Authentication directory · 15 brands · updated June 25, 2026

How to spot
a fake.

Real authentication tell-tales for the world's most-counterfeited brands — the serial and date-code formats, the stitching, the fonts, the hardware and the packaging that fakers still get wrong. Independent, free, and honest about what you actually can (and can't) verify yourself.

Luxury bags, watches & jewelry

Luxury bags, watches & jewelry

Designer handbags, Swiss watches and fine jewelry are the most-counterfeited goods on earth. Here is how to read the date codes, stitching and hardware the fakers still get wrong.

All luxury bags, watches & jewelry guides →

Sneakers

Sneakers

Hyped sneakers are faked within days of release. Stitching, size tags, SKUs and box labels separate retail pairs from factory-floor replicas.

All sneakers guides →

Electronics

Electronics

Counterfeit AirPods and Apple Watches look identical in photos. The serial number, pairing animation and engraving are where they fall apart.

All electronics guides →

Fragrance

Fragrance

Fake perfume is everywhere on marketplaces. Batch codes, the cellophane seal and the atomizer give the replica away before you even smell it.

All fragrance guides →

Collectibles & cards

Collectibles & cards

Pokémon cards, designer toys and graded slabs are flooded with proxies. The light test, rosette print pattern and texture are your fastest tells.

All collectibles & cards guides →

How to use RealCheck

Read the tells, then buy with recourse

Each guide gives you a genuine-vs-fake table, the exact serial/date-code format, and an honest note on whether the brand lets you verify online. When you're ready to buy, we point you to marketplaces where a return — or free expert authentication — protects you.