Dooney & Bourke Bags Real vs. Fake Guide 2025: How Can I Tell If It Is Original?

How About Dooney & Bourke Bags?

Dooney & Bourke is an American luxury leather goods brand founded in 1975 by designer Peter Dooney and entrepreneur Frederic Bourke in Norwalk, Connecticut. Originally a men's supplier of belts, suspenders, and ties, the company now specializes in handbags and small accessories.

in 2009,Dooney & Bourke entered into a partnership with Disney to create bags with themed designs (affectionately called “Disney Dooneys”). 

There are now dozens of different themed Dooney designs available for purchase in the theme parks and on shopDisney.com. Patterns vary frequently, though the original Sketch remains. Designs have included EPCOT festivals, holidays, theme park attractions, Disney Cruise Line, runDisney races, and Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars films. 

You can find Dooney & Bourke wallets, cross-body bags, purses, backpacks, wristlets, totes of many sizes, and occasionally luggage, though not every design will be in every size bag.

How Much Are Dooney & Bourke Bags?

Dooney & Bourke bags are not considered luxury items, though that may shock buyers not used to purchasing mid-level handbags. Expect to pay a minimum of $250 for most items, with the largest bags approaching $500. 

Where to Buy Authentic Dooney & Bourke Bags?

Dooney's merchandise is distributed in Nordstrom, Brooks Brothers (6% cashback), and Saks Fifth Avenue (2% cashback), as well as Dooney's own store in Norwalk, Connecticut.

And you can also get a second-hand and NewDooney & Bourke bag on some online websites! Sign up at Extrabux.com, you can get up to 11.50% cash back on new and second-hand Dooney & Bourke bags purchase at these below sites！

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How To Spot Real Dooney & Bourke Bag?

1.Make Sure That The Dooney & Bourke Bag Style Even Exist

There are tons of fakes out there that we don’t even know which Dooney bags they were even trying to replicate!  This is the best way to gauge if a newer style of Dooney is fake or not. 

We haven’t come across too many counterfeits of the newer styles, but as long as the style exists, and the bag is made with excellent Dooney quality, it is authentic, and Counterfeits are not quality.

Once you have determined that the style of bag was indeed produced by Dooney, you have to check a few other things below.

2.The Materials of Dooney & Bourke Bag

Dooney and Bourke bags are known for their durability. They are made from high-quality materials, such as leather and canvas, and are designed to withstand everyday wear and tear. 

All piping on an authentic Dooney bag will be genuine leather, without exception. All trademark Duck seals are sewed on, never glued. 

Dooney and Bourke All Weather Leather items use top-quality leather and as such are neither hard nor very stiff like theimposters.

3.The Hardware of Dooney & Bourke Bag

Dooney Bourke use only genuine brass metal parts for their Dooney Duck Fob. Closure, D-Rings. Note: A few later on were made with nickel metal parts or partial brass parts.

• Only genuine brass D-shaped rings are used to attach leather straps to Dooney Purse They do not use O-Rings. as many counterfeit bags do.

• Most vintage Dooney purses have brass rivets with the Dooney Bourke name stamped on them. Watch for the correct spelling of the brand name as well.

• All piping on an authentic Dooney bag will be genuine leather, without exception.

• All trademark Duck seals are sewed on, never glued.

4.The Fobs of Dooney & Bourke Bag

Each and every authentic AWL vintage Dooney bag from 1983 and on will have the famous Dooney Duck FOB.

• Authentic Vintage Dooney Bags will always have the genuine brass Dooney Duck FOB attached to the Dooney bag. with a small piece of genuine leather.

• Vintage Dooney Bags will never attach the Duck FOB with a chain or fake leather strap.

• Vintage Dooney bags will never have the Duck FOB attached directly to the zipper. Vintage Dooney Bag Duck Fobs will be heavy for their size because they are made of genuine brass.

• Vintage Dooney Bag Brass Duck FOBS will never have a duck on both sides.

5. The Strap Attachment of Dooney & Bourke Bag

Without exception, every authentic AWL vintage Dooney bags will be trimmed or piped with 100% genuine cowhide leather. This is also true of the straps.

If the bag has small brass buttons to attach a strap, they must be REAL, functional buttons.  If they are just “for show”, and don’t actually come apart, the bag is fake.  

6.  The Lining of Dooney & Bourke Bag

Vintage Dooney & Bourke Bags are always stitched with small tight straight stitches with with their trademark yellow thread. Dooney Bourke yellow stitching will fade sometimes with years of cleaning use.

And Vintage Dooney AWL bags have a suede lining.  If you come across one with any type of fabric lining, it is counterfeit.  The suede needs to match the exterior in color.  So, a brown bag with a black suede interior is not authentic.

7.The Rivets on Some Dooney & Bourke Bags

Some Dooney & Bourke Bags are held together with brass rivets.  You should be able to see them on the bottom and/or sides of the interior of the bag, as well as at the base of the straps.  

When you find them, check to be sure that they are stamped with the words “Dooney Bourke”. 

8.The Feet of Dooney & Bourke Bag

Not all Dooney bags have feet on the bottom.  But when they do, they need to be brass.  The number of feet can’t be used to judge.  

A common myth is that there should be an even number of feet.  This is false.  Dooney made bags with five feet as well.

9.The Duck Logo of Dooney & Bourke Bag

Oval leather duck logo glued and sewn on the front or back of the bag depending on style.

The duck’s bill should be separated from its face by a tiny bit.  Also, the stitching around the logo should be neat and even.  The logo is not always on the front of the bag.

10.The Logo Patches of Dooney & Bourke Bag

Over the years, Dooney & Bourke has used many different Dooney & Bourke logo patches on the handbags and accessories.

Dooney & Bourke make the logo plates using jewelry-grade hardware that has a shiny bronze or gold-tone finish. They make their patches from embossed leather in a variety of colors. Some plates and patches depict the famous Dooney Duck you’ve seen before. Some simply bare our name and founding date. All logos, though, are special and unmistakeable Dooney & Bourke creations.

Clik here for more details about Dooney & Bourke logo Patches

11.The Labels of Dooney & Bourke Bag

In 1986 Dooney & Bourke changed their cloth label to begin making all vintage Dooney bag labels in red, white and blue were sewn inside the bag in conjunction with trim or a seam. They say:

• DOONEY &BOURKE, INC

• Made in U.S.A.

And an individual registration number on the other side. Usually the serial numbers are something like this: A1 777853; They indicate the style of bag, where the bag was made and the year it was made.

The counterfeiters have been putting fake tags in fake bags. Those fakes are often installed incorrectly or backwards, have wrong fonts and are made of the wrong fabric and texture.)

Don’t rely solely on the tag for authentication, because many fakes have replicated this tag.  This is only a part of the bigger puzzle.  Also, older 1980’s bags may have a sewn in green fabric tag, or even a DB stamped into the interior leather. 

Note: If you cannot locate a tag inside or if your tag is glued on as opposed to sewn on, you have a counterfeit bag.

How to read the labels:

• If your Authentic Vintage Dooney Bag was MADE IN THE USA- the serial number will start with A or B.

• If you have an Authentic Vintage Dooney Bag which was assembled/made in COSTA RICA OR CHINA OR ITALY OR MEXICO. it will have the traditional cloth tag sewn inside but will read: DOONEY BOURKE. INC. (without the MADE IN USA).

• Authentic Vintage Dooney Bags when made in ITALY or MEXICO will have an additional leather tag sewn inside and will read DOONEY BOURKE MADE IN ITALY OR DOONEY BOURKE MADE IN MEXICO.

• Authentic Vintage Dooney Bags when made in CHINA or COSTA RICA will have an additional cloth tag sewn inside and will read MADE in CHINA or MADE IN COSTA RICA. (there are some exceptions to some of the Authentic Vintage Dooney Bags having 2 tags inside. Sometimes Dooney Bourke printed the serial on the back side of the traditional DOONEY BOURKE. INC tag).

The serial number will start with the letter assigned to the country where the bag was made.

12. Where Are Dooney & Bourke Made?

You can identify the country of manufacture by examining the cloth Dooney Bourke serial number tag sewn inside. An authentic vintage Dooney bag will always state where the bag was manufactured or assembled.

Please note If you do not see a Made in USA or other reference to where the Vintage Dooney Bag was made, it is not a genuine article

Vintage Dooney Bags were only manufactured and assembled in 5 places in the world: USA Costa Rica |China Italy Mexico

In the mid-iggo's Dooney Bourke removed the MADE IN THE USA on some of their Dooney bags as they began to be assembled overseas.

13.The Source and Prices of Dooney & Bourke Bag

Most Dooney & Bourke bags sold for between $200-$380 depending on the style.And the average price of a used Dooney and Bourke purse could range from $11 to up to $400.

• Authentic Dooney & Bourke bags are typically available through authorized dealers, high-end department stores, and the official Dooney & Bourke boutiques. 

• Be cautious when purchasing from street markets, online auction sites, or unknown online retailers, as these are common channels for counterfeit products. 

• Research the seller thoroughly and prioritize reputable sources.

14.Check The Dealer’s Legitimacy

In addition to comparing prices, you can check the dealer as a way to distinguish between original and fake Dooney & Bourke bags. 

• When purchasing a Dooney & Bourke bag,  it’s best to go to a reputable retailer, online or in person. Purchasing a pair from eBay or from a market stall may result in a counterfeit purchase.

• If in doubt, buy directly from  Dooney & Bourke official website or from established online retailers like zappos.com, walmart.com,  disneystore.com and qvc.com.

• Before making transactions in online stores, it’s a good idea to check ratings and reviews from previous buyers as a reference.
  

When buying from a non-authorized dealer, pay attention to online listings and how the seller communicates with you—you should be able to spot a shady deal. You shouldn't go through with the transaction if:

• The listing is vague and doesn't contain any images.

• The seller is being pushy, trying to get you to send money quickly.
  

• The seller is requesting payment via a weird method, like gift cards or wire transfer.

• The seller won't let you see the Dooney & Bourke bags in person first before you send the money.

• There are photos on the listing, but they're all taken from the Dooney & Bourke site (i.e., the seller didn't take the pictures of the actual bags they're selling).

FAQs

1.Is Dooney and Bourke a high-end brand?

Dooney & Bourke is an American luxury leather goods brand founded in 1975 by designer Peter Dooney and entrepreneur Frederic Bourke in Norwalk, Connecticut.

2.How can you tell how old a Dooney and Bourke bag is?

The number that is on the back of the sewn-in tag indicates where in the US and when the bag was made.

3.Where is the Dooney and Bourke serial number?

Authentic bags that have the red, white and blue Dooney & Bourke, Made in USA label sewn inside, the first portion of the serial number on the back will start with either an A or a B and that indicates what factory in the USA the bag came from.

4.Is Dooney and Bourke same as ILoveDooney?

 ILoveDooney offers you the best of Dooney & Bourke at even better prices. For over a decade, they have been offering styles you love for less, with the quality craftsmanship and materials that you expect from Dooney & Bourke.

5.Is Dooney & Bourke durable?

Dooney and Bourke purses are known for their durability. They are made from high-quality materials, such as leather and canvas, and are designed to withstand everyday wear and tear. With proper care and maintenance, a Dooney and Bourke purse can last for many years.

6.Are Dooney & Bourke bags made in China authentic?

Authentic Vintage Dooney Bags when made in CHINA or COSTA RICA will have an additional cloth tag sewn inside and will read MADE in CHINA or MADE IN COSTA RICA. (there are some exceptions to some of the Authentic Vintage Dooney Bags having 2 tags inside.

7.Does Dooney & Bourke have a lifetime warranty?

Dooney & Bourke stand behind the durability of our leather goods and offer an unconditional guarantee against any defects in craftsmanship for a full year of normal use.

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