On a real Louis Vuitton bag, the LV logo should be upside down on the back of the bag and right side up on the front. Additionally, look at the pattern on the bag and make sure it’s straight, even, and mirrored on both sides of the bag.
This should have a regional code that matches where the bag was made, such as MI, SD, or TH, which all represent regions in France. You can also check the date code located near the opening of the bag. If the stamp is missing or the logo doesn’t match those on authentic Louis Vuitton bags, it’s probably a fake. For example, a real Louis Vuitton purse should always include a stamp pressed directly into the leather that says “Louis Vuitton” and states where the bag was made. However, you may be able to spot a fake by looking at features like the stamps and the pattern on the bag. Love Louis Vuitton? Shop authentic Louis Vuitton along with all your other favorite designers at The Revury.With so many skillfully made fakes on the market, it can be hard to tell a fake Louis Vuitton purse from the real deal.
Want more? Check out our post on how to authenticate Louis Vuitton monogram bags here! The newest of its collection goes like this two letters, followed by four. The date codes are a rather new invention, and thus you won’t find date codes on vintage bags made before 1980.
There are a lot of good fakes out there, so watch out for things like dried glue or thin, weak or loose stitching. How can you tell if a Louis Vuitton bag is real Discover everything you need to know about Louis Vuitton Date Codes. Dare codes are another unique feature of Louis Vuitton merchandise, and these are different from the serial number categorizing that most brands follow. Therefore, any irregularities or inconsistencies in craftsmanship or quality is a telltale sign of a fake.
I've seen counterfeits try to pass off Serial Numbers as Date Codes, so be sure to educate yourself on how to spot the difference between the two!Īll Louis Vuitton products are hand crafted at one of the brand's authorized factories. Here's the rule: A Louis Vuitton bracelet can have a Date Code and no Serial Number, BUT if there's a Serial Number and no Date Code, then the product is FAKE.ĭon't confuse the logic. In the mid-80s, Louis Vuitton started using letters in the date codes. The first two numbers show the year, and the last one or two numbers show the month. Notice below that SD could imply the bag came from France or the USA (San Dimas). Louis Vuitton started using 3- or 4-digit codes to indicate the year and month in which the item was manufactured. Not all Louis Vuitton bracelets have a serial number, but if they do it'll start with one letter (usually 'M'), followed by four or five digits. All modern Louis Vuitton handbags (and many other of their products) will have a two digit country code. For example, there are only 52 weeks in a year, therefore, if you know the product was made in 2019, like the example above, then the first digit cannot be a 6 or higher because there is no such thing as a 60th week in the year!
Most counterfeiters do not cross-reference the formula to make sure the factory code matches the 'Made In _' noted on the product, or will have numbers that are not feasible given the parameters of the formula. View our link here to our past post on how unscramble the Louis Vuitton Date Code.Īlways be mindful to decipher the Date Code to ensure it makes sense based on the purported year and factory. Now, the Date Code is a combination of letters and numbers, the former indicating what country the bag was made in and the latter indicating the week and year. At its inception, during the early 1980's, the Date Code comprised of only numbers.
The Louis Vuitton Date Code has changed several times over the years. Beware any painted on copycats – those are certainly counterfeit. Louis Vuitton began using the Date Code back in the early 1980's, therefore, omission of the Date Code means the product was either: (a) made in 1980 or earlier, OR (b) is fake (which is more likely the case).ĭate Codes are either heat stamped into the leather or etched into the hardware. A date code on a Louis Vuitton bag is the marker of where the bag was manufactured (the first two letters), the week of manufacture (the first and third numbers) and the year of manufacture (the second and fourth numbers). Inspect for any irregularities, inconsistencies or signs of poor craftsmanshipĪll Louis Vuitton bracelets contain a Date Code used to authenticate the product. Check for a Serial Number (if any, not all have one)ģ.
How to authenticate Louis Vuitton bracelets:Ģ.