Gucci has come a long way since it was opened as a small leather store in 1921 in Florence, Italy. Since then, the brand has developed into one of the world’s most esteemed fashion houses. For style-conscious women everywhere, owning a Gucci purse, Gucci wallet, or a pair of Gucci sunglasses is the ultimate status symbol.

As the brand’s popularity has grown over the decades, thousands of companies have profited from selling knock-off Gucci purses. Not all replicas are bad -- there are plenty of imitation handbags that use the same premium materials as Gucci and adhere to high standards of quality, giving consumers an economic alternative to authentic designer purses. But there are also many replica purse sellers that use shoddy materials and shortcuts, resulting in bags that don’t respond well to wear and tear.

What’s the best way to distinguish a high-quality Gucci purse or replica? It’s easy if you know what to look for:

• Inspect the logo. A bad knock-off may have an inaccurate logo with off-kilter spacing, typographical errors, or a slight smudginess. When looking at a monogrammed Gucci bag, the "G’s" should all be of equal proportion.

• Examine the stitching. Authentic Gucci bags and good replicas should have neat, small stitches. Watch out for large or uneven ones, as these indicate that the bag was quickly and cheaply constructed.

• All hardware -- including zippers, snaps, and buttons -- should be evenly and securely attached to the purse. Be wary of metals that are dull or tarnished.

• Check the liner to make sure it’s sewn neatly inside the purse. If it’s sagging or uneven, that’s a sign that the purse wasn’t properly made.

• High-quality Gucci purses are made with one continuous piece of leather. Check to make sure there aren’t seams where multiple pieces were stitched together.

• On a high-quality Gucci handbag, the colors should be bright and vivid. Poorly made bags may have faded or muted hues.

• The colors of the leather and fabrics should be vibrant and true-to-life. If a bag has a dull or washed-out appearance, or if it just looks "off" somehow, keep looking for another purse.

• Gucci knock-off wallets will sometimes have red and green stripes, while the real thing will be striped in blue and red.

• Check the handbag straps to make sure they’re of the appropriate thickness, are made from genuine leather, and have the same small, neat stitching as the rest of the bag.

• To convey a high level of authenticity, you’ll want to make sure your Gucci purse has the gold-embossed message "Gucci Made in Italy" or "Gucci Parfums" somewhere on the strap or handbag.

• Educate yourself on the traits of the distinct purse collections. For example, the monogrammed vinyl on Gucci satchel bags should be brown and blue with coordinating leather trim, with a twill racing stripe somewhere on the bag. On the Gucci Accessory Collection bags, the brown exterior should be accented with a red and green stripe. If you’re considering a navy doctor bag from the G.A. collection, look for a blue and red stripe.

Whether you’re shopping for an authentic Gucci handbag or are enjoying the cost savings of purchasing a replica, take the time to check for signs of quality and durability. If a handbag is made from shoddy materials and seems hastily constructed, it could very well end up being a waste of your money -- even if the price tag seems amazingly low. Real Gucci purses are made with premium Italian leathers, rugged fabrics, and tarnish-resistant metals. Look for nothing less when shopping for your Gucci purse!