A luxury jewelry authenticator said there are some telltale signs of a fake Van Cleef & Arpels piece.The real deal is made with precision and quality, and counterfeiters often miss the small details.Here's what to look out for, from thickness to shape.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ng Yong Shen, the vice president of Re-Loved Luxury, a Dubai-based secondhand luxury retailer. It has been edited for length and clarity.I got into the business of authenticating luxury goods during the pandemic when I was hired as a purchaser for a secondhand luxury goods company.In that role, I was exposed to a large volume of luxury items on a daily basis. Bags, watches, and jewelry have becomeI went on to pursue similar roles, first as anauthenticator for Carousell Group, an online marketplace similar to Craigslist, and later as a commercial manager at Luxehouze, a marketplace focused on pre-owned luxury goods.Now, afterI also buyOne question I get asked a lot as an authenticator is: How canVan Cleef & Arpels piece from a fake?For me, the fakes are easy to spot. A friend recently asked me to look at a piece, and just eyeballing it was enoughBut to the untrained eye, I can see how it wouldn't be so straightforward. So here are four things to look out for when checking if the Van Cleef piece you're interested in is the real deal.1. Shape of the clover prongs A closeup of the Van Cleef & Arpels clover pendant. Ng Yong Shen The first thing to check isThe prongs that make up the clover pattern of Van Cleef & Arpels' pieces are very distinct and round, but the fake ones have a more elongated shape.The fake ones often look almost teardrop-shaped, while an authentic piece has a more even and rounded profile.2. The spheres surrounding the center stone The spheres surrounding the center stone should be evenly sized. Ng Yong Shen Then, look at the small spheres that outline the clover stone.If you look closely at theVan Cleef & Arpels is a high-end jewelry brand, so the workmanship is premium. But with replicas, counterfeiters often work faster and mayThe spheres are often either too big or too small on fakes. Whereas on3. Hallmark on the jump ring A dent on the jump ring is one identifying factor of a real Van Cleef & Arpels piece. Ng Yong Shen One crucial telltale sign is the clasp. You can open and close the clasp, and then you loop it into the jump ring.Look at the jump ring closely. It has a small dent in it. If you flip it around and look under the loop, you will find that the dent on an authentic piece has a very small hallmark pressed into it.Upon closer inspection, you will see that the jump ring is imprinted with an eagle's head, the French hallmark for 18-karat gold jewelry.That's a detail that a lot of counterfeiters tend to miss out on.4. Neatness of the side profile The side profile of a Van Cleef & Arpels piece should look neat and tidy. Ng Yong Shen Finally, turn the piece to examine its side profile. The rounded area on a fake bracelet is often messier compared to a real one, which is a lot crisper and sharper.There is also a certain thickness to the center stone itself. You will notice that the fake ones are often thin, which can be another dead giveaway.