Technology and lack of protection has hampered our Beanie hobby!

Counterfeiters have used many websites to learn how to try and master the perfect FAKE Beanie.
They read our pages on how we point out the obvious flaws and then go back to work to correct their mistakes.
In many cases it has become increasing difficult to just eyeball a Beanie and determine its authenticity.
Many factors must be taken into consideration.

At this point and time I would like to make one thing perfectly clear.
I am not an expert and do not pretend to be one. I have been involved with this hobby for over five years and have just learned through education and viewing various pieces.
Today's fakes are being made so well that I often confer with Beaniemom and others for their opinions. I feel that when in doubt its always best to get a second opinion and I'm not shy about saying so.
I make mistakes just like anyone else but I do make it a point to try and educate myself as best as I can.

1. Check that tag, this is normally a good place to start. Make sure the quality of the paper is the same as your other tags. In this fake Indonesian Beanie the tag is very thin. It also has crease marks all the way around the tag.

2. Check the gold foil. The foil should be pressed into the tag and not just laid. Also rub the gold foil, if the foil flakes or starts to rub off this is a definite sign of a problem. Look for uneven lines or bubbles, Ty's tags have flat gold foil.

3. Pattern - Ty has a basic standard pattern that is used for his bears. Many fakes alter the pattern and in most cases the alterations are obvious.

4. Ribbon - Ty's ribbon are shiny on both sides. Ty also heat shears his ribbons to keep them from unraveling. Many fakes are not heat sheared and therefore do fray.

5. Fonts - Check the font size and color. Remember that when checking your product always compare apples to apples. Use product that is of the same generation and manufactured in the same country.

6. Eyes - In some Fakes I have seen the eyes on the products are not typical of Ty's eyes. They are often not the same in size and in some cases are altogether the wrong color.

The left Britannia is real / Notice how the flag is a lot lower and wider on the one on the right, which is the FAKE Indonesia Britannia.

FAKE Indonesia Tag - The stitching on this flag is one of the worst I have ever seen. The color of the blue is also a shade off.

REAL TAG

REAL Britannia Tag

FAKE Britannia Tag -
Notice the crease around the tag. This is not a shadow, the tag folds inward. The hole in the tag is not a clean cut and also indents inward.

PLEASE do not worry, if you have one of the versions of poems displayed on Britannia. There are two versions of this poem and both poems are correct depending where they were made.

The Ribbon on the left is the FAKE ribbon. Notice how it is cut and not heat sheared compared to the REAL ribbon. The ribbon is not shiney on both sides and is of a different texture.

FAKE Britannia
Notice the thread on the knot of the ribbon, the uneven cut ends of the ribbon and the placement of the flag, almost in the middle of the bear.

FAKE INDO TAG - Notice the uneven gold foil. From what I can tell the foil was laid and not pressed into the tag.

FAKE INDO TAG - The gold foil is uneven and is not smooth.