WHAT IS VERNIS?
Louis Vuitton Vernis is patent calf-skin leather that is embossed with Louis Vuitton’s monogram. It goes through a tanning process that makes it very shiny and glossy. It comes in a huge assortment of beautiful colors. The vernis line that I will be focusing on is the regular line, not the limited edition collections like the Fleurs and Robert Wilson ones.

ARE THERE FAKES?
The vernis line is not faked as much as the regular monogram canvas is, but it’s always best to be careful when shopping for expensive luxury goods on eBay! I’ve seen some fake ones off and on, and some of them have gone for a great deal of money. It’s a good idea to be able to spot tell-tale signs of authenticity.

WHAT COLORS ARE THERE?
The vernis line is constantly adding new colors, and constantly getting rid of old ones. A new color is added to the line generally every 6 months, and a color is removed generally every 6 months. Check out the color at my Guide of Vernis Colors!

CAN A VERNIS BAG/ACCESSORY CHANGE COLOR?
Yes, a vernis bag/accessory can change color. Just because the bag looks a little different in terms of color than it originally did, that doesn't mean that it's fake. If a bag is so discolored you have no idea what color it is, look inside the bag at the lining. It always matches the outside, so you can automatically tell what color the bag is supposed to be. The color can change due to age or to color transfer.
-DISCOLORATION DUE TO AGE/HUMIDITY: The older vernis colors discolor due to age more than the newer colors due. From the fuchsia color to the newer ones discoloration barely ever happens. So if this is a big deal to you, you might feel better getting a newer vernis color. The sun can change colors, as well as humidity. But as long as the bag is correctly stored (cool, dry, dark place in a dust bag) it’ll usually look perfect and beautiful!
-COLOR TRANSFER: Color transfer can definitely happen with vernis items, especially with the lighter colors like Perle. Color transfer can occur from the bag/accessory rubbing against newspaper, against jeans, or really any darker color material. Vernis is a delicate material, but not to the extent that some people may think! If this worries you, go for a darker color vernis like amarante or pomme d’amour.

HOW CAN I TELL IF THE VERNIS IS AUTHENTIC?
Of course, always do your research and make sure that the bag shape exists, or at one time did (if it's retired). Familiarize yourself with the bags that are currently sold at LouisVuitton.com or eLuxury.com. There are various ways to tell if the vernis is fake:
1. Shine: The vernis leather is shiny and glossy. Fake vernis looks very matte and not very shiny. If the bag looks matte and the seller claims that it's Louis Vuitton vernis, it's probably not authentic. Also, if the leather looks like cheap plastic it's fake. Real vernis is gorgeous and glossy, not plastic-like.
2. Stitching: If the stitching seems uneven and a little bit sloppy, it's fake. Louis Vuitton bags are handmade by craftsmen, and the work is impeccable. A bag that is less than perfect won't be sold. So make sure to look closely at the stitching. If the seller does not include any pictures where the stitching is shown, message them to send you some photos. Most sellers would be more than happy to show you their authentic product. If they refuse, they're probably hiding something and aren't selling the real thing!
3. "Louis Vuitton" Stamp: The "Louis Vuitton made in ____" is always stamped into the calfskin lining in the interior of the bag. If there's a big piece of fabric that simply says "Louis Vuitton made in ____" sewn into the bag, it is definitely fake (except for the Reade, all others are stamped). Again, if the seller doesn't include a picture of the stamp, ask for it. Someone selling an authentic bag has nothing to hide! T
4. Embossing: If the embossing in the leather looks very deep, the bag is not authentic. Authentic vernis leather really isn't embossed that deeply, it's fairly shallow. Also, make sure the embossing isn't too large or too small. The embossing is always the same size on all the bags/accessories.
5. Vachetta: If you see a bag/accessory with an orange-ish patina, it's fake. The real vachetta on a Louis Vuitton bag does not turn orange.
6. Color: If the seller has a vernis item with a color that was not made by LV, it's fake! It's always best to Google the name of the bag if you've never heard of it to make sure it was really made. Or, go to my Vernis color page here!
7. Lining: Make sure the lining is the same color as the leather on the outside! Of course if there's any discoloration, it's not going to match. But the lining will be the same color as the ORIGINAL color of the outside leather. The lining is always made of calfskin. If the lining is fabric or looks plastic-like, it's fake.

All right ladies and gents! Good luck finding an authentic bag, I hope that this guide was helpful!