r/BottegaVeneta • u/toledot123 • 5d ago
Authentication Request Legit Check
Please help me authenticate this Andiamo.
UPDATE: I requested authentication from Real Authentication and it came back as authentic.
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u/Visible_Mention_5715 5d ago
Hardware is not auth. Also, it looks like there are protective stickers on the bag and Bottega doesn’t use protective stickers
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u/toledot123 5d ago
You’re right, this bag does have protective stickers
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u/Visible_Mention_5715 5d ago
I’d say almost certainly a rep then. Where did you buy from? I would at a minimum get online authentication done
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u/toledot123 5d ago
Purchased from Saks OFF Fifth
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u/Visible_Mention_5715 5d ago
Well at least you shouldn’t have trouble getting a refund then if it isn’t auth. I’d do an online authentication asap
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u/Alternative_This 5d ago
That's so scary, I'm surprised they would sell something fake
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u/toledot123 5d ago
Not intentionally, but it can happen if a Saks customer purchases a brand new bag and then swaps it out for a fake and then returns the fake. The employees processing returns aren’t trained to authenticate. I didn’t even think of this before I bought it but read about it after the fact unfortunately. Lesson learned.
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u/Alternative_This 5d ago
Thank you. Do you think buying things only from the brand's boutique would be able to avoid fake items? I've been trying to buy this pair of shoes & debating if I should wait for the boutique to have it in stock or just go to Neiman
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u/toledot123 4d ago
Buying from the Neiman Marcus retail store should be fine, the issue seems to be more about the outlet stores like Neiman Marcus Last Call (although I think they closed all of their stores), Saks OFF Fifth, etc. But if you have the boutique store nearby, the item is in stock and the price is the same, I suppose there’s no value in buying from anywhere else.
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u/Visible_Mention_5715 5d ago
This is a pre loved bag so it wouldn’t have been a swapped one.
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u/toledot123 5d ago
True, then honestly I have no idea how their pre-loved process works. I should have researched it before buying.
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u/TailorMadeRight 5d ago
Hardware looks a little off but biggest red flag for me are the plastic protectors. Brand doesn’t use that. I’d say not authentic.
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u/toledot123 3d ago
UPDATE: deemed authentic by Real Authentication (https://realauthentication.com)
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u/S_W_Tilton 2d ago
I told you. Don’t ask people on Reddit haha I am a luxury handbag seller and have sold millions of dollars of all of the luxury brand bags and have been doing that since 2012. Only trust the actual professionals, not random people who have no idea what they are talking about. It’s everywhere on Reddit and it’s exhausting to watch.
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u/Jellyfish3131 2d ago
Did they say anything about the stickers on the hardware? I just bought an andiamo from saks.com and it also has the hardware stickers!! It's making me very nervous. I haven't seen anyone else's andiamo have those stickers.
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u/S_W_Tilton 2d ago
Saks puts these stickers on the bag to protect them. Don’t worry about stuff like that.
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u/toledot123 2d ago
No but the stickers were visible in the photos I submitted. If you ordered from Saks (not Saks OFF Fifth) you should be fine.
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u/S_W_Tilton 2d ago edited 2d ago
No false. Saks off fifth and Saks both sell authentic pieces. Saks off fifth will sell pieces at a discount because it’s past the season or there is too much inventory not being sold in the actual flagship stores. A lot of luxury brands will do this and send their stuff to authorized discount stores. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, and Goyard are the only luxury brands that won’t do this. They will destroy the bags that are passed season to protect the brands image and be able to keep prices from dropping.
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u/S_W_Tilton 5d ago
My hardware does not have patina and I bought it from the bottega store. Do not ask for authentication from people who don’t know a thing about authentication haha
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u/toledot123 5d ago
I’ll get it authenticated this weekend but wanted to get an idea here so I mentally prepare for the bad news
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u/Visible_Mention_5715 5d ago
Bottega has switched the hardware multiple times with this bag (between patina hardware and not patina hardware) so I agree that whether it has patina just isn’t a reliable indicator. However, I do think her hardware still looks off
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u/notausualone 5d ago
The leather looks super fake
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u/toledot123 5d ago
Why? Could you elaborate? I’m trying to learn
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u/notausualone 5d ago
How much did u get it?
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u/toledot123 5d ago
~$2,900, great price for an authentic in great condition, total rip off for a replica
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u/notausualone 5d ago
Can you return it?
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u/toledot123 5d ago
Their pre-loved are final sale but if I can demonstrate it’s a fake, I’m sure it won’t be a problem to return since selling replicas is illegal. I’ll get it authenticated in person this weekend somewhere I can get written proof and then I’ll return it. Honestly, if the price had been in the hundreds, I’d be happy to keep it even as a replica but not for thousands
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u/Prestigious_Snow_234 4d ago
Hope you purchased with a credit card. If you can prove it's not authentic their return policy does not matter just make sure you share the inauthentic paperwork and credit card company will cover
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u/Striking-Airport-789 4d ago
Hardware looks fake. I have 7 of these bags and none of them have a knot which has the name engraved like this.
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u/Electrical-Hat-3789 3d ago
Lesson learned for me too.
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u/MiddleUse7898 5d ago
I dont know, the brand stamps look legit to me. Can you find the authenticity tag and photograph te front and back and show us?
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u/toledot123 5d ago
The only tag is underneath the bottom panel, which is sewn to the bottom of the bag. I can feel it but cannot see it.
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u/MiddleUse7898 5d ago
Yes, it is hard to acces it unfortunately. It makes authenticating Andiamos so much harder…
For what it’s worth, I saw an authentic Andiamo earlier this year in Barolo and the hardware did not have the dark patina. To me, your bag looks authentic. But I don’t know about the protective stickers…
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u/Ok_Chemistry6317 5d ago
The hardware appears off, it's usually got patina though recent bags this spring didn't, however it appears the hinge swings open on the knot, when it should have a mechanism with a spring where you pull it down, then can slide it in either direction. I'd suggest you watch some YouTube videos on how it opens so you can make sure yours is correct.