How To Spot A Counterfeit Dior Tote Bag

The Dior Book Tote is often seen in European destinations like the beaches of St Tropez and the Italian Riviera. It’s on its way to achieving must-have handbag status following its initial release in 2018 and subsequent size variations. Due to this, it’s become a favourite of counterfeiters, so what should you look out for when purchasing a Dior Book Tote?

When it comes to authenticating a Dior Book Tote, size matters. The genuine Dior Book Tote currently comes in five different sizes:

Large - 42cm x 35cm x 18.5cm

Medium - 36cm x 27.5cm x 16.5cm

Small - 26.5cm x 21cm x 14cm

Mini - 22.5cm x 15cm x 6cm

Phone Bag - 13cm x 18cm x 5cm

Be cautious of any deviation from these dimensions, as it could be a sign of a counterfeit.

Authentic Dior Book Totes come with a discreet, embossed serial number inside the bag. This number is unique to each piece and can be cross-verified with Dior's database. The serial number starts with two numbers followed by two letters of the factory code. These will be spaced slightly apart with a hyphen and followed by the date (00-XY-0000).

A genuine Dior Book Tote boasts impeccable craftsmanship and is believed to take 37 hours to create.

The base of the bag is a good indicator of authenticity; if the stitching is seamless and hard to see, that’s a good sign. Genuine Dior Book Totes are straight in their structure, the bags don’t cave in towards the top handles as they’re supposed to be as roomy as possible. The handles are central and every detail is clean. Counterfeit models often have messy stitching, bulging and mis-shapen sides.

Authentic Dior Book Totes do not feature any interior pockets or stitching; the interior is simple and should reflect the back of the exterior material. Counterfeit Book Totes often have a different interior to the exterior, which is a tell tale sign.

The serial number tab will be on the interior of your Book Tote; the colour of the tab will reflect the colour of the bag.

Authentic Dior Book Totes bear a clean, centred leather label that's perfectly aligned with the bag's overall design. The font should be crisp and clear, with no spelling mistakes or inconsistencies. The Paris text is in a small thin font, whilst “MADE IN ITALY” is larger and in all capital letters. Check the edges of the tab too, the tab should have rounded corners, with black edging.

The intricacy of the embroidery is a hallmark of a genuine Dior Book Tote. Each thread should be meticulously placed at 180 degrees, creating a rich and detailed pattern. Beware of uneven or sloppy stitching, as this is a telltale sign of a fake.

The classic Oblique Dior Book Tote design contains over 1,500,000 individual stitches and although the font overlaps, you should still be able to clearly read each individual letter. Letter smudging indicates a counterfeit bag.

The handles are a crucial component of the Dior Book Tote's design. They should be sturdy and the attachment to the main bag should be smooth. Pay attention to any signs of flimsiness, uneven colouring, or poor stitching, particularly where the rolled handles meet the main bag.

The handles should be joined in the centre by two stripes of navy blue thread, that meet seamlessly at the base and appear as one thread, rather than looking like two rolled threads joining together.

Whilst the Dior Book Totes can be personalised to include your own signature strip when purchased from Dior, the majority you’ll find on the resale market contain the classic Christian Dior signature.

When checking the authenticity of your bag, pay close attention to the S and I in Christian Dior. Often on counterfeits these letters have untidy edges or the edges of the S slope off to the side. On Authentic Dior Book Totes all letters are perfectly straight and uniformed, and the letters are often thinner than what you’d see on counterfeits.