How We Decide What Makes the Cut: Inside hannari's Authentication Process
Not every vintage CHANEL is worth a place on your shelf.
Before a single piece reaches hannari, it passes through a quiet, unglamorous process that most buyers never see. It is the part of luxury resale that doesn't photograph well — and it is the part that matters most.
The details that separate genuine from “almost”
Authenticating a vintage CHANEL is a matter of details, examined one by one:
- Stitching pitch — the number of stitches per panel is remarkably consistent on a genuine piece. Irregular spacing is one of the first quiet signs that something is wrong.
- Hardware engraving depth — on an authentic bag, the CHANEL marks on clasps and zippers are crisp and evenly struck, never shallow or smeared.
- Date code placement — where the serial sits, the font, and how it corresponds to the era of the bag all have to agree.
- Lining condition and construction — the interior tells the truth about how a bag was made, and when.
Individually, any one of these can be imitated. Together, in agreement, they are very difficult to fake — which is exactly why we look at all of them, not just one.
We reject more than we list
It is worth saying plainly: the majority of pieces we examine never make it to the website. We would rather pass on a bag than risk our name on it. Everything that does make the cut carries our full authenticity guarantee — every item is 100% guaranteed genuine.
This is what “curated” actually means at hannari. Not a marketing word, but a decision we make, one piece at a time.