Have you ever poked around the interior of your Louis Vuitton handbag and come across a discreetly placed combination of letters and numbers? Would it surprise you to discover that they hold a significant meaning? The Louis Vuitton date code has been incorporated into every bag since the early 1980s.
WHAT IS A DATE CODE?
Louis Vuitton utilizes date codes instead of serial numbers to identify their items. These codes are not unique to individual items, but rather serve to indicate the manufacturing date and location. Examining the date code in a Louis Vuitton item can assist in authentication.
However, it is important to note that the presence of a date code does not guarantee the bag’s authenticity, as counterfeit items often feature (fake) date codes as well.
However, it is still an important factor and you should always check if the country code of the date code matches the :“made-in” stamp, inside of the bag (if this is not the case, the item is definitely fake.) Authentic Louis Vuitton items always have a date code set in a font specific to Louis Vuitton.
HOW TO FIND THE LV DATE CODE
The date code is commonly imprinted on a leather tab that is sewn along a seam within the bag’s interior. In the case of leather tabs, the color of the leather should correspond to the rest of the bag. While the location of date codes may vary among different bags, specific styles tend to have consistent placements for the date code.
On a leather tab stitched into the edge of an interior pocket.
The underside of an interior leather tab on a D-ring attached.
Directly on the lining of the piece, usually on the interior edge of a pocket, either horizontal or vertical.
Underneath the hanging pocket (on Speedy and Neverfull bags
For bags with an Alcantara lining (a soft, microsuede) the date code will be stamped directly onto the lining. The code often fades over time making it in many cases nearly impossible to distinguish with the naked eye.
For wallets or small leather goods, the date code will be stamped inside the item, usually along a side seam in the billfold or slip pocket.
