Real vs fake Loewe puzzle bag
Real vs fake Loewe puzzle bag

How To Spot A Real vs. Fake Loewe Puzzle Bag

11.1.24

With celebrity fans including Ayo Edebiri, Greta Lee and Dan Levy, Spanish brand Loewe recently became a luxury fashion darling even though it has been around for over a century. The brand is known for leather craftsmanship that combines tried and true techniques with innovative technology. Fans of Loewe love the unique and stylish handbags that stand out without being gaudy or overly branded.

The History of Loewe

Loewe was founded in 1846 as a crafter of leather goods. In its early days, the brand was known for craftsmanship and a dedication to artisanal leather. In 2013, Jonathan Anderson became creative director and started making the brand what it is today by modernizing designs while celebrating the quality for which it was always known.

Since Anderson took over, Loewe has created several edgy, fashion-forward handbags and other accessories, including the Puzzle Bag.

About the Puzzle Bag

Inspired by origami, the Puzzle Bag is as unique as it is stylish. Each bag comprises 75 pieces of leather stitched together to perfection. The bag, available in multiple sizes, also comes as a solid hue or a mix of colors to add visual interest to the bag.

Fans of the Puzzle bag appreciate how it expands when you need more room. They also love its versatility as they can wear it as a shoulder bag, a crossbody, a top-handle tote or a clutch.

How To Spot a Fake Loewe Puzzle Bag

If you’re interested in consigning a Puzzle Bag with TheRealReal, make sure it’s genuine. Here are some ways to tell whether yours is the real thing.

Check the Puzzle Pattern

An authentic Loewe Puzzle Bag has a signature puzzle pattern. The front face of each bag showcases four pieces of leather fitted together in a pattern that looks like a puzzle or a mosaic. The lines separating each piece of leather are bold and thick. Each section of the bag is distinct, even on the monochromatic bags. Look for clean, precision stitches and ensure each piece’s lines are parallel.

A fake Puzzle bag may have thinner sections making up the lines between each piece of leather. The sections may also be smaller or misshapen. Beware of a large zipper pull. A real Loewe zipper pull will be narrow with pointed sides that mirror the bag’s design.

Look at the Labels

Real Loewe bags include an embossed leather label stitched into the interior. It shows the logo with the words “Made in Spain” underneath in a smaller font. Speaking of fonts, the Loewe logo is written in a serif font — think Times New Roman. If your Puzzle Bag has a logo in an Arial-like font, it’s probably not real.

The Loewe logo stamped into each bag’s exterior features four cursive letter Ls positioned in a way that resembles two mirrored butterflies. The lettering is thin and elegant, like a handwritten note. Your bag may be fake if it has a thicker logo or one in which the letters don’t have the bottom edges facing each other.

Check the Handles

The Puzzle Bag’s handle is adjustable, so you can wear it five ways. Authentic Loewe bags are made of high-quality, durable calfskin and can endure the wear and tear from constantly shifting the strap.

It also has a distinct metal ball that holds the handle in place when you’re using it. The hardware on an authentic bag will be durable and fastened securely. Some replica bags feature larger, rounder fasteners. If the straps are faux leather, they will feel lighter than an authentic bag. The leather may also wrinkle or appear to bubble if you’ve shifted the handle multiple times.

Examine the Materials

Loewe crafts its Puzzle bags with calfskin. An authentic bag will have finer leather grain, and the bag itself will feel soft and supple. A counterfeit bag will often have a larger grain than a real one. The leather may also be more stiff and shiny with a plastic-like feel.

Check the Zipper

Like other high-quality designer bags, the Loewe Puzzle Bag has a high-quality zipper that easily opens and closes. When you close your bag, the teeth should line up perfectly. An authentic bag features a thick, shiny and durable puller with the logo engraved on the side.

A genuine bag’s lettering will be thicker and wider, matching the font on the bag’s interior. Fake bags feature thinner lettering. The zipper pull often won’t be as shiny as the real thing. Take your bag outside or into a bright room and see how it reflects the light.

Evaluate the Serial Number

You can determine authenticity with a serial number, but some fakes also use serial numbers. A Loewe bag features a leather tag stamped with the serial number and the words “Made in Spain.” On a genuine bag, the leather tag will be as durable and high-quality as the rest of the bag.

On a fake, the serial number tag may be worn or bent at the edges. It may also feature rounded corners instead of the sharp precision for which Loewe is famous.

Get a Puzzle Bag from TheRealReal

If you want to add a Loewe Puzzle Bag to your collection, don’t take chances. At TheRealReal, we authenticate every piece that comes into our collection. Our experts know when a bag is real or fake, and we will curate a collection of high-quality, authentic bags for you.

Want to learn more about how to authenticate a bag? Check out our Canal Street pop-up featuring multiple fakes, including the Loewe Puzzle Bag. Our experts will show you how to compare authentic bags with fakes. Train your eye to easily spot the differences so you know you’re getting the real thing every time.

We also have multiple authentic Puzzle bags available for resale.

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