Since its release, the New Balance 1906U “Black” has become a street-style favorite, but its popularity has also led to a rise in counterfeit pairs. For those looking to purchase the sneaker on the secondary market, it’s crucial to know how to identify an authentic pair.

Experts have developed several methods for authenticating the shoe. While these are just a few of the many authentication points, they offer a solid starting point for buyers.

Spotting the Fakes

• • UV Light Test: Under a UV light, the stitching on an authentic 1906U “Black” reacts differently than on a fake. Fakes often display distinctive dotted lines that are not present on the real shoe.

• • Outsole Typo: One of the most common giveaways is a spelling mistake on the outsole, where the word “durance” is frequently misspelled on counterfeit pairs.

• • Tongue Logo: A genuine shoe’s tongue logo has a matte finish. On fakes, the print is often glossy.

• • Internal Tag: The inner tag on a real pair will reveal the brand logo under UV light. Fakes may also show an NB logo, but it is typically larger than the one found on an authentic shoe.

• • X-Ray Scan: Experts have found that a real shoe has alphanumeric characters engraved inside the outsole, whereas a fake might have Chinese characters.

• • Infrared Test: Under infrared light, the stitching and laces of a real pair appear white, while they look black on a fake.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the ways experts authenticate sneakers. As counterfeit manufacturing becomes more sophisticated, it is increasingly difficult for the average person to tell the difference. This is why it’s always advisable to buy from a reputable source that offers professional authentication.

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What is SNKRDUNK Lab?

As a leader in the industry, our lab is dedicated to tackling the social and economic problems caused by counterfeit goods. We aim to improve authentication technology and raise awareness about fakes by strengthening our partnerships with domestic and international experts and research institutions. By combining technology, data, and human expertise, we are creating the future standard for what is authentic.

Our Main Activities

Investigating and Researching Counterfeit Goods
SNKRDUNK currently maintains an authentication accuracy rate of 99.97%. We will continue to conduct research and investigations, utilizing Japan’s largest database of counterfeit products to stay ahead of the curve.

Improving Our Authentication Technology
By introducing and researching various tools, including X-ray, infrared, and microscopes, we are enhancing our technology to ensure we can authenticate every single item.

Communicating for Public Awareness
We will regularly publish market reports based on our partnerships with external organizations and experts, as well as on insights and research findings gathered from the field.

Read more about SNKRDUNK Lab here.

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