How to Spot a Fake / BE@RBRICK
Authentication GuideHow to Spot a Fake BE@RBRICK Figure
Medicom BE@RBRICK figures are one of the most bootlegged categories in collecting. This guide shows how to authenticate a BE@RBRICK using its original packaging, the Medicom color-shift hologram, standardized scale and correct weight, the molded foot stamps, clean seams and paint, and NFC / One COA data where present.
Why BE@RBRICKs are faked
BE@RBRICK figures are produced in factory runs, which makes them a prime target for unauthorized factory copies ("bootlegs"), genuine figures sold without their original packaging (which strips a primary authentication marker and 30–40% of value), and mismatched box-and-figure pairings. Authentication here is physical: packaging, the Medicom hologram, standardized scale and weight, molded foot stamps, and — on newer releases — NFC verification against the One COA standard.
What an authentic BE@RBRICK looks like
Original packaging
Sealed or complete box with the correct inner tray, hang tags, and any certificate booklet. Real boxes have crisp printing, correct fonts, accurate color, and proper licensing marks. Blurry print, wrong fonts, off colors, or a missing/replaced box are major red flags — packaging is a primary authenticator and value driver.
Medicom hologram
Authentic BE@RBRICKs carry a Medicom color-shift hologram that changes tone as you tilt it, printed cleanly and placed correctly. A flat, static, blurry, or misplaced hologram — or none at all where one is expected — is a strong indicator of a bootleg.
Standardized scale & weight
BE@RBRICK sizes are standardized: 100% = 7cm, 400% = 28cm, 1000% = 70cm. Measure the figure against its stated percentage. Correct weight for the size matters too — a figure that feels too light or hollow for its scale is suspect.
Seams & paint
Authentic figures have clean mold seams, even paint with no overspray, and sharp, correctly placed graphics. Bootlegs show rough seams, sloppy or misregistered paint, dull or wrong-tone color, and soft graphics.
Foot stamps
Look for the correct copyright and maker stamps molded into the feet — MEDICOM TOY, the copyright year, and MADE IN CHINA — in the right location and typeface. Missing, misspelled, or wrongly placed stamps indicate an unauthorized copy.
Records & provenance
Edition numbers should cross-check against Medicom release records. Gauntlet figures carry a verifiable record via our COA alongside packaging, hologram, and NFC where applicable.
Red flags
- No original box, or a box whose printing, fonts, or colors don't match a known authentic example.
- A flat, static, blurry, or missing Medicom hologram where one is expected.
- Wrong height for the stated scale (100%=7cm, 400%=28cm, 1000%=70cm), or a figure that feels light or hollow.
- Rough mold seams, overspray, misregistered or dull paint, and soft or wrong-placed graphics.
- Missing, misspelled, or mislocated foot stamps (MEDICOM TOY, copyright year, MADE IN CHINA).
- A price far below market for a "sealed" or "rare" release — the classic bootleg tell.
Step-by-step verification checklist
- Identify the exact release and scale (e.g. BE@RBRICK 400%+100% set) and its standardized dimensions.
- Inspect the box, tray, tags and any certificate booklet for correct printing and completeness.
- Check the Medicom hologram for the color-shift effect, clean print, and correct placement.
- Measure height against the standardized scale (100%=7cm, 400%=28cm, 1000%=70cm) and confirm the weight isn't light or hollow.
- Check the molded foot stamps (MEDICOM TOY, copyright year, MADE IN CHINA) for spelling, placement, and typeface.
- Scan the NFC where present (One COA), then cross-check the edition against Medicom records and confirm provenance.
Frequently asked questions
Do all BE@RBRICK figures have an NFC chip?
No. NFC verification under the One COA standard appears on newer releases. Older BE@RBRICKs are authenticated through original packaging, the Medicom hologram, standardized scale and weight, molded foot stamps, and cross-referencing the edition against Medicom records. Absence of NFC on an older release is normal; absence on a release documented to include it is a red flag.
Why does the original box matter so much?
For designer figures, the original packaging — outer box, inner tray, hang tags, seals, and any certificate booklet — is both a primary authentication marker and a major value component. A genuine BE@RBRICK without its box typically trades 30–40% below a complete or sealed equivalent.
How do I check a BE@RBRICK's scale?
BE@RBRICK sizes are standardized: 100% = 7cm, 400% = 28cm, and 1000% = 70cm. Measure the figure and match it to its stated percentage, then confirm the weight is right for the size — a figure that feels too light or hollow for its scale is suspect.
How do I spot a bootleg BE@RBRICK?
Check the Medicom color-shift hologram, the molded foot stamps (MEDICOM TOY, copyright year, MADE IN CHINA), mold seams, and paint registration. Bootlegs commonly feel light or hollow, show a flat or missing hologram, rough seams, and sloppy paint, and have missing, misspelled, or mislocated foot stamps. Wrong-looking packaging and a too-good price are corroborating tells.
How do I verify a BE@RBRICK I already own?
Confirm the release and scale, inspect the packaging, hologram, and foot stamps, scan the NFC if the release includes one, and compare weight and paint to authentic references. If purchased from Gauntlet Gallery, verify the record via our COA lookup.
Buy BE@RBRICK with confidence
Every BE@RBRICK at Gauntlet Gallery is verified against packaging, the Medicom hologram, foot stamps, standardized scale, and NFC/One COA where present.