Look for the serial number creed patch first.

Yes, that’s the easiest tell. Authentic Coach bags from the 1990s through early 2010s have a leather creed patch inside with a serial number that matches a specific format (e.g., “No. XXXX-XXXX”). If it’s missing, printed on a fabric tag, or has a purely numeric number without the hyphen, it’s likely fake. Newer bags (2015+) moved to a square RFID tag — but that’s harder to fake well, so older bags are more common on resale sites.

Beyond the patch, check three things:

• Stitching – Real Coach uses straight, tight stitching. Fake bags often have crooked or uneven thread. Look at the handle bases and where leather meets the trim.
• Hardware – The zipper pull should be solid brass or nickel with clean engraving. If it’s light, cheap metal or the “Coach” logo looks scratched/worn unevenly, that’s a red flag.
• Seller reputation – On Poshmark or eBay, watch for sellers with zero reviews or only a few sales of high-ticket bags. A seller who has sold one other “vintage Coach” and nothing else is riskier than someone with hundreds of sales and a 99% rating.

I wouldn’t overthink it — most fakes are obvious once you look at the creed patch. Buy from a seller who’s been around for a while, and if the price is too good to be true, it probably is.