Louis Vuitton Authentication Guide & Date Codes
Authentication Reference
How to Authenticate a Louis Vuitton Handbag
From the historic date-code system to the modern embedded microchip — a complete guide to reading manufacturing marks, factory codes, and the craftsmanship details that reveal a genuine Louis Vuitton.
New Since 2021
The Microchip Era
Louis Vuitton has fundamentally changed how its products are identified — moving away from the printed date code entirely.
RFID Microchips Replace Date Codes
From 1 March 2021, Louis Vuitton began embedding a small RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) microchip inside its products and phasing out the printed date code. Some pieces produced in 2021 may still carry a date code, but by 2022 the great majority had transitioned to the chip. The microchip is hidden within the lining or a seam and is invisible from the outside.
Important · The chip can only be read by Louis Vuitton's own equipment — buyers cannot self-verify a bag using the chip alone, so craftsmanship checks remain essential
What This Means for Authentication
Because the chip is not consumer-readable, authenticating a modern Louis Vuitton relies on the same fundamentals as always: the precision of the heat stamp, the quality and alignment of the canvas, the weight and finish of the hardware, and the regularity of the stitching. For bags made before 2021, the date code below remains the key reference.
Section I
Understanding Date Codes
Contrary to popular belief, Louis Vuitton handbags do not carry serial numbers. Instead they were given a date code identifying where and when the item was made.
What a Date Code Is
Location & Manufacturing Marks
Louis Vuitton handbags (excluding luggage and rare limited-edition pieces) do not have serial numbers. Rather, they have a "date code" stamped on an interior tab or directly into the lining. A date code identifies the manufacturing location and date — it is not in itself proof of authenticity, but its format must be correct for the era. With the exception of early pieces (early 1980s and older), a date code can be found on virtually every Louis Vuitton item, including sunglasses.
Most date codes combine letters and numbers: the letters indicate the country of manufacture, while the numbers indicate the production date.
Section II
Date Code Formats by Era
The structure of the date code changed several times. Match the format to the period the bag is claimed to be from.
| Manufacturing Period | Format |
|---|---|
| Pre-1980s | No date codes. |
| Early 1980s | Three or four numbers — the first two are the year, the last one or two are the month. E.g. "836" = June 1983. |
| Early–late 1980s | Three or four numbers followed by two letters: numbers as above, last two letters = country. E.g. "874VX" = April 1987, made in France. Late in the decade the factory letters moved before the numbers. |
| 1990–2006 | Two letters then four numbers. Letters = factory; 1st & 3rd numbers = month; 2nd & 4th = year. E.g. "VI1025" = France, December 2005. |
| 2007 – Feb 2021 | Two letters then four numbers. Letters = factory; 1st & 3rd numbers = week of the year; 2nd & 4th = year. E.g. "SD2057" = USA, 25th week of 2007. |
| Mar 2021 onward | Microchip No printed date code — replaced by an embedded RFID microchip. |
Authentic Bags With No Date Code?
Authentic Louis Vuitton handbags with Alcantara (suede) linings may have date codes that are very faint or have worn away altogether. This is common on older bags, or where a lining has been cleaned or replaced. A missing or faded code does not on its own mean a bag is fake.
Section III
Factory Location Codes
The two letters in a date code identify the country of manufacture. The list below is a reference of common codes — it is not exhaustive, and some letter pairs are shared across countries.
| Country | Factory Letter Codes |
|---|---|
| France | A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS (special order), AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, DR, DU, DT, CO, CT, CX, ET, FL, LA, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SA, SD, SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TA, TJ, TH, TN, TR, TS, VI, VX |
| Germany | LP, OL |
| Italy | BC, BO, CE, FN, FO, MA, NZ, OB, PL, RC, RE, SA, TD |
| Spain | BC, CA, LO, LB, LM, LW, GI, UB |
| Switzerland | DI, FA |
| USA | FC, FH, LA, OS, SD, FL, TX |
Section IV
The Heat Stamp
Beyond the date code, the brand heat stamp is one of the most reliable tells. Look closely at the lettering.
Lettering
Crisp, Even & Rounded
The "LOUIS VUITTON" stamp should be clean and evenly impressed, with thin, sharp, perfectly rounded letterforms. The Os are noticeably round — almost circular — and the Ts in "VUITTON" sit close together with their tops nearly touching. The registered-trademark "®" is small and neat. Counterfeits often use thicker, more crowded, or unevenly heated lettering.
Section V
Materials & Hardware
Genuine Louis Vuitton craftsmanship shows in the canvas alignment, the stitching, and the weight of the metal.
Canvas & Stitching
Symmetry & Tonal Thread
On most symmetrical styles the monogram or Damier pattern is positioned so the canvas mirrors neatly across the central seam, and logos are not awkwardly cut off. Stitching is even and consistent, traditionally in a slightly mustard-yellow tonal thread on monogram canvas, with the same stitch count repeated on matching panels.
Hardware
Weight & Engraving
Authentic hardware is solid and substantial — zipper pulls, lock plates, and feet feel weighty for their size. Gold-tone hardware is warm and even and should not flake or discolour. Engraved "Louis Vuitton" lettering on zippers and lock plates is crisp and evenly spaced. Lightweight, hollow-feeling, or roughly engraved metal is a warning sign.
Knowledge Is Your Best Protection
No single mark proves authenticity on its own — and from 2021 the date code is gone entirely. Read the full picture: the format of any date code, the precision of the heat stamp, the symmetry of the canvas, and the weight of the hardware. When in doubt, let Glampot's authentication team take a look.
