Louis Vuitton Authentication Guide and Serial Numbers

We work with experts who have years of experience authenticating Louis Vuitton bags. And if you buy a Louis Vuitton bag from TBC Wholesale, you get immediate access to some of the best authenticators in the industry, but sometimes you need to do a quick check yourself. One of the fastest and easiest ways to verify whether your bag is authentic, or just a very good fake, is to compare the “date codes”.

But let’s start with a quick overview of other telltale signs.

Louis Vuitton Authentication

The iconic models to know

Before getting into the technical details, it is useful to know which model you are dealing with, as some checkpoints are specific to each line:

• Speedy: a soft cylindrical bag, one of the house’s most copied models.

• Neverfull: a soft tote with side pockets, with D-ring hardware on the interior pocket.

• Twist: a faceted clasp bearing the LV monogram, in gold or palladium-tone hardware.

The hot stamp

All authentic Louis Vuitton bags feature a hot stamp that can help with authentication. It usually reads “Louis Vuitton Paris”, but as the bags are made in many different countries, you may also find Italy, the United States, Spain or other countries. On an authentic LV bag, the L is noticeably smaller than the O, and the Ts almost appear to touch.

The stitching

The number of stitches should always be identical on the symmetrical parts of the bag. Experts know how to count the stitches and use them to tell whether it is a genuine bag. In addition, the stitching on a monogram bag is always slightly yellow on the trim and brown on the leather. Always check that the stitches are straight and even.

The hardware

Always check the hardware, such as zippers, zipper pulls, LV hardware on bags like the Twist, and the D-shaped hardware on the front of the Neverfull’s interior pocket.

The lining

The lining also deserves your attention. On monogram canvas bags, it is most often made from plain fabric in a matching color (beige, brown or burgundy depending on the line), securely fitted and without any LV pattern printed anywhere. A lower-quality, poorly fitted lining, or one in a color that does not match the one usually used for the model, is a classic sign of a counterfeit.

The leather trim

Take a close look at the leather bands running along the bag and handles. Made from Vachetta leather, these straps and trims will start to darken over time and take on a golden brown hue. If the leather has not aged over time, it is a good indication that the bag is fake.

Louis Vuitton date codes

All Louis Vuitton handbags from the 1980s onward have date codes printed somewhere on the bag. These are a combination of letters and numbers that identify where and when the bag was made. The letters in the date code correspond to the country where the bag was made, and the numbers correspond to the date. Bags made from March 1, 2021 onward are now fitted with electronic chips.

Many people also use this code to authenticate LV bags, since it is such a heavily counterfeited brand, but few people know how to decipher what the date code on their bags actually means. Here is what will help you understand what your bag’s code means.

The code format by period

If your bag predates 1980, it will not have a date code. For bags from the early 1980s, date codes consisted of three or four digits, with the first two indicating the year and the last digit or digits indicating the month.

Later in the 1980s, the date code consisted of three or four digits followed by two letters. Here, the first two digits indicate the year, the following digit or digits indicate the month, and the letters represent the manufacturing site (see the table below).

From 1990 to 2006, the date code changed slightly and now begins with two letters (again indicating the manufacturing site), followed by four digits. Here, the first and third digits represent the month, while the second and fourth digits indicate the year.

Finally, for a date code from 2007 onward, the first two letters still indicate the manufacturing site; however, the first and third digits now represent the week of the year, and the second and fourth digits indicate the year. For example, a model bearing the date code “RI0137” indicates that the bag came from a French factory (RI), made in the third week (03) of 2017 (17).

From March 1, 2021, Louis Vuitton gradually phased out stamped date codes in favor of discreet electronic chips, integrated into the lining and readable only in store. The absence of a date code on a recent bag is therefore no longer, on its own, a red flag.

Table of letters by manufacturing country

These letters are not exhaustive — Louis Vuitton has many workshops, and some letters are shared between several countries depending on the period — but here are the most common codes, for reference:

Essential checkpoint: the letters in the date code must always match the country of manufacture (“Made in…”) stamped on the bag’s label. For example, a code containing the letters BC (Italy) on a bag stamped “Made in France” is a near-certain sign of a counterfeit. Also keep in mind that a correctly formed date code is never enough on its own to guarantee authenticity — it is one clue to be cross-checked with the other checkpoints (leather, stitching, lining, hardware).

Before buying: the reflexes to have

• An abnormally low price is never, on its own, proof of a good deal — it is often the first warning sign.

• A good seller rating or positive reviews do not guarantee the authenticity of the item sold.

• Always compare the bag with official Louis Vuitton photos of the exact model before relying on your own impression alone.

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