Tips for identifying a fake Louis Vuitton wallet

Louis Vuitton (LV) is a French luxury fashion company that has been creating high-quality products since the 1850s. Louis Vuitton wallets are known for their impeccable construction and their indispensable use for storing banknotes, credit cards, loose change and identity papers. So it's only natural that you'll want one for yourself too. However, Louis Vuitton products are often targets for counterfeiting. If you buy from an authorised LV retailer, there's no doubt that you're buying a genuine product. But what if you buy it online or from a private individual? Fortunately, you can look for tell-tale signs to spot a genuine Louis Vuitton wallet before you buy. In this guide we'll teach you how to spot a fake Louis Vuitton wallet in a few simple steps.

1. The overall look of the portfolio

The smell

Feel the wallet to confirm that it is genuine leather. Louis Vuitton wallets must be genuine leather unless otherwise stated in the product description. The wallet should feel and smell like pure leather. If it smells of chemicals or plastic, then it is not a genuine wallet. The leather should be dry, not greasy or sticky. This could indicate a synthetic product or a counterfeit.

The structure

Squeeze the wallet to see if it has a thick structure. Genuine Louis Vuitton wallets are generally thicker than counterfeits as they are made from a stronger material. Squeeze the wallet to make sure it is thick and strong. Fakes will not be nearly as sturdy.

2. Seams

Look for flawless, uniform seams across the entire portfolio. BT products are all held to the highest quality standards. Look at the seams along the edge of the wallet. All stitches should be in a perfectly straight line and an equal distance apart. Any inconsistencies or imperfections indicate a counterfeit as LV would not release a product with these errors. Look carefully at the corners. It takes a lot of skill to keep seams straight around bends or corners and counterfeiters usually mess up here.

In the image of the fake wallet below left, we've highlighted just how bad the fake wallet's stitching is on the flap. The genuine Louis Vuitton wallet has a line of stitching running through the entire wallet across the opening, whereas the fake wallet has no visible stitching at all.

On the left a fake Louis Vuitton wallet, on the right a real Louis Vuitton wallet.

3. Zips

Feel the zips to make sure they are made of quality materials. Counterfeiters often use cheaper materials for the wallet's hardware. Sometimes they even use plastic. The material of a genuine Louis Vuitton card case should be heavy and sturdy and look shiny. If the material looks discoloured or light, it is probably fake.

• Some LV women's wallets come with chains. Don't forget to check the quality of the chain too.

• LV also usually prints its logo on the material. Counterfeiters may skip this step or use poor quality stamping methods producing a faded and inaccurate logo.

On the left a fake Louis Vuitton wallet, on the right a real Louis Vuitton wallet.

4. The colours

Confirm that the base colour does not show through the coloured patterns. Louis Vuitton sometimes releases products with colourful patterns such as flowers. These designs must be impeccable and brightly coloured. None of the basic colours should show through the iconic Louis Vuitton monogram. Counterfeits usually stamp the design cheaply, so the colours fade over time. If one of the designs appears faded, it is an indication that it is a counterfeit. Usually, the patterns do not cross at the seams. If one of the motifs is superimposed on the seams, this also indicates a fake LV purse.

On the left a fake Louis Vuitton wallet, on the right a real Louis Vuitton wallet.

5. Louis Vuitton logo stamp

Check the lettering and spacing on the Louis Vuitton logo. The LV logo appears on the stamp of the wallet and can also be found on the front or back cover of the wallet. This logo is very accurate and many counterfeiters cannot reproduce it correctly. If the logo on a product you are looking at doesn't look quite right, don't buy it.

• The 'L' in the logo has a very short tail. If it looks like a standard L, then it's not authentic. The O's are also very round and appear larger than the other letters, while the tops of the two T's almost touch. There are a few exceptions to this rule for special or limited versions.

• The letters in each word are all close together, but there is a space between the two words. Some forgeries omit this space and make Louis Vuitton look like a single word.

• Overall, the logo is very clear and easy to read. If it looks faded, unclear or uneven, this is a bad sign.

On the left a fake Louis Vuitton wallet, on the right a real Louis Vuitton wallet.

6. Compare the portfolio on the official Louis Vuitton website

Compare the wallet to the same model on the Louis Vuitton website. All Louis Vuitton products are listed on their website. If you are unsure of what a wallet is supposed to look like, go to the official Louis Vuitton website and find the wallet you are looking to compare. Pay particular attention to the logo of that specific product. A counterfeiter could make a mistake on this small detail.

Secure the purchase of your second-hand Louis Vuitton wallet with Obvy

If you want to buy a cheap Louis Vuitton wallet, there's nothing better than going to second-hand websites! A lot of people sell their items for personal reasons, so most of the time the items are practically new or have never been used. At the same time, these items are sold at attractive prices, which makes everyone happy. So you too can take the plunge, and don't forget to make your purchases secure between private individuals with Obvy, the secure payment method for private individuals.

With Obvy as your payment solution, you won't have to worry about scam attempts! But if you realise when you receive your parcel that it's a counterfeit, despite your best efforts, you can prove it with photos and get your money back. Happy shopping with Obvy!