First things first, forget about finding a “Goyard serial number” right away. While it’s mentioned a few times in these guides, focusing solely on that can be misleading. Like, yeah, a real one *will* have one, but a clever faker can copy it, too. Think of it more as a piece of the puzzle, not the whole darn picture.
Okay, so where DO you start? Well, the Goyardine print is kinda the key, right? The real deal is hand-painted (or screen-printed with insane precision, depending on who you ask and how old the bag is). You’ll see a depth to it, a certain… richness. The fakes? They often look flat, kinda like a cheap sticker was slapped on. Seriously, get up close and *really* look. Check the alignment. Is it wonky? Red flag! Are the “Y”s touching consistently? They should be!
And speaking of looking close, peep that stitching! Authentic Goyard is all about the craftsmanship. The stitching should be neat, even, and just generally scream “expensive.” Uneven stitches? Loose threads? Honey, walk away. Run away, even. I mean, for the price of these bags, you deserve perfection, or at least REALLY close to it.
The dust bag thing? Yeah, pay attention. Apparently, they’re supposed to be a specific mustard yellow color. But, honestly, I wouldn’t put *too* much stock in this. I mean, dust bags get swapped out, lost, or the fakers get better at copying them. It’s like, a nice little bonus clue, but don’t bet the farm on it.
Then there’s the “feel.” It’s hard to describe, but a real Goyard just *feels* different. The canvas, the leather trim… it just oozes quality. This is where, like, if you’ve ever touched a real one before, you’ll have a better gut feeling. Maybe try going to a store and just fondling a real one for research purposes? (Don’t get kicked out, though!)
Oh! And don’t forget the overall clarity of the logo. A fake one might have smudged or blurry details. The real one will have defined and sharp details.
Honestly? The best way to avoid getting burned is to buy from a reputable source. Like, the actual Goyard store, or a trusted reseller who *really* knows their stuff and offers some kind of guarantee. Don’t trust some random seller on eBay with a blurry photo and a price that’s “too good to be true.” Because it probably is.