Chanel Handbags and Purses

In the 1950s, a Chanel bag was priced between $200 and $300. The iconic Chanel 2.55 bag cost $220 when first introduced in February 1955. Accounting for inflation, that works out to around $2,536 in today's money. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Chanel bags from some of the world's top boutiques.

How much Chanel bags cost in the 1990s varied from piece to piece and from year to year. For example, in 1990, the iconic Chanel flap bag's price was $1,150. When adjusted for inflation, that is around $2,280 in today's money. Shop a diverse assortment of Chanel bags on 1stDibs.

How much a Chanel bag was in 1980 varied by style. The iconic Chanel Classic Flap Bag retailed for around $1,000. Due to inflation and increased demand for the bags, the price rose over the years. By 1990, the price had risen to $1,150, and twenty years later, it had soared to $2,850. When it was first released in 1952, the same bag cost $220. Shop a wide range of vintage Chanel bags on 1stDibs.

Fake Chanel bags aren’t easy to spot — especially if you’re shopping online. Forgeries are getting increasingly difficult to identify, but there are a few clues that might indicate a Chanel bag is a counterfeit. Bags made in the mid-1980s and later have a serial number at the bottom of the bag, and this number should match the one on the Chanel authenticity card. The Cs in the clasp should have flat, not rounded, edges, and the right-hand C will always overlap the one on the left at the top, with the overlapping reversed at the bottom. The screw on the clasp will have a flat or star head — never a Phillips head. The zipper should have the Lampo logo on the back of the slider, and the bag should come in a duster bag with the Chanel logo printed in white in the center. The diamond-pattern quilting on the bag should be flawless and perfectly aligned, even where there’s a pocket. The lining should lie tight and flat against the interior — never creased or lumpy. The inside of the bag should have the Chanel logo followed by “Made in Italy” or “Made in France.” To ensure you’re purchasing an authentic Chanel bag, buy from a reputable seller that carefully vets their offerings. Shop a collection of properly vetted vintage and new Chanel bags from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

To find out how much your Chanel bag is worth, you can look at what similar pieces have sold for in the past on trusted online platforms. When searching for comparable bags, consider the age, style, materials, size and overall condition of your bag, as these factors all play a role in determining the value of pieces. For a more specific valuation based on your actual bag, consider using the services of a certified appraiser or other knowledgeable expert. Explore a large selection of Chanel bags on 1stDibs.

Yes, Chanel does have a crossbody bag. In fact, part of the appeal of Chanel bags is that many of them are suitable for both on-shoulder and across-the-body wear. The Wallet on Chain in any size is a great example. The Mini and Small sizes of many iconic Chanel bags are also commonly worn crossbody. Examples include the Chanel Boy Bag, the Chanel Classic Flap and the Chanel 19. Shop a wide range of Chanel crossbody bags on 1stDibs.

There are 310 Chanel boutiques located across the globe; 94 in Asia, 70 in Europe, 10 in the Middle East, 127 in North America, 2 in South America and 6 in Oceania. In addition to the Chanel boutiques, there are many authorized retailers of the Chanel line. Find a collection of expertly vetted Chanel fashions, accessories, and handbags from some of the world’s top reputable boutiques on 1stDibs.

Yes, you can wear a Chanel Small Classic Flap Bag crossbody. The bag doubles as a shoulder bag thanks to its proportions and the length of its chain-and-leather strap. In addition, the Mini Square and Mini Rectangular sizes are good options for those who prefer crossbody bags. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of Chanel Classic Flap Bags.

The value of Chanel bags has been steadily increasing for years. This is because each year, they make a “limited run,” which means that there are only so many available to purchase from the Chanel store or expertly vetted platforms from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Yes, Chanel bags have names. The brand's iconic flap bag is known as the Chanel 2.55, and the redesign of this bag created by Karl Lagerfeld is the Chanel Classic or Chanel 11.12. Names of other Chanel bags include the Boy, the Gabrielle, the Wallet on Chain and the Grand Shopping Tote or GST. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of Chanel bags.

The cost of a Chanel purse depends on its material, rarity, style and condition. On 1stDibs.com, you can purchase a Chanel purse starting from $280.

To know if a Chanel bag is real, first examine the serial number. Chanel began including serial numbers at the bottom of its bags in the mid-1980s. Between six and eight digits long, depending on the release date, they indicate the bag style and the year of manufacture. A quick web search will provide detailed information about Chanel serial numbers as well as the release dates of various styles. Walk away if you find that, for example, your serial number indicates a 2005 manufacture date for a style that wasn’t made until 2013.

Next, look closely at the iconic CC clasp. In a genuine Chanel clasp, the interlocking CCs have flat edges, not rounded ones. The right-hand C will always overlap the one on the left at the top, with the overlapping reversed at the bottom. Any other arrangement is an error, and when it comes to quality, Chanel doesn’t make those kinds of mistakes.

Also, check the backplate of the clasp. Located on the inside of the flap, the backplate of the CC logo clasp is secured with two screws (and not just any kind of screws). Until 2015, Chanel only used flathead screws, never cross-shaped Phillips screws. That year, it switched to star-shaped, proprietary screws made exclusively for the House of Chanel. These screws are easy to recognize and hard to fake because they require a special screwdriver that isn’t sold in a hardware store.

The backplate bears another indicator of an authentic Chanel bag: the all-caps etched lettering should read “CHANEL” at the top and “PARIS” at the bottom of the plate. If the etching is irregular, the spacing is uneven or the unmistakable typeface is replaced by a mainstream font, it’s a sign of a fake.

If you need assistance with authentication, consult a certified appraiser or other knowledgeable fashion expert. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Chanel bags.

To know what model your Chanel bag is, look for the serial number. It usually appears on a leather tag or metal plate inside the bag. Once you have the serial number, contact Chanel customer service or consult trusted online resources for assistance identifying your bag. You can also consult a knowledgeable dealer for help with identification. Explore a large selection of Chanel bags on 1stDibs.

The Chanel bag considered the Classic is a 1983 reissue of the iconic 2.55 bag, which debuted in 1955. Karl Lagerfeld oversaw the redesign, which is known as the Chanel Classic Flap bag, and his take on Coco Chanel's acclaimed accessoryfeatured an interlocking CC turn-lock instead of the traditional Mademoiselle lock. Crafted from top-quality materials, Chanel's elegant purses are coveted not only for their timelessness but also for their high resale value. The brand's best-known bag, the Classic Double Flap bag, includes Chanel's signature quilting and leather interlaced through a chain strap. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Chanel handbags.

Chanel bags are made in France and Italy. The contemporary version of Chanel’s 11.12 bag, for instance, starts its life in a small factory in Verneuil-en-Halatte, located 90 minutes north of Paris, where the pieces of lambskin are cut by artisans with six years of training. The pieces are sent to Paris, where embroiderers spend a week embellishing the components, incorporating slight variations that make each bag a one-of-a-kind piece. Then, the leather pieces are shipped back to Verneuil, where craftspeople assemble them by hand into the iconic rectangular shape, complete with intricate piping and beading. Shop a collection of vintage and contemporary Chanel bags from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.