How to Spot a Fake / KAWS & BE@RBRICK
Authentication GuideHow to Spot a Fake KAWS or BE@RBRICK Figure
Designer figures are the most bootlegged category in collecting. This guide shows how to authenticate KAWS Companions and Medicom BE@RBRICK figures using original packaging, the MedicomToy / AllRightsReserved One COA standard, NFC chip data where present, scale, materials, and maker's marks.
Why figures are faked
KAWS Companions and 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, materials, scale, maker's marks, and — on newer releases — NFC verification against the One COA standard.
What an authentic figure 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.
One COA + NFC
Newer KAWS and BE@RBRICK releases ship under the MedicomToy / AllRightsReserved One COA standard, often with an NFC chip you can scan to verify against the authorized release record. Where present, the chip should resolve to the correct edition.
Correct scale
BE@RBRICK sizes are standardized — 100%, 400%, 1000% (and 70%) — with documented dimensions and weight. A figure that is the wrong height or feels too light/hollow for its size is suspect. KAWS Companions also have documented sizes per release.
Material & finish
Authentic figures have consistent vinyl density and weight, clean mold seams, even paint with no overspray, and sharp, correctly placed graphics. Bootlegs show light/hollow feel, rough seams, sloppy or misregistered paint, and dull or wrong-tone color.
Maker's marks
Look for the correct copyright/licensing stamps molded into the figure (MedicomToy, KAWS/AllRightsReserved, year), in the right location and typeface. Missing, misspelled, or wrongly placed stamps indicate an unauthorized copy.
Records & provenance
Edition numbers should cross-check against MedicomToy / AllRightsReserved release records. Gauntlet figures carry a verifiable record via TrueCOA alongside packaging and NFC where applicable.
Red flags
- No original box, or a box whose printing, fonts, or colors don't match a known authentic example.
- Missing NFC chip / certificate on a release that is documented to include one, or an NFC that doesn't resolve.
- Wrong height for the stated scale, or a figure that feels noticeably light or hollow.
- Rough mold seams, overspray, misregistered or dull paint, and soft or wrong-placed graphics.
- Missing, misspelled, or mislocated copyright/maker stamps.
- 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 documented dimensions.
- Inspect the box, tray, tags and any certificate booklet for correct printing and completeness.
- Scan the NFC where present and confirm it resolves to the correct edition (One COA).
- Check maker's marks / copyright stamps on the figure for spelling, placement, and year.
- Compare weight, paint, and seams to authentic references for that release.
- Cross-check the edition against Medicom/AllRightsReserved records and confirm provenance.
Frequently asked questions
Do all KAWS and BE@RBRICK figures have an NFC chip?
No. NFC verification under the One COA standard appears on newer releases. Older figures are authenticated through original packaging, materials, scale, maker's marks, and cross-referencing the edition against MedicomToy / AllRightsReserved 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 figure without its box typically trades 30–40% below a complete or sealed equivalent.
How do I spot a bootleg Companion?
Check weight and material density, mold seams, paint registration, and the copyright stamps. Bootlegs commonly feel light or hollow, show rough seams and sloppy or dull paint, and have missing, misspelled, or mislocated maker's marks. Wrong-looking packaging and a too-good price are corroborating tells.
How do I verify a figure I already own?
Confirm the release and scale, inspect the packaging and maker's marks, scan the NFC if the release includes one, and compare weight/paint to authentic references. If purchased from Gauntlet Gallery, verify the record via our TrueCOA lookup.
Buy designer figures with confidence
Every KAWS and BE@RBRICK figure at Gauntlet Gallery is verified against packaging, maker's marks, scale, and NFC/One COA where present.