First things first, forget thinking you can just eyeball it. I mean, sure, sometimes it’s obvious. Like, if it’s tarnished and smells like cheap metal from a gumball machine, yeah, *duh*. But usually, it’s subtler than that.
Like, the articles mention the “feel” of Hermès leather. Okay, a necklace isn’t leather, obviously. But the *quality* should be there. Think about it: Hermès is all about that high-end vibe. The gold plating (or whatever it’s made of) should be smooth, like, *really* smooth. No weird bumps or scratches. If it feels kinda rough or lightweight, big red flag, my friend. Probably some cheap knockoff from… I dunno, AliExpress or something.
And speaking of AliExpress, I saw this one post complaining about the “gap” on fake Clic Clac bracelets. Now, we’re talking about a necklace, not a bracelet, but the *idea* is the same. Look for inconsistencies. Is the “H” perfectly aligned? Is the spacing even? Hermès is all about perfection. They wouldn’t let something sloppy slide, would they? I’m not saying a tiny imperfection *definitely* means it’s fake, cause even the best brands slip up sometimes. But if you see a few little things that are off, start asking questions.
Oh, and the smell thing! Totally forgot about that. Okay, gold doesn’t really have a *smell*, per se. But cheap metals? They sometimes have this weird, chemical-y stink. If your Hermès “gold” necklace smells like you just walked into a hardware store, well… you know.
Honestly, though, the best thing you can do? Buy from a reputable source. Yeah, it’ll cost you an arm and a leg, but at least you know you’re getting the real deal. Trying to save a few bucks on some shady website? You’re just asking for trouble. And believe me, that feeling of “did I just get ripped off?” is *way* more expensive than just buying the real thing in the first place.
