Introduction:
Here at Zunzle we have been an online retailer for the b.b. simon brand since the early 2000s. We were the first retailer to bring b.b. simon products for sale online. This guide was written to help protect consumers from the rapid expansion of counterfeit goods for sale online. We hope this knowledge will help consumers avoid purchasing counterfeit b.b. simon products.
B.B. Simon Buckles:
Almost all standard b.b. simon buckles will have the b.b. simon logo on the back of the buckle set. The two most common patterns are shown below. The left buckle is the original single logo indentation. The right buckle is the newer multiple logo indentation. We expect the older buckles to be slowly fazed out as b.b. simon transitions to the new buckle design.
The b.b. simon logo will always be indented into the metal of the buckle. You can see how the logo is actually a part of the metal buckle.
There are however some belts that do not have the b.b. simon logo on the back of the buckle. The buckles that do not have the logo are often unique styles. Below is an example of an authentic buckle that does not have the b.b. simon logo.
Some vintage b.b. simon belts from the early 2000s do not have the logo on the back of the buckle. These belts are very rare and would be around 15 years old.
B.B. Simon Stamp:
All b.b. simon belts are stamped with the b.b. simon logo and size number on the inside leather. The stamp is normally a metallic ink and can be a variety of different colors. Sometimes a model code will be stamped as well. The stamp is not always perfect because it is manually applied by the craftsman during production.
Vintage b.b. simon belts may have a stamp with the older logo and sizing method or leather indentation used instead of an ink stamp.
Handwritten Production Codes:
Under the buckle snaps there will often be production codes written by employees during the manufacturing process.
Stitching, Studs, Leather:
The stitching on the edges is not always consistent as shown. The belts are handmade which creates a lot of variation depending on how the leather work was performed and how the beads on the edges were stitched.
There may be press imprints on the backside leather of b.b. simon belts, however not all belt models will have imprints.
Studs will not show through on the inside leather of the belt. The only time there will be metal pieces on the inside leather of the belt is when the belt has large decorative pieces attached. Some examples of this are shown.
Tags & Storage Tins:
The modern tags that are used on new belts will have the b.b. simon logo and "California" embossed onto the front of the tag in gold. The QR code and "MADE IN USA" on the front will be flat. The color of the front tag will be matte black and not glossy. All print on the back of the tag is flat. The tags are not always cut uniformly and oftentimes the knot in the white thread can be pulled apart.
The original tag that came with vintage b.b. simon belts is shown below. This tag is no longer used by b.b. simon, but would still be an authentic tag.
Storage tins vary largely in quality. The tins come in a variety of colors and patterns. The tins b.b. simon has been using since 2019 do not have foam inserts and use adhesives to decal the tins. These tins are fully metal. The old tins b.b. simon used had much more consistent quality control and a foam insert for the bottom of the tin. Only the tops and bottoms of the old tins were metal. The cylinder on the older tins is hardened cardboard and will have the b.b. simon logo embossed onto it. The left tin is the new full metal tin currently in use. The right tin is one of the vintage tins. Both are authentic b.b. simon storage tins.
On thinner belts b.b. simon still uses a smaller black variation of the vintage tins.
The quality of authentic metal tins can vary. The adhesive is often not applied smoothly as shown below.
Fake Belt Examples:
The belts below are counterfeit b.b. simon belts that we found for sale on eBay. You can see the metal studs on the inside leather and metal rings around the buckle clasp holes. These are clear indications of inauthentic products.The b.b. simon tin is also much more narrow than real authentic tins.
