Tips for checking the authenticity of a Dior saddle bag

The Dior Saddle bag is one of those iconic pieces that always manages to stay contemporary. It made its debut in Spring/Summer 2000 and the bag quickly skyrocketed to 'it-bag' status. The iconic Saddle bag with its distinct horse saddle shape is a signature Dior style. As one of the most sought-after bags, counterfeiting is inevitable and on the rise. Wondering how to spot fake Dior Saddle bags? How to authenticate a vintage Dior bag? To help you get a better idea of the details of this bag and know how to spot a fake Dior Saddle bag so that no one sells you a replica for an authentic one, we're going to show you how to tell the difference between a real and a fake.

1. Overall shape

Although never confirmed by John Galliano, the Dior Saddle Bag is said to have been inspired by Helmut Newton's Saddle I , Paris (1976). A sensual black and white photograph, it shows a model posed on her hands and knees at the end of a bed, wearing riding boots and a saddle harnessed to her back. Since its debut in 2000, the saddlebag has been famous for its distinctive, unconventional shape. Resembling the silhouette of a real horse saddle, the top of an authentic saddle bag must be curved. Although Maria Grazia Chiuri has enlarged her re-edition to fit our more modern equipment (in particular, the iPhone Plus), its top should still dip in the middle.

So the most unique thing about this model is its shape, which isn't really common in handbags, as we mainly see rectangular shapes. In the comparison images below, take a look at the few differences in the shape of the saddle bag. You can see, for example, that the bottom curve is much longer on the counterfeit than it should be, which gives the bag a very strange look.

On the left is the shape of a fake Dior saddle bag, on the right the shape of a real Dior saddle bag.

2. The charms of the CD (Christian Dior)

Old or new, each Dior saddle bag features charms in the letters 'C' and 'D' on either side of its shoulder strap, giving the bag a jewellery-like appearance. The charms should be connected to each other by a wavy link. The images below will help you get a better idea of what the real thing looks like and how it differs from the replica:

• These pieces of hardware are made up of Christian Dior's initials, C and D. They are attached to each other by a third link which has a wavy shape and rounded edges. The link has "Christian Dior" engraved on the back, i.e. on the side facing inwards. The first letter of the first name and surname is substantially larger than the rest of the text.

• Authentic Dior material is not all smooth and shiny but rather matt and old. The vibrant colour of the authentic material is non-existent in the correct image because its colour is more silver with yellow undertones rather than pure gold.

• The original letters are much larger and thicker, while the metal piece connecting the two letters is thinner and longer. The dimensions are in no way precise on the fake model.

On the left, the CD charms of a fake Dior saddle bag, on the right, the CD charms of a real Dior saddle bag.

3. The bag strap

As for the third step of the guide on how to spot fake Dior Saddle bags, we're going to take a look at the straps of real vs fake Dior Saddle bags.

• Text font: In the images above, we've highlighted how the fake bag has text on its belt that looks too thick. By this we mean that the text on the fake belt is stamped too deeply into the belt, whereas the authentic bag has its text thinner because it is printed less deeply into the belt.

• The positioning of the text: In the images below, the two bags are standing in the path, and as you can see, the text is not really positioned in the same way. By this we mean that the genuine saddle bag has its 'CHRISTIAN' at the top. The fake Dior saddle bag, on the other hand, has the text "DIOR" at the top of the bag. Therefore, the fake bag has its text reversed, as it reads backwards the way it should read, as on the genuine bag.

On the left is the strap of a fake Dior saddle bag, on the right the strap of a real Dior saddle bag.

4. The label inside the bag

The genuine label is very smooth and low-gloss, while the label on the fake bag is textured and grainy; the colour is different too. We don't even need to mention how different the fonts are: the letters in the top image are smaller, rounder and bolder, whereas they're bigger, thinner, narrower and so faded that it's almost impossible to read in the image of the fake bag.

The dots on the genuine label are made from thick, high-quality thread that is super strong so we can be sure the label will stay there for a long time. The same cannot be said of the fake label where the stitches are asymmetrical and don't look so secure at all.

On the left the label of a fake Dior saddle bag, on the right the label of a real Dior saddle bag.

5. The strap buckle

Although the buckle itself is larger on the fake model, the gold part that holds it on is larger on the genuine strap, which automatically means that it will stay closed for longer in a solid state, which is certainly not the case on the fake strap.

As you can see, the authentic Dior Saddle bag has a slightly darker colour than the text on the fake bag. Also, we've pointed out that the fake bag has slightly thinner text than what it's supposed to look like on the genuine Dior Saddle bag.

On the left, the buckle of a fake Dior saddle bag, on the right, the buckle of a real Dior saddle bag.

Secure the purchase of your second-hand Dior saddle bag with Obvy

A Dior bag, whatever the model, is expensive. Buying second-hand is an interesting way of acquiring your Dior saddle bag more cheaply. What's more, you can always try to negotiate a reasonable price with the seller. However, you need to be extra vigilant to avoid falling into the trap of scammers. To do this, compare the photos of the bag for sale on the classified ads site with those in this guide, and take advantage of our useful tips.

Finally, use the Obvy payment method to make your transaction 100% secure. With Obvy, you can buy your Dior saddle bag by delivery or hand-delivery without fear of a scam. In the event of a problem, you have full traceability of the transaction as well as all the necessary information about the seller. With Obvy, bargains are guaranteed!