The Chanel video series (Part 1 – Wallet on chain and petite shopping tote, Part 2 – The classic flap bag (with updated prices as of February 2012), Part 3 – Buying pre-owned or at a discount) are some of the most-read posts on this blog, so I wanted to share my latest experience with buying costume jewelry as well. Now that I’ve fulfilled my tweed jacket dreams thanks to Uniqueen, I’ve been itching to get a classic Chanel brooch to adorn those jackets. Although Chanel costume jewelry (faux-pearls, man-made metals) is pricey for the materials, I mentally laid out some reasons on why the classic designs are worth it:
– A beautiful designer accessory can elevate the look of inexpensive clothes. I pinned mine on a Uniqueen jacket and received numerous compliments, whereas I don’t recall that same jacket getting much attention a week earlier, sans-brooch.
– Costume jewelry can be quite versatile, as shown below…
– Classic designs can hold their value extremely well. For example, costume brooches retail starting at ~$250 for small 1-1.5″ ones (prices do go much higher depending on size and intricacy). If you look on eBay, most classic, simple Chanel brooches are selling for $200+ regardless of age, which is possibly more than what they cost years ago. Classic earrings lose some value but still hold up fairly well. For example, my beloved turnlock studs retailed for $260, and I watched a pre-owned pair go for a little under $200.
Also, this may sound like a given but I’ve seen fakes where the CC layout was not right. Refer back to this post about how the C’s should be interlocking.
Jean… great article… loads of useful tips!
Love the use of the brooch for the four different styles!
i need your help, i found this on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-AUTH-CHANEL-VINTAGE-CC-BROOCH-PIN-/280860970868?pt=Designer_Jewelry&hash;=item41649e4f74#ht_3704wt_976
do you think its a good buy for $180?
thanks!
Is it bad that I knew right away when you said "blog clone" that you were talking about Really Petite? =P
oo nice ; ]
http://www.live-style20.blogspot.com
Great advice!
Oh, no, can't believe it missed you! I will keep my eyes peeled and hope to say hello to my favorite blogger in person sometime soon!
Thanks for this very thorough and informative post Jean! I'll definitely be more careful when I make my purchase.
I love the one you got (the texture + size) can't wait to see which one you add to your collection next. 🙂
The counterfeit market is so scary because unless you really train yourself it's so easy to get duped. So many people do. I'm so glad you actually received this fake, if only to be able to do this post and educate us.
PS: love your blog… I know I rarely, rarely post however you've been in my Reader for more than a year. Such great advice, style! Happy Monday.
Hi Rosie! How funny – yes, that was me on my lunch break : ) Next time, please say hello!
Thanks for the links! I wish I used TPF's volunteer services first : /
Thanks for the confirmation…I really should have gotten an opinion from TPF first!
Waiting patiently for my refund first…seller is overseas (from Paris) so shipping was a risk with no tracking.
Hi there – I paid a little over $250. I've seen the same design and size (2.25" wide) sell for $300 + ship on Malleries and again on ebay (by the seller who rejected my negotiation : ), so I think anywhere around there is a fair price.
Sorry you got duped, Jean. 🙁 I hate that feeling & I wonder how those sleezeballs sleep at night. This was a great, informative post with lots of great tips. I also love TPF for authenticity questions.
xx
The Fashionable ESQ
Hi Jean,
Thanks for an informative post on how to detect Chanel counterfeit pins. It's admirable the way you analyzed your purchase and were able to determine what was genuine.
One time, I won a bid on a Hermes belt on eBay and afterward asked for authentication on TPF. (I should've asked for advice on TPF first.) To my dismay, TPF told me it was not a genuine belt. I reported it to eBay and also messaged the seller, but he didn't reply. Thankfully, I hadn't paid for it yet and the transaction was cancelled. The red flag was that this seller didn't have a large or strong record of selling luxury items.
Bela Anzu
Hi Jean, we at PYRAMODE absolutely despise fakes and have been authenticating Chanel jewelry for years. If you, or any of your readers, ever need help authenticating or dating any of your vintage Chanel pieces definitely let us know. Or if anyone wants to buy a vintage Chanel piece, and wants to negotiate, we can help too. Thanks so much for helping to educate people about fake vintage Chanel costume jewelry 🙂
Tiff
http://www.PYRAMODE.com
Great post! I was just looking at the exact brooch on eBay the other day and glad I have guideline to follow now. Thanks again!
Great tips.
Were you by chance in Chinatown this afternoon? I was a block behind a very petite woman with long black hair and wearing a kelly green J Crew Lady Day coat. I wanted to yell your name but wasn't sure if it was you. I swear I'm not a stalker, just curious to know if I missed a celebrity sighting! 🙂
thanks for the post 🙂 <3
girlymd.blogspot.com
Very informative post Jean! Thanks!
GREAT post Jean! I've been thinking about investing in a Chanel brooch for the longest time and this post rekindled my desire to hunt again. Always look forward to your posts!
This is very informative, Jean, thanks so much!! Can't wait to see your outfit photos with the brooch!
This is really helpful! Thansk for the pointers.
http://aneyeforfashion.blogspot.com/
interesting post, thank you!
http://silviainvenice.blogspot.it/
Thank you for sharing your tips, Jean. I've come across a few vintage ones that had the year soldered into the back. Very tiny. You almost need a loupe just to see it.
Hi Jean,
This is Thuy Nguyen (your recent giveaway winner :). I've sent you a message via Facebook with my address for the giveaway. Thank you so much! Please let me know if you have received my message!
Great post, Jean! Very informative. I like how you showed us the different ways of wearing a brooch. : )
first of all it's such an elegant idea!!! Second your advices are really good, thanks a lot
Good post. I could tell even from the photo that the left brooch was the fake although its not that easy to tell sometimes.
Very informative post, Jean!
It's beautiful.
@ AnonymousApr 8, 2012 08:38 AM – According to her twitter, her two Chanel reps are from Neimans and Nordstroms.
BUT..
http://forum.purseblog.com/chanel-shopping/authenticate-chanel-read-rules-use-format-post-1-a-731359-327.html#post21505598
http://forum.purseblog.com/chanel-shopping/authenticate-chanel-read-rules-use-format-post-1-a-731359-329.html#post21506559
Hm….
Great tips! Thanks for posting!
great tips, jean. thanks so much. your posts are always so informative and helpful.
the brooch you ended up with is so much nicer. i really like all the details about it.
Lovely tips!
good advice on authenticity is hard to come by. for buying on ebay, i wrote a a few tips for checking out the seller on goofbay. it can be quite helpful. for these types of things i dont buy if the seller has multiples, as you said. the small details are very hard to catch, especially if you dont know how old a particular piece is.
Hi Jean,
Thanks so much for this post! I was looking at the same brooch a few weeks ago (after you and Annie tweeted about it) but became very skeptical when I saw that the seller had multiple listings both for the chanel pin and several other YSL pieces. I ended up submitting the listing to TPF a week or two ago and Étinceler Authentications responded that it wasn't real: http://tinyurl.com/7z8p4j9. What a bummer! I really hope you get your money back and that Esty removes the listing because it is a very good fake (it even has a little square demarcation on the bottom left of the CC, a marking that appears on the CC clasp of one of my real chanel bags).
i love the one you ended up purchasing! Was that an ebay find?
Great post!
Such great advice, Annie! I will definitely be bookmarking this post for use in the future – thanks for sharing! 🙂
http://www.pennypincherfashion.com
Your former blog clone got what looks to be the identical pin and says she got it authenticated by two Chanel sales associates. Who to believe?
Were you able to return it for refund and report him?
Really informative post! Thank you for taking the time out to provide great info. Strange that no one caught on to the Etsy seller.
Helen
Thanks for this I'll keep this in mind. I think the broach looked great with the scarf.
jean you always have the best posts and def the best blogger out there! Thanks for sharing! how much did you pay for your authentic brooch?
Lovely!
nicole.blog.ca
xx Nicole
awesome posts as always! thank you!
Wow, when I looked at the two pictures, I thought that the counterfeit one was the real deal!
So well-written and informative. Thank you for the tips, Jean!
Wow – great tips! I love that you offer your own observations versus just "get it authenticated at tPF" which is what I tell my friends LOL. I will forever look out for the those little nubs if I decide to go for a Chanel brooch!
Thank you for your tips!
I love your blog.
wow thanks for sharing Jean! always great advice 🙂
Laura x
demure-porcelain.blogspot.com
I love all the Chanel videos you made on youtube and the very detailed written blogs on their authenticity.
Also, it makes me jealous to see that you own so many Chanel items! ENVY.
I love your blog and will continue reading. Maybe you could check out my blog too when u have time 🙂
wytane.blogspot.com xoxo
This is excellent advice.
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
People don't realize when participate in making counterfeit goods, they are pegs in much larger crime units. It's so bad.
xoxo
~Natasha Fatah~
~Natasha Fatah~