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Guides for checking what you buy and sell
How to spot fakes, take photos that get a clear result, and shop safely online.
Featured · Authentication
How to check sneakers: the complete authentication guide
Price, box, shape, stitching, insole and sole: what to look at on a pair of sneakers, in the order an authenticator would, and the photos to take for a check.
6 min read
New
Authentication
How to check jewelry: hallmarks, clasps and stones
Read hallmarks, test metal safely at home, check clasps and settings, and know what a diamond grading report can and cannot tell you.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check perfume and cosmetics
Wrapping, batch codes, bottles, sprayers and scent: how to spot fake perfume and make-up before it goes on your skin.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check electronics: serials, ports and packaging
Phones, earbuds, watches and chargers: how to match serial numbers, inspect the build and test the software, and why a fake charger is a safety risk.
4 min read
All articles
Authentication
How to check a designer handbag
Leather, canvas, stitching, hardware, heat stamps and codes: a practical checklist for designer bags, with brand notes for Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Gucci.
5 min read
Authentication
How to check a luxury watch
Movement, weight, dial, case back, serial numbers and papers: how to judge a luxury watch, and which details are worth a close-up photo.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check jewelry: hallmarks, clasps and stones
Read hallmarks, test metal safely at home, check clasps and settings, and know what a diamond grading report can and cannot tell you.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check perfume and cosmetics
Wrapping, batch codes, bottles, sprayers and scent: how to spot fake perfume and make-up before it goes on your skin.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check electronics: serials, ports and packaging
Phones, earbuds, watches and chargers: how to match serial numbers, inspect the build and test the software, and why a fake charger is a safety risk.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check toys and collectibles
Designer figures, blind boxes, building bricks and trading cards: the packaging, safety marks, paint and print details that separate genuine toys from fakes.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check a work of art: signature, back and provenance
Paintings and prints: what the surface, the signature, the back of the work and its paperwork can tell you before you buy.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check antiques: age, wear and repairs
Furniture, clocks, ceramics and metalwork: how construction, wear, marks and repairs reveal whether a piece is as old as it is claimed to be.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check rare and signed books
First editions, dust jackets, book club copies and signatures: how collectors identify what a book really is.
4 min read
Authentication
How to check designer clothing: labels, tags and seams
Brand labels, care tags, RN numbers, fabric, buttons and zips: a checklist for designer jackets, shirts, knitwear and streetwear.
3 min read
Authentication
How to check stamps: perforations, watermarks and gum
Perforations, watermarks, printing method, gum and cancellations: the checks collectors use, and when to get an expert certificate.
4 min read
Photo tips
How to photograph an item for a check
A check can only judge what it can see. The set-up, the shot list and the mistakes to avoid, so VerifAI has the evidence it needs.
3 min read
Photo tips
Close-ups that count: logos, labels, stitching and codes
The small details are where genuine and fake items differ most. How to capture logos, engravings, labels and serial numbers sharply enough to read.
3 min read
Photo tips
Light it right: sharp, true-colour photos
Good light shows colour, texture and fine detail; bad light hides them. How to light any item for a check, including shiny and dark ones.
2 min read
Spot fakes
How to spot a fake listing before you pay
Price, photos, wording, seller history and payment requests: the red flags that give most fake listings away, and what to ask the seller.
3 min read
Spot fakes
Counterfeit alert: how to spot fake AirPods
Fake AirPods now pair, pop up on your iPhone and even pass a serial check. The packaging, build and software details that still give them away.
3 min read
Spot fakes
Buying second-hand safely: payment, proof and returns
How to protect your money when you buy pre-owned: the proof to ask for, the payment methods that protect you and what to do at handover.
3 min read
Spot fakes
Buying vintage: period details, repairs and provenance
Vintage luxury needs a different eye: details change by decade, codes may be missing and honest repairs are common. How to judge a vintage piece fairly.
3 min read
Selling
Before you sell: show buyers it is genuine
Buyers of pre-owned items worry about fakes more than anything else. The proof to gather, the photos to take and how a shareable certificate helps.
3 min read
Selling
Write a listing that sells: photos, title, condition and price
Good listings sell faster and with fewer questions. How to write the title, describe condition, set a fair price and take photos buyers trust.
3 min read
Insights
What a VerifAI check can and can't see
How VerifAI looks at your photos, what it compares, what a result can tell you and where its limits are.
3 min read
Insights
Reading your result: verdict, confidence and next steps
What each part of a VerifAI result means, how to use the confidence level and the evidence, and what to do when a result is unclear or looks wrong.
3 min read
Insights
The psychology behind buying fakes
Price is only part of the story. Research on why people buy counterfeits, the different kinds of buyers, and how finding out changes how people feel.
3 min read
Insights
Digital passports, NFC tags and NFTs: what they prove
More products now come with chips, QR codes and digital certificates. What these technologies can prove, where they fall short and how to check them safely.
3 min read
From the blog
News, alerts and deep dives
Authentication Guide
How to Spot Fake Luxury Watches
Expert techniques to verify timepiece authenticity
January 20, 2026 · 8 min read
Technology
The Rise of AI-Powered Authentication
How technology is revolutionizing counterfeit detection
January 25, 2026 · 6 min read
Alerts
Counterfeit Alert: Fake AirPods Surge
How to avoid purchasing counterfeit Apple accessories
February 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Authentication Guide
Authentication Guide: Designer Handbags
Expert tips for verifying luxury purse authenticity
February 8, 2026 · 9 min read
Psychology
The Psychology Behind Buying Fakes
Understanding why consumers choose counterfeit products
February 15, 2026 · 7 min read
Authentication Guide
Sneaker Authentication Masterclass
Complete guide to authenticating sneakers and spotting fake athletic footwear
February 22, 2026 · 11 min read
Technology
NFTs and Physical Authentication
Exploring how blockchain and NFTs are revolutionizing physical product authentication
March 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Authentication Guide
Vintage Authentication: A Collector's Guide
Expert techniques for verifying vintage luxury items and identifying authentic collectibles
March 8, 2026 · 9 min read