Van Cleef & Arpels: Let’s Find Out if Yours is FAKE

Last Updated on mai 23, 2025 by Ch David

In this guide, our expert VCA authenticators take you through:

• The 11 ways to tell if your Van Cleef is real.
• A shortlist of all these steps.

How to tell if your Van Cleef is real

Réponse : The best way to tell if you have real Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry is to check the serial number’s engraving.

Fakes always have the wrong thickness.

1. Serial number

• Authentique : Ticker, more solid letters and numbers.
• Faux : Thinner inscriptions.

Trop difficile ? Let our team of expert Van Cleef & Arpels authenticators take a look at your jewelry:

2. VCA Au750

Flip the metal tab to the other side and you’ll reveal the “VCA Au750” text.

• Authentique : Thicker characters, as they’re fit deeper into the metal.
• Faux : Thinner, slimmer letters and numbers.

3. Clasp

On top of the clasp/closing mechanism, you’ll find the “VCA” logo.

• Authentique : Thinner “VCA” letters + tower in the middle.
• Faux : Overly thick inscriptions.

Une mention rapide :

• Les étapes que nous avons écrites jusqu'à présent sont les suivantes BEST les moyens d'authentifier cet article
• Les étapes suivantes restent des méthodes fiables...
• ... mais elles s'appliquent aux versions non supérieures des répliques disponibles pour cet article

En cas de doute, nous vous recommandons de revérifier les étapes expliquées ci-dessus.

4. Motifs

• Authentique : Very detailed edges, looking heavy just like any other metal.
• Faux : Less detailed edges, looking like plastic instead of metal through pictures.

5. Side motif

• Authentique : Thinner, easy-to-read characters.
• Faux : Very thick inscriptions. Hardly legible.

6. Shininess

We need to see how the materials deal with light landing on top of the motifs.

• Authentique : Proper shine, reflecting all light on top of it.
• Faux : Unclear shine, looking like fake gold.

7. Chain

• Authentique : Thicker, more solid chain.
• Faux : Thinner chain.

8. Box

We’ll first begin outside the box, and then we’ll look inside it.

8.1. Exterior

• Authentique : Same consistent thickness for all characters.
• Faux : Thicker Thicker “V” in “Van”, but thinner “s” in “Arpels”.

8.2. Interior

• Authentique : Thicker letters, with a consistent font-weight.
• Faux : Thinner letters — using a completely different font.

See how the fake letters are also crooked.

9. Certificate

• Authentique : Must have a serial number + date of purchase.
• Faux : May often miss it, like the one above.

10. Packaging

• Above is highlighted what all of the authentic packaging must look like….
• When all the attachments are there.

Remarque : Blurred is sensitive information of the picture’s owner. Over there, you’ll find a valid date of purchase and serial number.

Shortlist : Quickly authenticate Van Cleef jewelry

1. Serial Number: Authentic pieces have thicker, more solid letters and numbers; fakes feature thinner inscriptions.
2. VCA Au750: Authentic items show thicker characters on the metal tab; fakes have thinner, slimmer letters and numbers.
3. Clasp: Authentic clasps have thinner “VCA” letters and a tower in the middle; fakes have overly thick inscriptions.
4. Motifs: Authentic motifs display very detailed, heavy-looking edges; fakes have less detailed edges that appear plastic-like.
5. Side Motif: Authentic side inscriptions are thinner and easy to read; fakes have very thick, hardly legible inscriptions.
6. Shininess: Authentic pieces shine properly, reflecting all light; fakes have an unclear shine, resembling fake gold.
7. Chain: Authentic chains are thicker and more solid; fakes have thinner chains.
8. Box:
   • Exterior: Authentic boxes have consistent character thickness; fakes might have uneven thickness like a thicker “V” in “Van”.
   • Interior: Authentic boxes feature thicker letters with consistent font-weight; fakes have thinner letters and a different font, often crooked.
9. Certificate: Authentic certificates include a serial number and date of purchase; fakes may often lack these details.
10. Packaging: Authentic Van Cleef packaging has a specific appearance with all attachments, including a valid date of purchase and serial number; sensitive information may be blurred for privacy.

Expert Van Cleef & Arpels Authentication Service

Vous avez besoin de notre avis sur l'authenticité de votre objet ? C'est un service que nous fournissons.

Obtenez un rapport détaillé sur les raisons pour lesquelles vous avez un vrai ou un faux article. En moins de 48 heures !

Vous pouvez également utiliser nos ressources gratuites : guides écrits et tutoriels vidéo.

Merci d'avoir lu ce document,

Ch Daniel et Ch David