How to Spot Fake Vivienne Westwood?
Vivienne Westwood creates some of the most elegant and sought-after pieces of jewellery, which are frequently given as gifts or sell out quickly, making them difficult to obtain. So, whether you received a gorgeous piece as a gift for a birthday or other special event, or you spotted it in stock somewhere online, it's only natural that you'd want to confirm it's legitimate. Do you know how to spot fake Vivienne Westwood jewellery? We often get customers in our stores who have bought Vivienne Westwood online at a price that seemed "too good to be true". If something seems too good to be true, it usually is!
We've put together a helpful guide on how to spot fake Vivienne Westwood and check the authenticity. Sometimes, you may think these fake Vivienne Westwood items are a bargain, but really, they don't look great and they won't last very long.
Our Top Tips for Our Customers
- Purchase from a trusted retailer
- Check for an Authenticity Card
- Hallmarks
- Make sure it comes with official brand packaging
- Make note of the image quality if buying online - is it high quality?
- High-quality standards of jewellery
Trusted Retailer
Buying from genuine, trusted retailers is one of the only ways to guarantee you are being sold the real thing. It's always best to buy from a retailer you trust. Many, many trustworthy retailers have reviews on their websites as evidence that they are selling reputable items, meaning this is always a good way to check.
Authenticity Card
The first thing that determines the legitimacy of your Vivienne Westwood jewellery is an authenticity card. This is a small card that states the piece is authentic and will have the point of sale and the purchase date on it.
All genuine Vivienne Westwood jewellery items have a plastic-free authenticity card made of FSC-certified paper. This content also supports the brand's sustainable principles, providing additional confirmation of the authenticity of the products in question. It is critical to have an authenticity card because it confirms the quality of your jewellery, which is especially crucial if you intend to resale the pieces.
Check for Hallmarks
A good way to spot fake Vivienne Westwood is the Hallmark. A Hallmark is a mark or stamp, certifying the standard of purity of a precious metal. Much of Vivienne Westwood's jewellery is crafted from sterling silver, therefore, a hallmark should be present. Additionally, some brands have a "maker's mark" on each piece. For instance, Vivienne Westwood's jewellery pieces each have the brand's iconic orb on them. Usually on the clasp or inside of the pendant.
Official Packaging
Firstly, a piece of Vivienne Westwood jewellery that arrives in branded packaging is more likely to be legitimate. Your Vivienne Westwood jewellery should always come with official packaging. For example, a box and a dust bag - both of which will be branded with the Vivienne Westwood logo. Check that the Vivienne Westwood logo is accurately placed in the centre of the packaging box.
Although these are easily copied by imposters, the additional expenditures associated with adding these finishing touches are usually enough to discourage. As a result, a Vivienne Westwood jewellery item sent in branded packaging is highly likely to be genuine.
However, many reputable online shops frequently ship designer goods without these extra packaging materials to help save money, leaving special jewellery containers for the in-store experience.
Image Quality
Many genuine jewellery products are photographed on a plain background (usually white) with care and attention to detail. Such as taking into account, light, position, size and colour.
High-Quality Standards
Vivienne Westwood jewellery is made of high-grade premium materials, thus examining the quality is one approach to ensure its authenticity. All jewellery is constructed of sterling silver, brass, or steel, and may include other metals and stones.
Check for non-symmetrical stone lining, orbs that are 'off-shape', and jewellery pieces that are 'cheap', dull, or overly 'blingy'. Although it is typical for Vivienne Westwood jewellery to tarnish over time, you should be wary of pieces that tarnish too quickly or leave your skin discoloured.
To sum up, the only absolutely certain way you can ensure that you are buying a genuine Vivienne Westwood item is to buy from an official retailer.
FAQs
A genuine Orb necklace should contain a marking indicating the metal it was fashioned of, as well as a stamp with the brand's orb logo. The markings are usually located on the inside of the pendant or clasp.
Authentic sunglasses come in high-quality packaging that prominently displays the brand's insignia. Shoddy packing or logos all over the place are clear indicators of a fake.
The jewelled nature of the Orb reflects Westwood's established status in the British fashion industry. The Sovereign's Orb is a hollow gold sphere with a belt of pearls and gemstones around the centre and an amethyst and gold cross at the top.