Vintage Chanel Earrings Vintage Chanel Gold Earrings. Chanel reference information: Date codes, style/model info below. Updated information regarding Authenticity Numbers: 8-digits. 13XXXXXX series - 2009. 12XXXXXX series - 2008 - 2009. 11XXXXXX series - 2006 to 2008. 10XXXXXX series - 2005 to 2006 7-digits.

There are certain traits to look for when determining the authenticity of a Prada, and tips you can use to help verify if it is real. This guide contains information and knowledge that I have built up over time through experience and researching articles from experts and peers. I'm happy to share what I've learned to help make your Prada buying experience safe and happy. I will update this guide from time to time as I come across new information or tips.

I also have a that will help if your are looking at Prada's other line. Things That Come With The Bag These items come with new bags, but not always with vintage ones as they may have been discarded or lost over time. If the cards are available it is important to check that they match the bag being offered. See the next section for tips on doing that. • Authenticity card - a small plastic card about the size of a credit card, with magnetic strip and the article number, material name and color printed on.

Sometimes there is an additional cardboard card with the same information and a bar code. If purchased from a Prada boutique it may have the store name and date written or stamped on the bottom. However bags can also be purchased from authorized stores who don't add this info, e.g. I have purchased new Prada bags from Neiman Marcus and Saks online and that information was not on the card. Tips: • If there is no information printed on the card it cannot be considered proof of authenticity. It is probably a fake card. • Check that the article number, material, and color match the bag, see the listings of each down below • There are 2 types, sometimes both come together, sometimes one or the other.

One is plastic like a credit card, with the Prada logo on the front and item information imprinted on the back. The other is cardboard with a decal on the back showing the item info. The card(s) typically come in a small black envelope with PRADA stamped on the front.

But again with vintage bags they may not always have both cards complete with envelope • Care card - Often accompanies the authenticity card, this is a black folded card with care instructions for the particular material, in multiple languages. Tip: • Check the material named in the care card against the list of exterior materials down below • Dustbag • Typically white cotton with a drawstring top and Prada logo in navy or black. Also out there but not as common are navy blue bags with the logo in gold or light blue.

The Sport line has a grey vinyl bag with red stripe. Is It The Right Card For The Bag? Unfortunately the cards can be faked, or mismatched (taken from another bag or even another Prada item). Check the information on the authenticity and care cards against the reference lists below to ensure that they are, in fact, the ones that go with the bag. • Article numbers - The first letter or two of the article number indicates the type of item. You may sometimes see a bag offered with a card that clearly is for a different item, for example a handbag with a card whose number starts with '1M'. Here's a list of article numbers that are commonly seen: • 'B' is a handbag • 'V' is a briefcase, portfolio, messenger bag, or waist pouch • '1M' is a small accessory (e.g.

Wallet, cosmetic pouch) • '1N' or 'MV' is a small bag commonly called 'pouchette' • Tip: Another thing you can do is google the article number, e.g. 'prada br2375 bag'. You may/not get hits, if you do it can help to confirm the style of bag. You could get hits for valid internet sellers of overstock or older designs, and if so can compare what you could get the bag for new. You may even get hits for sites that manufacture and sell replicas - unfortunately there are lots out there that make convincing ones.

Usually these are pretty blatantly advertised as replicas. All this will help increase your awareness if nothing else. • Exterior materials - check that the material name on the authenticity card is the same as the description, e.g.

Location Flag Quick Facts Capital Government single party oligarchy Currency yuan (¥, CNY) Area 9,596,960km² Population 1,357,380,000 (2013 estimate) Language recognized regionally: Wu (Shanghaiese),, Mindong (Fuzhou),, Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages Religion Buddhist c. 80%, Daoist (Taoist), Confucian, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%, Atheist c.

Most Chinese are religious pluralists, observing a mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist beliefs and philosophies, but not necessarily practising. The state is officially atheist.

220V, 50Hz (US Type A, Australian Type I, and Type G plugs) +86 Internet TLD.cn UTC +8 Emergencies dial 110 for police 119 for fire 120 for medical. We cover, and in separate articles. From the practical traveller's point of view, they are distinct as each issues its own visas, currency and so on. Politically, Hong Kong and Macau are, part of China but with capitalist economies and distinct political systems. The slogan is 'One country, two systems'. Is a special case.

At the end of the civil war in 1949, the Communists held most of China and the defeated Nationalists held only Taiwan and a few islands off the Fujian coast. That situation continues to this day; Taiwan has had a separate government for more than 60 years and as such, is governed 'de-facto' independently.

However, most world bodies do not recognize it as a sovereign state - amongst other factors, this may be attributed to the strong influence of the PRC government in this matter. Both governments in theory support eventual reunification of these 'two Chinas', but there is also a significant pro-independence movement within Taiwan. Porcelain at Shanghai's antique market • Porcelain with a long history of porcelain manufacture, China still makes great porcelain today. Most visitors are familiar with Ming-style blue and white, but the variety of glazes is much greater, including many lovely monochrome glazes which are worth seeking out. Specialist shops near hotels and the top floors of department stores are a good place to start, though not the cheapest. The 'antique' markets are also a good place to find reproductions, though it can be hard to escape from vendors' attempts to convince you that their items are genuine antiques (with prices to match). Two of the most famous centers for porcelain are and Quanzhou.

• Furniture in the 1990s and 2000s China become a major source of antique furniture, mostly sourced from the vast countryside. As the supply of old items has dwindled many of the restorers are now turning to making new items using the old styles. The quality of new pieces is often excellent and some great bargains can still be had in new and old items. Furniture tends to be concentrated in large warehouses on the outskirts of cities; Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu all have plenty of these and hotels can tell you how to find them. Major sellers can also arrange international shipment in most cases. In particular has a huge furniture market. • Art and Fine Art the art scene in China is divided into three non-interacting parts.

First, there are the traditional painting academies which specialize in 'classical' painting (bird and flower, landscapes with rocks and water, calligraphy), with conservative attitudes and serving up painting that conforms to the traditional image of Chinese art. Second, there is a burgeoning modern art scene, including oil painting, photography and sculpture, bearing little relation to the former type. Both 'scenes' are worth checking out and include the full range from the glorious to the dreadful. The centre of the modern scene is undoubtedly Beijing, where the Da Shan Zi (sometimes called 798) warehouse district is emerging as the new frontier for galleries, reminiscent of New York's Soho in the mid-80s.

The third arts scene fits closely with China's prowess in mass-production. China has become famous for producing hand painted reproductions of great works. The Shenzhen suburb of Dafen is particularly renowned for its reproductions. • Jade There are two types of Jade in China today: one type is pale and almost colorless and is made from a variety of stones mined in China.

The other type is green in color and is imported from (Burma) - if genuine! The first thing to be aware of when buying Jade is that you will get what you pay for (at best).

Genuine Burmese jade with a good green colour is extraordinarily expensive and the 'cheap' green jade you will see in the markets is made either from synthetic stone or from natural stone that has been coloured with a green dye. Download Free Dashboard Dusk And Summer Zip Hoodie there. When buying jade look closely at the quality of the carving: How well finished is it? Is it refined, or crude with tool marks visible?

The quality of the stone often goes along with the quality of the carving. Take your time and compare prices before buying. If you are going to spend a fair sum of money, do it in specialist stores, not flea markets. In Xinjiang is a famous area for jade production.

• Carpets China is home to a remarkable variety of carpet-making traditions. These include Mongolian, Ningxia, Tibetan and modern types. Many tourists come looking for silk carpets although these are actually a fairly recent tradition with most of the designs being taken from middle-eastern traditions rather than reflecting Chinese designs. Be aware that though the workmanship is quite fine on these carpets they often skimp on materials, particularly dyes. These are prone to fading and colour change, especially if the carpet is displayed in a brightly lit place. Some excellent wool carpets are also made in China. Tibetan carpets are amongst the best in terms of quality and construction, but be aware that most carpets described as Tibetan are not actually made in Tibet, with a few notable exceptions.

As with jade, best to buy from stores with a reputation to uphold. • Pearls & Pearl Jewellery cultured Akoya and freshwater pearls are mass-produced and sold at markets across China. The use of large scale aquaculture makes pearl jewellery affordable and widely available.

Big, lustrous, near-round and round freshwater pearls come out with a variety of colours and overtones. In addition to jewellery, pearl-based cosmetics are also widely available. • Silver Coins a variety of silver coins are sold in China's markets with good reason: in the 19th century, the emperor decreed that foreigners had to pay for all trade goods in silver. The United States even minted a special silver 'trade dollar' just to meet this requirement. Collectors can find Mexican, U.S., French Indochinese, Chinese and other silver dollars available for purchase, mostly dated 1850-1920. Unfortunately, most of the coins on sale now are counterfeit. If you want to collect coins, carry a small portable scale to check their weights.

In a tourist area, expect at least 90% to fail this simple test. • Other arts and Crafts Other items to look for include Cloisonne (coloured enamels on a metal base), lacquer work, opera masks, kites, shadow puppets, Socialist-realist propaganda posters, wood carvings, scholar's rocks (decorative rocks, some natural, some less so), paper-cuts, and so on.

Luxury goods such as jade, expensive ceramics and other artwork, antiques or carpets are risky. Most of the antique furniture available today are replicas. Much of the jade is either glass or low quality stone that has been dyed a nice green; some is even plastic. Various stone carvings are actually moulded glass. The samurai swords are mostly either inferior weapons mass produced for the Japanese military and Manchurian soldiers in World War II or modern Chinese copies.

At the right price, any of such goods can be a very good buy. However, none of them are worth anywhere near the price of real top-quality goods. Unless you are an expert on whatever you want to buy, you are quite likely to get sold low quality merchandise at high prices. There are two solutions. Either stick to the cheaper products, some of which are quite nice as keepsakes, or if you do decide to spend a substantial amount, then deal with a large and reputable vendor; you may not get the bargains an expert could find elsewhere, but you probably won't get cheated either.

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