Found these Gucci GG2196/S sunglasses for in a charity shop – authentic or an excellent fake?
Found these vintage Gucci GG2196/S sunglasses for in a charity shop – authentic or an excellent fake? I paid 50p for them as they had no price on and the cashier just guessed a price as Bric a Brac.
I picked these up today in a UK charity shop for 50p, fully expecting them to be fake. However, after researching them, I'm now not so sure. They're marked: GG2196/S 02Y (or 2Y7 depending on how it's read) 56□16 145 Made in Italy CE I've found the exact same model listed by multiple vintage eyewear sellers (1stDibs, Sammy & Nino's, Noir Online and eBay),and the following all seem to match:
Interlocking GG metal logo on the temples Hinge design Temple shape Wire core inside the acetate Frame shape Model number and sizing Tortoiseshell pattern
The only thing making me question them is there's a small printed slash/backslash immediately before the GUCCI stamp on one inside arm. None of the online examples I've found appear to have this mark. Someone suggested it could be a pad-printing registration mark or a minor manufacturing variation from the 1990s rather than an intentional character, but I haven't been able to find another pair the same. I've attached close-ups of:
Both inside arms The markings The bridge Hinges Front of the frame GG logos
Does anyone here own this exact model or know whether that little mark is a known production variation? Or does it point towards them being counterfeit? If these are counterfeit, they're an incredibly convincing copy of what seems to be quite an obscure mid-1990s model, so I'm really interested in hearing from anyone who owns this exact reference or has experience authenticating vintage Gucci eyewear.
For 50p, I love them either way, but would be magical if they were real - no intention to sell.
Thanks!