Coach handbags, Coach briefcases, Coach backpacks, Coach vintage pieces, and Coach accessories are like a delicious icing on a beautiful cake when it comes to adding the finishing touch to our wardrobe. A wonderful Coach item can add timelessness and class to your outfit and confidence to your demeanor. Skyys the Limit brings high quality, beautiful, authentic Coach items to you at low prices and we want you to be educated on how to identify whether a Coach item is authentic or not.  While we guarantee our items to always be authentic, we know and understand that you will be buying from other's as well. Use our 6 easy steps below to bid and buy with confidence!

Step 1) All Coach items are identified with a Coach logo, serial number, and/or Coach Creed. Larger items such as handbags, briefcases, and backpacks will have the Coach Creed and corresponding serial number inside the product. The older Coach items have serial numbers consisting of 7 to 8 numbers with a dash between the 3rd and 4th numbers or 4th and 5th numbers. The newer serial numbers (up through the early 2000's) consist of 3-4 letters and numbers followed by a hyphen and 4 more numbers.  Items manufactured by Coach in the last few years have a serial number with 4 numbers and letters, followed by a hyphen, and then five more numbers.

Smaller items, such as wallets, cosmetic cases, PDA Cases, belts, etc may have only a Coach Creed on the inside or an embossed logo in the exterior leather. A select few of the older vintage Coach items have only a Coach Creed, without the serial number, as well. Any reputable seller should be able to provide you with a picture of the Coach Creed, serial number, and/or logo of the item they are selling.

Step 2) Look for high quality leather. Most Coach products are made of glove tanned leather....a leather that goes through the same tanning process as that of a baseball glove.  The leather of Coach handbags, briefs, and backpacks is typically heavy, thick, and it darkens, softens, and takes on characteristics such as wrinkles and "scratches" as it ages. Coach also uses other materials, such as twill, suede, Sonoma leather and suede and other pebbled texture leathers.

Step 3) Check the hardware. Coach uses solid brass hardware, nickel hardware, antique brass, or gunmetal hardware....all high quality metals that have a little weight to them. While any hardware is prone to tarnish with age, the hardware on Coach bags should never peel or chip (which would indicate a coated metal). Zippers, turnlocks, and buckles should be high quality and well-made.

Step 4) Is the stitching on the item even? Most often the stitching is of the same color as the leather. Sometimes the stitching is a contrasted color but will still be even in appearance with small stitches that are sturdy and professional looking. Stitches that are too big or uneven may be an indication that you are looking at a fake.

Step 5) Most Coach items come with a Coach Swing tag....some do not and sometimes they just get lost. A Coach Swing Tag can be an indication of an authentic Coach item if the item meets the rest of the criteria and the printing of the word Coach is centered and even on the Swing Tag. The good news about swing tags is that if the authentic, used Coach bag you've bought is missing its swing tag you can order a replacement from Coach or sometimes purchase one on eBay.

Step 6) Additionally, if you have any questions or concerns, contact the seller you are considering purchasing from or whose auction you are planning to bid on. If the seller is reputable and serious about selling only authentic items they will be more then happy to answer your questions and provide you with any reassurance you need prior to bidding or buying. If you ask a seller a question and they do not respond within a reasonable amount of time, proceed with caution. A reputable seller has nothing to hide and will be more then happy to help you.

Skyys the Limit hopes this guide proves to be helpful as you search for that special Coach item and grab it at an awesome, exciting price!! Please feel free to contact us with any further questions.