Part 2: 2007
Chargers
Recognizing the Quality of an Authentic
Closeup Photos and Scans of Genuine Reebook Authentic...and
then, a Counterfeit Jersey
In 2007, the Chargers unveiled new uniforms. With new jerseys come new fakes. So here is a quick guide to show you what you're looking for. REMEMBER, price first! These are $250 jerseys! The basic rules that factor into 95% of what you need to know apply to the 2007 jerseys. I will, however, point out the intracacies of the new Chargers threads. If you are not a Charger fan, get to know YOUR TEAM'S jersey. Not only will know what to look for, but you could end up finding an actually good deal.
AUTHENTIC
Here are several pictures of AUTHENTIC jerseys. Their quality, consistency, and richness of color really stand out. They are expensive, so if you want one, be ready to pay. You're not likely to get lucky and get one cheap. Those who sell them pay, from what I understand, $124 wholesale, and consumers who buy them and then decide to sell them aren't likely to part with them without asking a fair price. All the way down to the tags, the sharpness of a genuine AUTHENTIC speaks for itself. Saying this doesn't mean an authentic always comes without flaws - they do happen - but the general construction, color, pattern, and sewing techniques are consistent.
CLICK ON ANY PICTURE FOR LARGER FORMAT
SCANS
PHOTOS (of same jersey scanned above)
When you lay down an authentic to take pictures, the cloth is heavy enough and stiff enough, that they just seem to lay down perfectly and take on a very symmetrical shape. Most fakes are kind of flimsy and show inconsistency one side to the other along with odd proportions.
Above is EXACTLY how I received my Gates Authentic Jersey from JerseyJoe.com. You should expect a purchased AUTHENTIC to be packaged in a large, labeled bag as shown.
NOTICE THE FOLLOWING DETAILS: White spandex collar comes into neckline smoothly and stops. Jersey material comes up the neck and turns up sharper. Flat neckline at NFL shield. Gusset (spandex sides) come into sleeve at a smooth curve (armpit).
Quality, consistent stictching, inside and out. Stitching borders cutouts consistently.
Counterfeit w/Side by Side Comparisons
You will quickly see some differences in your fake jersey. However, the 2007 fakes are a step better than any I saw in '06, particularly with the color. Initial appearance will often give away a fake, but for the slightly nicer fakes, the closeup look will reveal differences. Cutouts will have visible flaws and the stitching is often uneven around the edge. Stitch width may often change over a short section of the Bolt. Thread color is a closer match on AUTHENTICS than on most fakes. And as mentioned above, the stitching on an AUTHENTIC is so precise that each zig and zag barely reaches over the edge of the cutouts, making a smooth edge for each layer of color. Comparing AUTHENTIC color to colors on a fake is very tough with digital images. They can easily be altered or the pictures can be over-exposed, too dark, use different light types, etc. This is another issue you'll have taking a chance on a fake. As was true of the 2006 fakes, the NFL Shield was sewn on with white thread, instead of clean nylon thread, and the tag anchors went right through the front RBK tag, instead of going through the back, and only through the back layer of the washing tag.
As seen here, the color of the fake jerseys is a better match than those from '06. However, there is still a "Dirty" hue to the fakes. The yellow part of the numbers and Bolts is not as "deep", and also has a dirty hue. This is also true of the Powder Blue cutouts in the Bolts.
On the fake I took pictures of, it so happens the JOCK TAG was sewn on upside-down. Loose threads were common. Compare the Spandex hem on the two jerseys. The Spandex on the fake has a very light color, is not as stiff, and comes straight down. This is a great example, shown in equal light, of the difference in the rich color of the Authentic vs. Fake.
Though you can customize jerseys to some extent (at retail shops), one common problem with equal size designated fakes is that they run EVEN BIGGER than the Authentics. In the pictures above, we have a size 46 Authentic with a size 48 Fake. So the width isn't much of a concern. The length, however, is. The sleeves on the '07 fake are much shorter from side to side, when this is a larger sized fake.
Same photos above. One is over-exposed to show the "dirty" hue fakes have. AUTHENTIC (top) FAKE (bottom). The spacing and size of the jersey holes on the '07 fake are almost identical to the Authentic. This is a change/improvement as far as making a perfect copy in concerned.
Note how the AUTHENTIC (right) holds it's shape. The fakes have a much lighter material (especially the Spandex) and the form doesn't hold as well. Notice how the fake has an "angel" (bell-bottom) shape, while the authentic is more squared at the bottom. The spandex comes of the fake an even width from the edge from armpit to hem. The Authentic tapers to keep the overall shape square.
Pictures above are of a fake -- pic on right shows Bolt on AUTHENTIC next to a FAKE.
Look how horrible the cutting is under the hem of this fake. Compare to the Authentic.
A bundle of thread was left on this fake. If this were the only mistake, I wouldn't hold it against them. But there were several flaws like this all over the jersey.
Fakes almost always have anchors through the front of the RBK tag. They use WHITE thread to sew on the NFL Shield (Authentics use clear Nylon thread). The NFL shield on this fake is about the worst I've seen. They were actually better last year.
The Hologram on this 2007 jersey is a counterfeit hologram that was created in 2005 to copy the OLD holograms. The 2007 Reebok hologram uses footballs and is much more dynamic. Also, the basic shape of the tag is different for 2007. Guess the counterfeiters didn't want to design a new cutting dye. They did change the design on the tag itself (flip side, and the VISA logo). But you can see the visual differences.