Louis Vuitton Serial Numbers or Date Codes?
The code on your Louis Vuitton (LV) bag is not a serial number, but instead a date code. Since the early 1980s, Louis Vuitton have included date codes on the interior of their handbags. These codes represent the manufacturing location and date for the handbag and are not used as a method of authentication.
The date codes on Louis Vuitton bags consist of both letters and numbers. The letters help identify where the bag was manufactured, whilst the numbers indicate what date the bag was produced. Depending on the year of production, the numbers may represent a year, month, or calendar week of production.
Changes to Louis Vuitton Date Codes Over Time
1980s: In the 1980s Louis Vuitton introduced date codes. These codes consisted of 3 or 4 numbers. The first two numbers represented the year and the last number(s) represent the month of production.
e.g. 821 = January 1982 | e.g. 8211 = November 1982
Towards the mid to end of 1980s Louis Vuitton begun releasing date codes with letters in too. These were longer date codes with 3 to 4 numbers followed by two letters. Similar to above, the numbers presented the month and year, which the letters represented the country of manufacturing.
e.g. 821SA = January 1982, France | 8211BC = November 1982, Italy
Read our blog on 'Understanding Louis Vuitton Factory Location Codes (on Louis Vuitton bags)' for more information about the meaning of the letters on your authentic Louis Vuitton Bag.
1990-2006: Date codes during this period were comprised of two letters followed by four numbers. The two letters presented the country of manufacture, the first and third number represented the month, and the second and fourth numbers represented the year. Confusing, right?
e.g. TH0095 = France, September 2005
From 2007 to 2021
More recently, the date codes on Louis Vuitton bags have two letters followed by four numbers. The letters represent the country of manufacture, whilst the first and third numbers represent the week of the year, whilst the second and forth numbers represent the year of production.
e.g. SL1059 = France, 15th week of 2009
From 2021:
Since 2021, Louis Vuitton have removed date codes from many of their bags and have replaced these with microchips. The primary aim of this was to tackle counterfeits – as these microchips are invisible to the naked eye and can only be identified by scanning them in an official Louis Vuitton store.
Examples of Louis Vuitton Date Codes & Their Meaning
The location of the date code on your authentic Louis Vuitton bag will differ depending on the model and date of production. In general, date codes are usually found in the following places:
Inner Tab on Pocket of Lining:
Authenticated Louis Vuitton Alma Long Bag from Vintimié - click to purchase
Date code meaning: France, February 2002
Underside of Attachment:
Authenticated Vintage Louis Vuitton Josephine GM Grey Bag from Vintimié - click to purchase
Date code meaning: France, January 2002
Side Seam:
Authenticated Vintage Louis Vuitton Pochette Bag from Vintimié - click to purchase
Date code meaning: France, October 1999
Interior Leather Lining:
Authenticated Vintage Louis Vuitton Josephine PM Green Bag from Vintimié - click to purchase
Date code meaning: France, November 2002
Particularly with Louis Vuitton bags made from patent leather, for example Louis Vuitton’s Vernis Wiltshire bags, the date codes can be very hard to locate and/or read as they are commonly located on the interior patent leather and hidden in the natural folds and edges of the bag.
Edges of Patent Leather:
Authenticated Louis Vuitton Wiltshire Vernis Bag from Vintimié - click to purchase
Date code meaning: France, 23rd week of 2009
Authentic Louis Vuitton Bag with no date code?
Remember, a Louis Vuitton date code alone cannot be used to authenticate a Louis Vuitton piece. Like most vintage designer handbags, general wear and tear over an extended period of time can result in the linings of authentic Louis Vuitton bags deteriorating to a point where the date codes are hard to read or have disappeared altogether.
Summary
The date codes on Louis Vuitton bags have evolved overtime, from originally being just numbers to being a combination of both numbers and letters. Because of this, several bags may have the same date code as each other and this is totally normal.
Whilst Louis Vuitton date codes should not be used as a method of authentication alone (especially for second hand Louis Vuitton bags), they can help determine the background and origin of your beloved Louis Vuitton purchase.
We guarantee the authenticity of all Louis Vuitton pieces on Vintimié.
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Other related blogs: Understanding Louis Vuitton Factory Location Codes (on Louis Vuitton bags)