Kyle Kerchaert: One of these is an authentic
David Yurman bracelet,
estimated to worth $3,900.
The other?
A total knockoff.
With replicas steadily improving
in quality and detail,
it can be difficult to tell the difference.
So we headed to luxury consignment shop The RealReal
to meet with one of its authenticity experts
and learn some tips on how the average shopper
can spot a knockoff.
Katherine Ward: I wanted to take a look with you
at some pieces that are heavily authenticated
by our fine jewelry and watch team.
We've got pieces of varying calibers,
and then we have some pieces
that we have some concerns about.
Kyle: I do have to say, I have
absolutely no knowledge
to base any decision on
in terms of fine jewelry,
but I'm gonna give myself a goal of getting,
let's say, three out of the five right.
Katherine: So, over here we have two iconic examples
of the Van Cleef & Arpels
Alhambra necklace, 20 motifs.
Onyx, lapis are just two of the variations
that they've produced over the years.
What do you think?
Kyle: Well, in terms of substantialness,
I feel like this blue one
has a little more weight to it.
Katherine: Got some heft?
Kyle: Immediately I notice on the lapis necklace,
there are these little notches
around the motif to hold it in place.
Katherine: The other thing I would recommend
is looking on your magnification at the closure,
because the French government is very precise
about how they document
fine materials and precious metals.
If you look at the closure there,
you might see that there are some stamps
you may or may not like.
Kyle: The two things that are really nudging me
in one direction is looking at the prongs.
These prongs on the onyx necklace
seem much more finessed and more subtle,
and I think this little extra detailing on the prongs,
and just, like, around the motif,
it's, like, very shiny.
It just looks
more well made, I would say.
And then seeing the full stamp
makes me feel like this would be the real necklace
and this is the fake one.
Oh, my God. Katherine: Nicely done.
I absolutely agree with you.
This is beautifully made.
Let's move on to another French jeweler.
You may have heard of the name Hermes.
Well, the rookies call it "Her-mees."
I would recommend calling it
Both: Hermès.
Katherine: We have, right over here,
two bracelets that I think look very similar
to the Hermès Clic Clac.
Why do you think they call it that?
Kyle: 'Cause it goes it goes click-clack?
Katherine: Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.
Kyle: This is more of a pale gold,
and this has a lot more yellow,
almost brassiness to it.
So there's a difference in that.
Katherine: And that's the thing about Hermès.
They are as famous and well regarded
as they are for a reason.
They have quality construction,
and they don't compromise on anything.
Kyle: There is a gap in the resin here.
There isn't one here.
Katherine: Interesting. Kyle: So that looks sloppy.
I think that is, like, the last clue
that's pushing me into a decision to decide that
this is the replica
and this is the real one.
Katherine: I would buy exactly the same one.
Kyle: Oh, my God. Katherine: Nicely done.
Kyle: I really did not think I would get that one.
Katherine: Why don't we move on to another
iconic New York designer, Elsa Peretti for Tiffany?
This is the Bib necklace in sterling silver.
Kyle: These are different?
Katherine: One way to find out.
Kyle: Feeling real confident about this one.
The literal only difference I can spot in these
is this little tie at the end of one of them.
Katherine: Interesting.
Kyle: I feel like,
given the design of the necklace
and also that it is
such an iconic design and an iconic brand,
that they wouldn't put
this little tag at the end of it,
because it's kind of a distraction when you're tying it.
I think it wouldn't need the tag
to say that this is Tiffany.
I would go and say that
the one without the tag is the real one
and this is the replica.
Katherine: OK.
Kyle: You don't look too...
Katherine: This is the authentic piece.
And eventually,
and by the time I got to work at Tiffany
and bought my own,
they started putting the tag on a plaque
that more discreetly placed here.
But the early iterations, like this one,
this is very representative of their early work.
Kyle: OK. I'm OK with that loss
because that's...that's hard. Katherine: I can't blame you.
Next up, does this look familiar?
Kyle: That is the one that I could
recognize without any help.
The Cartier Love.
Katherine: Absolutely.
Kyle: But that's as far as I can get.
Katherine: Very iconic Cartier,
and really very representative of New York in the '60s.
It's one of those very classic pieces
that really took them to the next level as a brand
and remains one of their most iconic pieces to this day.
Kyle: Oh, wow. OK.
So, here,
the inside engravings are totally different.
Katherine: How so?
Kyle: On this gold one,
they're all neatly tucked into one section
between two of the diamonds,
but here, it is, like, spread out
all the way across this half.
Katherine: And I think we could also
side-by-side comparison these just to see,
construction-wise, one big difference.
Kyle: This screw is much more obvious.
Katherine: Exactly.
Kyle: There's two big screws here.
Katherine: And it's engaged. Kyle: And it's engaged.
And these come out. Katherine: You got it.
Kyle: For those reasons and those differences,
I would say this is the replica
and this is the real one.
Katherine: My friend, I have bad news.
I love your methodology,
and I love where your head's at,
but this is a great example of
why we have to be so incredibly thorough.
I'm happy to say that we can authenticate this one
based on our archive of
hallmarks that we see on both sides of the bracelet.
I think you're doing a great job.
You're two for four,
so I wanna give you one last bonus round.
Kyle: OK. Katherine: With a twist.
So, you've got a bracelet stamped D. Yurman.
The kinda thing we get in the
luxury consignment office all the time.
Kyle: These are popular, I know that.
Katherine: It's one of our best sellers at The RealReal.
So, I'd love for your thoughts on this particular piece.
Kyle: The one detail that I'm noticing that's
pretty funny to me is at the very tips of each end,
where these topaz-looking gems are,
there seems to be,
I don't know if it would be glue or something,
it's not totally clear, you can, like,
see this cloudiness at the base of it
where it's attached to the metal.
I definitely have a guess for this one,
and I think I got it down without even
any of the fancy tools, which I'm pretty proud of.
I'd say given
the spring just looks very non-luxurious,
especially with the wear
it seems to have had over time,
and I think the biggest clue here
was this, like, glue mark on the stones,
I would say that this is
a replica and not the real thing.
Katherine: I think you should feel very good about that.
Kyle: Oh, my gosh. Thank God. Katherine: Nicely done.
Kyle: Strong finish here.
Katherine: Thanks for coming in. It was a treat to meet you.
Kyle: Thank you.
Now, which one of these do I get
to take back as a goodie-bag gift?
Katherine: One of each. Kyle: Great, great, great.
Katherine: Collect all 10.