A Guide to Louis Vuitton Date Codes

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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.

HOW TO READ DATE CODES

Louis Vuitton’s date codes are a combination of letters and numbers. The letters indicate the country where the item was made while the numbers indicate the month/year of the production date.

Vintage: Vintage Louis Vuitton items (pre-1980) do not have date codes, and on some old materials, the date codes may have faded out or it will be too blurry to see.

1980s – 1990s: Beginning in 1982, Louis Vuitton added codes to every item to indicate when and where it was made. During this time, the date code format changed regularly. In the early 1980s, date codes were only three or four numbers. The first two numbers represent the year, and the last number represents the month.

Example date code: 844

Date code decoded: made in April 1984

In the mid-to-late 1980s, date codes were three or four numbers followed by two letters. The first two numbers represent the year, and the last numbers represent the month. The two letters, appearing for the first time, identify the factory and country where the bag was manufactured.

Example date code: 882 VI

Date code decoded: 88 = 1988, 2 = February, VI = France

1990 – 2006: The first two letters indicate the factory location. The first and third numbers represent the month and the second and last number represents the year.

Example date code: SP0065

Date code decoded: SP = France, 06 = 6th month, 05 = 2005

LOUIS VUITTON FACTORY LOCATION CODES

As a part of every Louis Vuitton date code, there will be two letters to indicate where the item was made. The date code prefix will match the “Made in (country)” heat stamp found stamped below the Louis Vuitton logo.

Made in France: A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS, AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, DR, DU, CO, CT, ET, FL, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SD, SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TJ, TH, TR, TS, VI, VX

made in Italy: BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, RC, RE, SA, TD

made in Spain: CA, GI, LO, LB, LM, LW

made in U.S.A: FC, FH, FL, LA, OS, SD

made in Switzerland: DI, FA

made in Germany: LP, OL

Check your LV date code

SHOP MY COLLECTION

At Vilma’s Vault, we understand the importance of authenticity when it comes to luxury goods. That’s why we offer a comprehensive authentication service to ensure that all of the items in our collection are authentic and of the highest quality

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