Authentication Checklist Scorer
Answer a category-specific checklist and get an authenticity confidence score that flags the critical warning signs before you buy or sell.
Catch the obvious fakes, flag the rest
Most counterfeits give themselves away on a handful of checks — sloppy stitching, light or mis-engraved hardware, a serial that doesn’t match, missing paperwork. Working through a structured checklist forces you to look at each one instead of trusting a glossy listing photo, and the score tells you whether a deal is clean, needs a second look, or should be walked away from.
Use it alongside the Resale Value Estimator— a price that looks too good to be true usually is — and the Luxury Size Converter to vet the rest of a listing before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the authenticity score work?
Pick a category — handbag, watch, sneakers, apparel, or jewelry — and answer its checklist of tells: is the stitching even, is the hardware correctly engraved, does the serial match, is the paperwork present. Each item is weighted, with a few marked critical, and your pass / unsure / fail answers combine into a 0–100 confidence score with a plain-language verdict. A failed critical tell is flagged separately as a strong warning sign.
Is a high score proof that a piece is genuine?
No, and this is important. A high score means the piece passes the common visual and tactile checks, but sophisticated counterfeits can pass those too, and a genuine piece can score low if you're unsure about details. The tool is a screening aid to catch obvious fakes and to tell you where to look harder — it is never a certificate of authenticity.
When should I use a professional authentication service?
Any time the money or the risk is real — a four- or five-figure bag or watch, a non-returnable sale, or a listing where the score lands in the mixed or high-risk range. Professional authenticators and the brand's own client care see thousands of examples and can catch what a checklist can't. Use this scorer to decide whether a deal is worth paying for that check.
What are the 'critical' tells marked with an asterisk?
They're the checks that most reliably separate real from fake for that category — a matching serial or date code, correctly engraved hardware, even stitching, the right movement in a watch. A fail on a critical tell is a bigger red flag than several minor issues, so the tool surfaces those separately even when the overall score isn't catastrophic. Treat a failed critical as a reason to walk away or verify professionally.
A screening aid, not proof. A high score is not a certificate of authenticity — for any valuable or non-returnable purchase, use a professional authentication service.