When you shop around, online or elsewhere, it’s possible to find an amazing price for your favorite piece. Though it’s also riskier than buying directly from an authorized dealer. It can be hard to trust that your piece is authentic, especially with the amount of counterfeits on the market. However, if you know what to look out for, you can dramatically reduce your risk of buying a counterfeit item. Here are some tips for spotting a fake Carrera y Carrera jewelry item.

1. Quality & Price

Carrera y Carrera jewelry is typically finely detailed and takes a level of skill to replicate. When evaluating your pieces, be sure to look out for the quality of the piece. The settings should always be secure and the stones should always be high quality. Additionally, Carrera y Carrera only uses 18K gold.

The piece should also feel solid all the way through. If the metals starts to wear and the the color in the worn spot differs from the rest of the piece, then it could be gold plated — signs of a counterfeit item.

2. Serial Number & Brand Markings

The piece will be marked with the Carrera y Carrera stamp, which is either CyC or just CC. If the gold content is stamped, it will not say 18K. If the gold content isn’t stamped as 750, then this is a red flag and your piece could be inauthentic.

If you are questioning the authenticity, then you can call the manufacturer with the serial number. This number will identify the piece at hand. However, keep in mind that this doesn’t mean your piece isn’t a replica of the original.

3. Seller & Location

Always be wary of the seller, especially when buying online. Since you don’t get to see the item first, you will want to trust your seller. You can research review online and review the overall website and policies. If there is no return policy on an item, then be wary of the seller.

Also be sure to research the seller’s location. Most counterfeit luxury goods in the world originate in China. If your seller is based in Asia, be sure to research thoroughly and be wary of any misleading or fake reviews for their services.

4. Ask a trusted jeweler

In the end, if you are not 100 percent certain of your purchase, you can always have it appraised by a trusted jeweler. They will be the only ones able to test the materials and appraise the stones so you know if you have an authentic item. There is typically a fee for appraisal, so be aware of this when you go to the jeweler. Also make sure to research the jeweler thoroughly. Read reviews and find out where they received certification from.

At TrueFacet we guarantee that each item sold is authentic and each item comes with a valuation report. We also offer our own appraisal services. We cover shipping and you get a trustworthy valuation report. For more information, read more here.

Photo Credit: gentlemansstyle.com / carreraycarrera.com