Cynthia Morrow and Shika Bodani founders of More Luxury Club attest to sharing as a sustainable and thriving business model, declaring "We have seen a demand for Chanel's classic bags, both for their classic appeal and the opportunity to experience these luxury goods without the full financial commitment.”

They are usually found either on a small leather tab such as in the bottom left example, inside of an interior pocket or tucked into a corner of the bag's interior.

Despite Chanel's fortified defense mechanisms, counterfeiters have escalated their game by creating 'super fakes' that bear a close resemblance to authentic Chanel bags.

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It will either look like a sticker on the inside lining of the handbag, or it might be sitting atop a small leather tag sewn into the bag’s interior.

Bags with a 9-digit date code are not authentic as genuine codes are seven or eight digits long, sometimes six.

However, without significant attention to detail, even a seasoned buyer may fall for the replicas. That said, if you carefully analyze the 5 differentiating points mentioned below, you can quickly distinguish between a fake and a genuine bag. 

It's an 8-digit code for bags produced from late 2005 onwards. The handbag's date code starts with the first two digits indicating the year of manufacture.

Expect to find rare and collectible Flap and Mini Flap bags in every sale in addition to other popular Chanel bags in pristine condition in the newest colors. Sotheby's handbag sales include rare Chanel bags in limited edition colorways.

While the Chanel Classic Flap bag is distinguished by its interlocking CC lock, that bag design came much later. The 2.55 bag featured a sturdy rectangular turn-key lock, ensuring that a woman’s private purse contents stayed private.

Chanel’s repute for its quality craftsmanship also extends to its top-quality machine stitching which can give away important clues to help you tell whether your Chanel bag is authentic.

One of the key elements is the Chanel serial number, often referred to as the "social security number" of the bag.

Of course, the Chanel formula is readily available information, so advanced counterfeiters could create a serial number that fits the table above.

Sotheby’s provides exclusive access to a curated selection of Chanel bags from its long established global network of sellers. As a leading marketplace, Sotheby's offers pristine fake vs real Chanel bag Chanel bags in the most coveted colors and sizes, as well as Limited Edition Chanel pieces.