How to Spot a Fake Gucci Like a Pro in 2024

Gucci is one of those brands that have super fake or counter-quality replicas out there, so it is really tricky to be 100% sure when you’re trying to verify a bag.

To fight counterfeits, Gucci keeps coming up with new measures, like using the latest NFC scanning technology. However, this hasn’t been widely implemented in their products yet.

So, what other ways can you use to spot a fake Gucci? 

Next, I’ll show you some effective methods (including the latest tips) to help you figure out if the Gucci bag you’re looking at is real or fake.

 

Table of Contents

1. NFC Tag 2. QR Code Tag 3. Stamping/Fonts 4. Serial Number 5. Hardware

6. Leather and Canvas 7. Stitching 8. Lining 9. Controllato Card 10. Dust Bag

 

1. NFC Tag

This is the latest and fastest way to verify the authenticity of a Gucci product.

You just need to download the official Gucci app, then you can use your phone to scan the NFC tag on the Gucci product.

Here’s how:

1. Download the Gucci app.
2. Tap the ‘Gucci Tag’ button in the bottom right corner.
3. Click on ‘Check Authenticity’ and start scanning around the bag with your phone.

You can also find step-by-step videos on how to do this on the official website and app.

However, this method is only available on selected items; most products don’t come equipped with NFC tags.

So, you’ll need to rely on other methods to authenticate your Gucci bags. Keep reading for more authentication methods.

 

2. QR Code Tag

Gucci started using QR codes in 2016. It’s a black fabric loop attached to one of the bag’s side seams. If a recent style bag doesn’t have one, it’s a sure sign it’s a Gucci knock off.

⚠️Note: Gucci’s QR codes are meant for internal use at boutiques to trace origin and model info, so regular smartphones won’t be able to scan them.

If your phone does scan the code and shows info, unfortunately, that means the bag is fake.

Real	Fake

• The code on the tag always starts with a letter, followed by 9 numbers, making a total of 10 digits.

By looking at the first three numbers (excluding the first letter) of the code, we can know the bag’s year. 

If the date on the tag doesn’t match the bag’s condition, that’s a red flag. 

For example, if the tag shows “029,” which means the bag was made in 2019, but the bag looks brand new, something might be off.

2014: 019-020 2015: 021-022 2016: 023-024

2017: 025-026 2018: 027-028 2019: 029-030

2020: 031-032 2021: 033-034 2022: 035-036

2023: 037-038 2024: 039-040

Even though we can’t scan the QR code on the tag, we can still use this tag to verify the authenticity of the bag.

• The tag should made from silk, densely smooth with a sleek, elastic feel.
• The edges of the tag are not sealed, which makes them prone to fraying.
• The text color is blue-gray, not pure white.
• Under natural light, there will be a noticeable color difference.
• Under magnification, the letters and numbers have gaps due to the material’s texture.
• The QR code has seven dots on the top and right sides, with solid lines on the other two sides.

💡Tip: Not all Gucci bags come with a QR Code tag. It’s normal for some mini versions not to have one, and you won’t find them on some older models, wallets, small leather goods, or WOCs either.

Replica Knockoff QR Code Tag

 

3. Stamping/Fonts

All Gucci bags except some vintage models feature an interior leather tag that has a stamp saying “Gucci Made in Italy” embossed on it and a registered trademarked circled “R” also embossed on the tag.

If you know the font, depth, spacing, and positioning of the logo, this will help you spot a Gucci fake, as often replica bags don’t have the finest details down perfectly (unless of course, it is a super fake).

• On real Gucci bags, the stamping should have consistent spacing, font, and size.

On fake Gucci bags, you might notice little things like the letters being too close together or using the wrong font.

Authentic	Fake

Pay attention to whether the font is correct and also make sure the letters are not touching one another.

• The trademarked “R” has a bullet head with the leg stretching out from the middle.
  The “R” doesn’t touch the outer circle at any point.
• The outer edges of the letters “G C C” form perfect circles.
• The letters “G U I” are serif fonts, each with a base at the end.
• The “U” has a thicker left side and thins out naturally as it curves.
• The “C” has a small opening, giving it a clamped look with both ends aligned horizontally.
• Pay attention to the positions of “d” and “y”.
• The extended lines of the letters “i” and “t” intersect the inside curve of the letter “C.”

 

4. Serial number

A Gucci bag’s serial number is stamped on the back of its leather tag. If the tag is stitched to the lining on all four sides, it’s a fake.

On newer models, you will find that the numbers are always centered (however this is not always the case for vintage bags or older models).

• There should be two rows, containing 10 to 13 digits, with no letter. (Some might be in a single row too.)
• The first line of digits is the style number, and the second is the supplier code.

💡Tip: If the bag’s serial number includes letters, it’s a fake for sure.

Replica Knockoff Gucci serial number	Replica Knockoff Gucci serial number

You can try Google the style number to check if the bag matches what pops up online. If a completely different type of bag shows up, like you search the number from a tote and get results for a wallet, that’s a big red flag.

But don’t worry if you don’t find any results at all.

• Serial numbers on Gucci bags aren’t unique, so it’s possible to find the same serial number on more than one handbag.

The serial numbers are heat-stamped into the leather, so they’re a good way to check the bag’s quality. If the stamping looks uneven, messy, or hard to read, you should think twice.

Real	Fake

Just the same, you can’t just gloss over checking the font details. They can tell you a lot, and if something’s off, it means you’re looking at a fake Gucci bag.

• 0: Thicker on the sides, thinner at the top and bottom.
• 1: The top of the 1 is angled at 45 degrees to the left, and it has a small base at the bottom.
• 2: Starts with a small dot, and the overall comparison of thickness is quite clear.
• 3: Starts and ends with a dot.
• 4: Has a base both at the bottom and on the right side.
• 5: The top is thick, and the end has a dot.
• 6: The beginning stroke is slightly slanted, and the “0” part is thin on the top and bottom but thick on the sides.
• 7: The start of the stroke has a hook shape, and there’s a base at the bottom.
• 8: Thinner at the top and bottom, thicker on the sides, the circles are larger at the bottom than the top.
• 9: Shares the same features as number 6.

 

5. HARDWARE

Zippers on real Gucci bags glide smoothly and have solid, well-made pullers. On fake bags, the zippers might not have the branding, could get stuck, or be hard to slide.

An interesting and not-so-well-known fact is that Gucci strap chains are surprisingly light compared to those on other branded bags.

On a genuine Gucci bag, the GGs where they overlap should be sharp and well-defined. On fakes, the hardware often looks a bit blurred and isn’t as clear.

Also, on replica Gucci bags, the GG logo might look longer than on the real ones because the counterfeiters don’t quite get the shape right.

💡Tip: One key way to tell if a Gucci is Replica Knockoff is by looking at the color of the hardware. Fakes often look “too gold” and overly coated.

Real	Fake

Don’t forget to pay attention to the engravings on the hardware.

This means you should look at the clasps, zippers, bottom studs, hooks, or any other engraved portion of the hardware.

• The engraving should be clean, and clearly legible.
• The logo background is cleanly polished, giving it a distressed or aged look.
• Pay attention to the left side and the bottom of the letter ‘G’.
• For the ‘U’, it’s thicker on the left and kinda flat at the bottom.
• And for the ‘C’, it’s slimmer at the bottom.

Authentic	Replica

 

6. Leather and Canvas

Every Gucci bag should made from high-quality leather or canvas.

Real Gucci bags have leather that looks luxurious and feels soft and supple. Thanks to expert tanning and dyeing, it holds up well over time and keeps its rich color.

Upon closer inspection, cheap leather will look unnatural because it’s machine-made. Natural leather usually has an uneven surface with a varied grain.

Real leather has a distinct, nice smell, but fake leather often smells like plastic, especially when it’s new.

Real	Fake

If you’re looking at a Gucci canvas bag, check out the double G pattern. 

• On genuine bags, these Gs always have rounded edges. 
• Also, the left G should face forward and the right G should be upside down.

On fake Gucci bags, the iconic logo might vary in size and not line up properly. Plus, the spacing between the letters could be inconsistent across the canvas.

Color is also a big clue when figuring out if you have a real Gucci. When compared to the real bag, fake Gucci canvas often has color differences.

	Fake	Real

 

7. Stitching

Gucci doesn’t have a specific stitch count for their bags like Chanel does. Instead, you should check the angle of each stitch.

• If all the stitching is too straight, it might be a fake. 

This is because handmade luxury items naturally have minor imperfections and slight variations from human error.

• The thread color depends on the style: sometimes it matches the leather or canvas of the bag, and other times it contrasts with the main material.

Given the price of a Gucci bag, their enthusiastic fans expect flawless stitching. However, stitching alone isn’t a reliable way to tell the difference between real and fake Gucci bags.

Some fake Gucci bags are easy to spot because they have broken threads and uneven seams.

But these days, a lot of high-quality Gucci replicas have gotten really good at copying the stitching. 

So, while it’s still important to check the stitching, it’s not a sure way to tell if a Gucci bag is fake or not.

The stitching on my Replica Gucci Marmont is amazing

 

8. lining

• The inside of a real Gucci bag should always complement the exterior material. 

Take a look at the lining for both color and quality. Gucci uses high-quality materials and expert sewing, while Gucci dupe might skimp on this.

Real	Fake

 

9. Controllato Card

A new genuine Gucci bag always comes with a controllato card in its package. “Controllato” is Italian for “checked.” 

This card means the bag was verified by the manufacturer for quality and inspected after it was made.

⚠️Note: Having the card doesn’t guarantee the bag is authentic. If counterfeiters can copy a leather bag, they can definitely fake a simple paper card too.

The card has three lines:

• the GUCCI brand name in capital letters
• a small “controllato” below it
• a row of numbers from 1 to 0, each separated by a space

💡Tip: In a genuine card, one of the ten digits will always have a notch. If all the digits on your card are completely intact with no notches, then it’s definitely a fake!

For example, the bottom right corner of the number 0 might have a missing piece. It’s not always the number 0 that has the notch; it could be any digit. 

It’s important to check the font on the card, as it can be faked. While having the card doesn’t guarantee your bag is an Replica Knockoff Italian product, not having it, especially with a new bag, can be a red flag.

Real	Fake

 

10. dust bag

Gucci uses high-quality fabric for their dust bags to protect your bag during storage.

For embellished or velour items, Gucci uses special double-layered dust bags for extra protection. Counterfeiters often overlook this detail, so keep an eye out for it when buying your next Gucci.

Besides the material quality, also check the dust bag for the correct font of the brand name, making sure it’s not too big or too small, and that the printing is clear.

 

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Some Gucci replicas can be incredibly well-made, just like the ones I reviewed before.

For those who know they’re buying fake Gucci, it’s cool, but for those who are expecting to buy the Replica Knockoff and end up getting scammed, it’s really frustrating. (A reader once bought a fake Gucci bag on Poshmark.)

 This is why you need to be very careful in making sure you trust whom/where you shop.

If I’m buying replicas, I prefer to buy from sellers I already trust rather than taking my chances on AliExpress or Amazon. If I’m buying pre-owned Replica Knockoff items (which I don’t do as often now), I choose reputable and popular resale websites.