Jordan 1 Obsidian UNC Real vs Fake
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To tell a Jordan 1 Obsidian real vs fake, confirm you have the 2019 High OG (style code 555088-140), then check the shape, the Swoosh, the Wings logo, the toe box, the heel, the tongue and size tags, the underside of the insole, the stitching beneath it and the box label. Compare every detail with a confirmed genuine Obsidian High in the same size.
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG "Obsidian", often called the Obsidian UNC, pairs a Sail leather base with Obsidian navy overlays and University Blue on the ankle and heel. Fakes of it are common, and the best ones look right at a glance, so the real and fake photos below show what to compare up close. Our general guide on how to spot fake Jordan 1s covers the checks that every pair shares.
Table of Contents
[ open ]Which Obsidian Jordan 1 Do You Have?
Several Jordan 1s use the Obsidian and University Blue colours. They are different shoes with different shapes, tags and codes, so start by reading the style code on the size tag or the box label.
| Pair | Style code and release | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG "Obsidian" | 555088-140, 31 August 2019, $160 at retail | Sail/Obsidian-University Blue. The pair in this guide's photos |
| Air Jordan 1 Low OG "Obsidian UNC" | CZ0790-400, 29 March 2025, $140 at retail | A low-top, released a week later than first planned. Compare it only with a genuine Low |
Mid versions in similar colours exist too, and they are a separate line with their own codes. This guide covers the High OG only. The Obsidian is also often confused with the white and blue Jordan 1 University Blue from 2021 (555088-134) and with the Off-White Jordan 1 UNC, which have their own guides.
Inspect the Overall Shape and Structure
Start with the whole shoe from the side, unworn and without a foot inside. Look at the curve of the toe box, which should rise gently rather than run flat, and at the proportions of the panels. Compare with a genuine pair in the same size, because proportions change slightly across the size run.
The fake in the comparison below was a lighter blue than the authentic pair, but do not decide on colour. University Blue looks different under every light and camera, and leather fades with wear, so shade is never a reliable tell.
Examine the Inner Swoosh Design
Next, look at the Swoosh on the inner side of the shoe. On the authentic pair we compared, the tip of the Swoosh is sharp and pointed. On the fake, the Swoosh looks bulkier and the point is softer. Check its position as well: it should sit at the same height and angle as on a genuine pair of the same size.
Leather grain also differs between batches and between parts of the hide, so use the Swoosh shape, not the grain, as the check. The same Swoosh comparison is shown on the Jordan 1 Shadow 2.0.
Check the Air Jordan Wings Logo
Counterfeiters have become good at the Wings logo on the ankle flap, so the differences are small. Zoom in on the "AIR JORDAN" lettering. On the fake we compared, the letters are thicker and fuzzier at the edges, while the ™ symbol is about the same weight as on the authentic pair. The spacing differs too, especially around the line dividers of the wings: on the authentic pair these elements sit closer together.
Judge the logo by the shape of the letters, the spacing and how crisp and even the stamp is across the whole logo. Do not judge it by how glossy or dull it looks, because finish changes with light, wear and cleaning.
Focus on the Toe Box Shape and Stitching
Look at the toe box from above. The genuine pair has a defined double line of stitching around the toe box, set a little away from its top edge. On a fake the stitching can differ in spacing or sit too close to the edge.
Then compare the shape. On the pair we compared, the authentic toe box is slightly longer and slimmer. Check the perforations too: they should be even in size and spacing across the toe box. Genuine holes are not reliably larger or smaller than fake ones, so look for irregular holes, not a particular size.
Look at the Heel From Behind
Seen from behind, most genuine Jordan 1 Highs narrow slightly in the middle and flare at the top and bottom, the shape often called the hourglass. In the comparison below, the fake heel looks almost straight. Check that the heel is symmetrical and that the heel tab sits centred.
The depth of the hourglass varies by release and factory, and some genuine heels are closer to a straight funnel. Use the heel only against a genuine Obsidian High in the same size, and look at it unworn and unstuffed. The same check is shown on the Jordan 1 Fearless UNC to Chicago.
Check the Details on the Tongue Tag
Turn to the tag on the back of the tongue, which carries the Nike trademark text in English and French and the country of manufacture. On the fake we compared, the text is vaguer and the letters are slimmer, which makes some words hard to read. It shows most in "MADE IN CHINA" and in the "SWOOSH®" lines.
Compare print sharpness and spacing, not weight alone, because print weight varies between factories and printers. A genuine tag from the same release is the only fair reference.
If the pair has a Nike Air tongue label, one of the things an authenticator compares is the ® after NIKE AIR. On fake Jordan 1 Highs, the R often touches the circle around it or ends in small hooks, while the genuine R stands clear. Compare it only with a genuine label from the same release.
Analyze the Size Tag
The size tag sewn inside the tongue or collar is the busiest label on a pair of Jordans. It shows the size in several systems, the country of manufacture, the style code, a UPC barcode, a short factory code and two dates. Nike has never said what the two dates mean. They are often read as the production window, but that is not confirmed, so treat them only as a rough check that they suit the release. Tags printed from around 2019 often add a QR code, and many genuine older tags have a barcode only. Counterfeiters copy genuine tags field by field, so a tag that agrees with itself shows the label is consistent, not that the shoes are real.
On the Obsidian High the tag should read 555088-140. In the photo below, both tags print the style code, the factory code XC, "Made in China" and a QR code, so the fields alone do not separate them. The pairs are also different sizes, which is why their UPCs differ. The difference is in the print: on the authentic tag we compared, the font is slightly larger and more pronounced, especially the XC at the top right, and the letters sit a little closer together.
The dates should be plausible for the August 2019 release. Fakes often copy a genuine tag, dates included, so correct dates prove nothing. A different factory code from the one in our photo is not a fake sign on its own, because one colorway can come from more than one factory.
Code checks that can expose a fake Jordan 1 Obsidian
No code can prove a pair is real, but these checks can expose a fake label:
- The barcode belongs to 555088-140. The 14-digit number after "UPC" on the tag is Nike's barcode for one style code in one size. A fake label can carry a real Nike barcode that belongs to another colorway or size, and it still scans. An authenticator checks that the barcode is Nike's number for 555088-140 in the size printed beside it.
- The tag and the box agree. The box label prints the same barcode with one leading zero instead of two, plus a small two-digit add-on. Ignore the zeros and the add-on, and the digits should match the tag. A mismatch is a question for the seller, not proof, because genuine pairs end up in other boxes.
- The QR code uses Nike's alphabet. The 13 characters printed beside the QR use the digits 0 to 9 and every letter except I, L, O and U. Nike's own QR server rejects any code that contains one of those four letters, and a fake tag can print them. A well-formed code proves nothing, because qr.nike.com sends every well-formed code, even an invented one, to the same Nike page and shows no result.
- The dates fit the release. On the genuine Jordan tags we have read, both dates fell before the release, the later one by two to five months. A first date after the August 2019 release is a reason to ask whether the pair is a restock, not proof of a fake. Some fakes copy genuine dates exactly, so plausible dates prove nothing either.
- The patent line is spelled right. Recent Nike tags end with "This product is covered by one or more patents: www.nike.com/patentsvirtualmarking". A misspelled line or a different address is one of the things an authenticator compares. Older tags may not carry the line at all.
You can type the style code, the barcode and the QR code into our free Nike and Jordan code checker to run the format and match checks, and our guide to what a Nike QR code and UPC can show explains each code in full.
Evaluate the Glue Pattern on the Backside of the Insole
Take out the insole and look at its underside. On the genuine pair we compared, the glue runs in even horizontal stripes along the length of the insole. On the fake, the stripes run diagonally and cover only part of the insole.
Glue patterns vary by factory and batch, and other genuine Jordan 1s show thinner lines or partial coverage, so compare with a genuine Obsidian of the same release rather than treating one direction as the rule. Ignore the shade of the foam, which changes with the light and with age.
Inspect the Stitching Under the Insole
With the insole out, look at the board inside the shoe and the zigzag stitching around its edge, where the upper is sewn to the midsole board. Authenticators use this area because it is hidden and harder to copy well. Compare the length and density of the stitches and how evenly they run around the toe and the sides.
Compare how even the stitches are, not how dense they look. Notice that the authentic pair also shows loose threads and tape inside the shoe. These are normal on genuine Jordans, so loose threads or a bit of glue alone do not make a pair fake. Look at the stitch pattern as a whole.
Read Next: How To Spot Fake Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard
Check the Box and Box Label
The label on the end of a Jordan box repeats the shoe's details: the model name, the style code, the size, the colorway and a UPC barcode, and recent labels add a QR code. On a genuine pair in its own box, the UPC on the label matches the one on the size tag, while the box QR carries a different code from the tag QR. A second barcode sticker from a resale platform is normal, and so is a regional label on pairs sold in Asia. Box labels are the easiest part to reprint, so compare fonts and spacing only against a genuine box from the same release. A missing or replacement box is not a sign of a fake.
On the Obsidian High the label should read 555088-140 and match the size on the tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell if Jordan 1 Obsidians are fake?
Check the style code (555088-140 for the High), then the Swoosh shape, the Wings logo lettering, the toe box, the heel from behind, the tongue and size tag print, the insole underside and the stitching beneath it. No single detail settles it. Look for a pattern of differences against a genuine pair of the same size.
Is the Jordan 1 Low Obsidian checked the same way?
Only in general. The Low OG "Obsidian UNC" (CZ0790-400, 2025) is a different shoe with a different shape, tag and box, so compare it only with a genuine Low. The heel and toe box checks in this guide are for the High.
What is the difference between the Obsidian and University Blue Jordan 1?
The Obsidian (555088-140, 2019) has a Sail base with navy Obsidian overlays and University Blue on the ankle and heel. The University Blue (555088-134, 2021) has a white base with University Blue overlays and black details. See our Jordan 1 University Blue real vs fake guide for that pair.
What style code should a Jordan 1 High Obsidian have?
555088-140, on both the size tag and the box label. The code is shared by every pair of the release, so it confirms the label, not the shoes.
Are Jordan 1 Obsidians made in China?
The genuine and fake pairs in our photos both say Made in China, so the country proves nothing alone. Jordans are made in several countries, and our guide on where Jordans are made explains what the country of manufacture can and cannot show.
Get Your Jordan 1 Obsidian UNC Checked
If you are still unsure after these checks, send clear photos of both sides of each shoe, the Wings logo, the toe box from above, the heel from behind, the tongue tag, the size tags, the underside of the insole, the stitching under the insole and the box label. LegitGrails authenticates Jordan from photos you upload, with results in under 30 minutes and a digital certificate with every order.
If your Jordan 1 Obsidian fails any of these steps, send photos to our Jordan authentication service.
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