Chrome Heart_ How to Spot a Real Item

Chrome Hearts is a luxury brand that is renowned for selling not just leather goods, but eyewear and even sterling silver jewelry. It was founded in 1988 by Richard Stark and is a predominant luxury brand in the United States given that its origins are from Los Angeles. 

This brand is unique in the sense that although it markets itself as a luxury brand, the designs and aesthetic of the brand look more mainstream than most. This is because each of the brands are designed around a gothic and rock inspired aesthetic, but its luxury status means that each item is exclusive and can't be found in just any normal retail store. 

Over the years, Chrome Hearts has gained popularity and has become a cult favorite. This has led to many counterfeit items being sound, which is why it's very important you learn how to authenticate an original Chrome Hearts leather goods item, eyewear, or even sterling silver jewelry piece. 

How Can You Identify Authentic Chrome Hearts Materials?

Now, the first question on your mind is probably figuring out how to identify authentic Chrome Hearts, especially their materials seeing as the jewelry items are made from sterling silver.

The first way to check is to know that sterling silver is made from 92.5% sterling silver. If you've owned this kind of jewelry piece before, you will know that sterling silver tarnishes over time. With fake items, there won't be tarnish marks but instead, the silver look is actually made from other materials such as cheaper alloys or even silver plating, giving it an overall extreme shiny finish. 

Additionally, sterling silver has a higher density than cheaper materials. So when you hold a sterling silver Chrome Hearts jewelry piece in your hand, you'll definitely be able to feel the weight of it and how solid it is. If it's lighter than normal, that's a counterfeit item. A counterfeit item is one that is lighter than usual and is probably made of aluminum, weaker alloys, or even hollowed-out metal to resemble real silver.

As for leather goods, you'll be able to tell a genuine good from a counterfeit one by feeling the material on the belts and wallets. Chrome Hearts leather goods are made from the finest and release cowhide or any other kind of exotic leather. You'll also see each finish has immaculate stitching, tying everything together. If your Chrome Hearts belt wears and tears a lot over time, it's most likely a fake made from low-quality leather or even synthetic materials, which will feel stiff, has a weird smell, and even a plastic-line shine on it. 

Do the Engravings and Logos Match the Authentic Standard?

Each Chrome Hearts item be it eyewear or leather goods will have the Chrome Hearts engravings. You can distinguish a real one from a fake one by looking at the font as Chrome Hearts uses an Old English-style font that is quite distinct in nature. Seeing as this is quite distinct, most counterfeited items will not be able to replicate the engravings and you';ll often see items with incorrect alignment, mismatched font sizes, and even inaccurate spacings. 

For the silver jewelry pieces, each Chrome Hearts jewelry item will have an engraving noted to be the hallmark stamp. This will read Chrome Hearts 925 and is used as an indicator signifying that the jewelry is 100% authentic 925 sterling silver. Moreover, since Chrome Hearts is an American brand and originates from Los Angeles, you'll also find authentic pieces with the markings Made in the USA. 

Each Chrome Hearts piece also has various symbol engravings to it such as the Fleur-de-Lis, Cross and Dagger. You can tell a fake from a real one by seeing the way it's engraved into each item. A real one will feature symmetrical details and a sharp engraving while a fake one will not look as deeply etched and accurate. 

Can You Trust the Seller? Where Was It Purchased?

We've mentioned that Chrome Hearts items such as leather goods, jewelry, and eyewear aren't sold in mainstream stores, so by now you might be wondering where you can purchase an authentic Chrome Hearts item?

They're sold in authorized retailers such as Isetan Japan, Selfridges in the United Kingdom and even department stores like Dover Street Market. You'll mostly come across flagship boutiques as opposed to authorized stand-alone retailers. 

It should also be worth noting that you can't purchase an authentic Chrome Hearts item online as there is no official e-commerce platform. If you come across a website claiming to be the official website of Chrome Hearts, this is definitely a scam and you should not purchase any item from here. 

Although there are second-hand markets where you can snag a Chrome Hearts piece, you need to be aware of the associated risks. 

Only purchase from reputable resale platforms such as StockX and Grailed which provide reassurance in the form of showing proof of authenticating each item. Moreover, if the images shown on resell platforms are not clear where you can't see the hallmarks and engravings, proceed with caution before purchasing any item. 

Seeing as Chrome Hearts has a reputation of being a high-end luxury brand, it often runs into issues of people being victims to counterfeit items. To not become another victim, only purchase from authorized retailers such as departmentment stores or stand-alone boutiques. Make sure to always check the authenticity of each item such as seeing the weight of jewelry items and also the font accuracy of symbols and engravings. 

Also keep in mind that there are no official websites, so if you do have to purchase online then make sure that you can fully guarantee authenticity using one of the identifiers we've mentioned in this guide. If the price is suspiciously low, then it's best to double check that it's not a counterfeit item. Verifying the legitimacy of every purchase is still essential to obtaining a real piece of the highly sought-after Chrome Hearts brand, even as its popularity continues to rise.