These are good quality ties for the price - just enough for a suit to be worn by people who aren't looking too closely. However, if you're looking for authenticity, shell out and buy Cinereplicas (five times the price, but definitely). As other reviewers have said, they are 0.4 inches thinner than real copies and they shine. I didn't mind that part - I bought them for kids anyway, so thinner meant the right size. However, the Ravenclaw tie shown in the photo as blue with white stripes turned out to be blue with silver stripes (silver like Slytherin's). The birthday girl thinks she's a Ravenclaw, so that's a real problem, but I don't have time to return her and get something else. Very disappointed.