tight approach to selling, it’s still a big hit with celebs and handbag fans everywhere.

And as Goyard has become more popular, the market has been flooded with counterfeits. Knowing how to spot a fake Goyard bag is crucial to avoid falling for a scam.

If you’re trying to buy a pre-owned Goyard and want to know how to authenticate the bag, look no further!

A Quick Checklist: Real vs. Fake Goyard

If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick checklist for you to authenticate your Goyard bag in 3 minutes:

1. The Goyard Pattern

Goyard stopped hand-painting every single dot on their bags in 2006 and started using etching and layering of dye to keep up with the large customer demand. 

The print used to be messy and imperfect which many argue was actually a good thing because it gave Goyard’s pieces more character and made each piece truly unique.

So if you’re hunting for Goyard vintage items, the easiest way to spot a fake Goyard was to check if the pattern “Y” was “too perfect”.

Vintage Goyard Card Holder	Newer Goyard Card Holder

If you prefer newer Goyard bags, these are the things you should look for when authenticate a Goyard:

• The dots are oval-shaped and slightly irregular.
• The white dots line up perfectly vertical, with dashes either touch or overlap.
• The dotted pattern and the letters should be clear and sharp.
• The spacing between the letters should be just right, not too close or too far apart.

Because the pattern is made with multiple layers of color:

• The surface of an Replica Knockoff Goyard bag should have a bumpy texture.
• When zooming in, you can even see some tiny bubbles.

Fake Goyard bag will frequently print the pattern directly on the fabric itself, so the print appears flatter and more two-dimensional. The designs and letters of some low-quality fakes will not be as clear and look somewhat scribbled.

For any upcoming photos: A = Authentic, R = Replica

At the same time, real Goyard bags are hand-stenciled, so you might see small imperfections from human craftsmanship. But fake bags are printed, so the patterns can look too perfect.

Keep an eye on the little details, like how the ‘Y’ and ‘G’ are angled, and the unique ways the ‘H’ and ‘N’ in ‘Honoré’ are shaped. These can really help you spot if a Goyard bag is real or fake.

• The left side of the ‘Y’ has a curve.
• The left leg of the ‘R’ isn’t straight.

💡Tip: Another detail is that Goyard uses alternately 14 or 16 dots in the design. Fake copies might get the number wrong.

Replica Knockoff Goyard Pattern Detail	Replica Knockoff Goyard Pattern Detail

Also, check out the color of the bag. A lot of Goyard dupes don’t get the colors right.

One of our readers, Maria, shared her experience buying a DHgate Goyard card holder. When she compared it to the Replica Knockoff one, the color difference was super noticeable.

Left-Authentic; Right-Replica

2. Stamping

One of the effective ways to tell a Goyard replica from Replica Knockoff is by looking at how the stamping is done.

A genuine Goyard stamp should only have 3 elements: Goyard, Paris, and Made in France.

The typography and font are precise, with identical spacing between each line. The first and last rows are the same length.

If you look closely at each letter:

• The starting and ending strokes of the letter ‘G’ are the thinnest. Pay attention to the waistline, which transitions noticeably from thick to thin.
• The ‘Y’ is thicker on the left side and thinner on the right, with the leg part being short.
• The head of ‘R’ is thinner at the top and bottom, and its leg is very straight.
• The middle bar of the ‘A’ must be lower than ‘PR’, and the heads of ‘P’ and ‘R’ are bullet-shaped, which are rather flat and elongated.
• The middle of the ‘M’ doesn’t touch the baseline and features sharp, pointed peaks.
• The ‘D’ is wide with a rectangular proportion.
• The ‘E’ matches the ‘D’ in width, and its middle bar is the shortest.
• The tops of ‘A’ and ‘N’ must be flat, not pointed.

Replica Knockoff Goyard Stamping

3. SERIAL NUMBER

All genuine Goyard items should have a serial number that helps track their authenticity.

The serial number is located differently depending on the year and model of the style.

For example:

• Previous versions of St. Louis tote On the interior of the pouch.
• Later versions On the strap where the detachable pouch is attached.
• Goyard card holder/wallet On the inner side seam of the front pocket.

The serial number should include 3 letters and 6 digits.

CCC MYYYYM

• CCC: Goyard Code: AAS -ABA -ADM -ARO -BAE -BAL -MAE -PIR SAL SUT -VAE 
• YYYY: Year of Manufacture
• M M: Month of Manufacture

The Goyard serial number is heat stamped right into the leather with a simple, sans-serif font. It’s neat and precise.

💡A quick tip to spot a fake Goyard bag is to look at the serial number font. If the font’s really big and sticks out too much, it’s a fake.

Now let’s compare the real vs fake serial number:

To begin with, the quality of the leather in the image below is different, the texture of genuine Goyard’s leather is more beautiful while the fake one looks like plastic.

Also, the font of the serial number should be clear and consistent. Genuine ones feature a narrower font but it is uniformly spaced and simple to read.

4. HARDWARE / Button

Hardware is minimal on Goyard bags and wallets, but every detail is important. 

Hardware on Replica Knockoff Goyard bags catches the light nicely. Fake ones might either be too shiny or just not finished right.

The button on the real Goyard is exquisitely constructed. You can see the logo and lettering clearly.

• The Goyard G should be perfectly vertical and in a serif font right in the middle of the button.
  

Make sure to take a close look at how the patterns are imprinted and the small details involved:

• The ‘A’ has a flat top and the middle bar forms a downward point.
• The right side of the ‘G’ is shaped like a Roman column.
• The starting and ending strokes of the ‘G’ both have pointed angles.

The back of the button should say “Goyard Paris” and be exactly vertical. Goyard dupe might have different text or the text might be crooked because the button wasn’t placed carefully.

5. STITCHING

• Pay attention to the color of the stitching of the bag: Black Goyard bags have black stitching while ALL the other colors have white stitching.
• The thread in the genuine bag is even, and each stitch is spaced evenly.
• Certain places have double stitches for extra strength.

Check the details, such as this stitching on the Saint Louis tote. On an Replica Knockoff bag, the stitching should be square-shaped, while on a replica Goyard bag, it is rectangular.

Of course, if the stitching is sloppy and messy that’s a dead giveaway and a sign the bag you are looking at is not only fake but a very bad fake.

6. Lining

Many Goyard bags have this natural fabric interior, which should be unbleached, instead of white. It’s the opposite side of the Goyardine fabric made from a mix of hemp, cotton, and linen.

• The weaving can be a bit uneven, with small hollows and knots from the natural fibers.
• This signature canvas is super durable and really lightweight.

💡Tip: For Goyard’s canvas bags, the quickest way to spot a fake is to weigh it.

Many other Goyard bags also have a striking mustard yellow cotton twill lining. This color is considered a signature for Goyard bag linings. A fake one will probably use a cheaper silk-like fabric.

Left-Authentic; Right-Replica

Replica Knockoff Goyard Mustard Yellow Lining

7. Handle

The handles on a real Goyard bag are never coated or covered in plastic as fakes do. 

Thanks to the high-quality leather used, these handles are sturdy. They don’t flop over; instead, they stand up straight above the bag.

Fake Goyard bag handles are usually made of cheap materials and tend to flop over really easily.

When the handles are finished with smooth calfskin leather, they should feel soft and luxurious. If the leather is thick, stiff, or feels like plastic, it’s a Goyard knock off.

Left-Authentic; Right-Replica

8. Dust Bag

An Replica Knockoff Goyard that has been carefully kept and well-conserved should contain a yellow dust bag, a yellow cloth (within the pouch), a Goyard book, and tags.

Now, most dust bags are the same mustard yellow color used in the bag linings.

⚠️Note: Older Goyard bags came with a brown dust cover that matched the chocolate brown color of the box.

• The real Goyard dust bag should be made of thick, quality cotton.
• The patterns on the dust bag should match the details you see on the heat stamp and buttons.

A fake Goyard dust bag is often made of polyester, which feels slippery and less substantial.

Color deviations and font printing errors are common issues with fake dust bags.

Replica Knockoff Dust Bag	Fake Dust Bag

Congrats! You’ve done your homework and now you know how to authenticate a Goyard bag.

Gotta admit it’s amazing how some replica Goyard bags these days are really just indistinguishable.

Take this picture below, for example. If I didn’t tell you one of them was a fake, could you spot it?

Comparison Pic From Fashionphile

Everyone would probably think they’re just two different colors of Goyard Mini Saigon, right? But actually, the blue one is a Goyard replica.

If you’re thinking about getting a Goyard but can’t swing the cost at the official boutiques or even pre-owned, going for a replica might be your play. (But avoid those super cheap ones from places like DHgate or AliExpress. )

I often buy replica bags myself. Not long ago, I even got a Goyard Villette Jacquard Tote for my mom for Mother’s Day, and she absolutely loved it.

At the end of the day, whether you’re going for a real one or a replica, make sure you go with a trustworthy seller or platform. Do your research, check the return policies, and stuff like that. I’m sure you’ll find a bag you’ll be happy with!