Credit: Legor
Gen Z calls it “pre-loved,” or “that has already been loved.” A formula to indicate second-hand in a cooler way, or used, and which clearly shows how vintage is a trend that starts from the public to become a business. The data confirms it: from the success of Vinted, the Lithuanian resale platform that in 2024 exceeded 800 million in revenue, to the giant Vestiaire Collective that has achieved such popularity that it is cited in a cult TV series among young people like Emily in Paris, and which has an active community in 70 countries.
Yet with the trend also spread the dangers of scams, especially when it comes to luxury: on apps - but also in markets - you can often find counterfeit objects, which could fool even the most expert eye. The key is often in the metal accessories, as Volkan Yilmaz, known on social media as Tanner Leatherstein, a creator who dissects luxury bags to evaluate their workmanship and materials and tell the public about an unusual side of leather goods, tells us.
But how do you recognize a high-quality metal accessory? We asked Fulvio Sinisi, R&D & Technical Manager of the Plating division of Legor, a leading company in the production of metal alloys and galvanic solutions for the world of jewelry and fashion.
Especially when it comes to second-hand, it is clear how much the accessory has stood the test of time, and therefore the quality. A luxury bag has accessories that do not show signs of tarnish even after years: the color always remains bright because the thickness of the galvanic deposits is high, and it does not show tarnishing or clouding.
It is not very easy for a non-expert to evaluate a high-quality metal accessory, but there are some signs that can be recognized with the naked eye.
If it is a painted accessory, you can look for dots or roughness on the surface, a sign that the paint has not been applied well. The same can happen with galvanic deposits in low-quality accessories.
Another defect to evaluate by eye is poor leveling, that is, poor distension of the galvanic deposits, which is especially visible when there are flat objects with writing engraved in the metal. If this happens, it is possible to perceive light halos that follow the contour of the engraving, a sign of a process that has not been carried out at maximum performance.
These are errors made by the manufacturer during the preparation phase or caused by the use of a base alloy that does not have a good finish, with a casting that is not done according to the rules of the art or the use of low-quality raw materials, defects that cannot be masked by galvanic processes and therefore become evident in the final piece.
In a market that is increasingly careful to distinguish the real from the fake, the metal accessory is not just a decorative detail, but the first sign of lasting quality.
