How Louis Vuitton date codes work:
a complete guide
Anyone who buys a vintage Louis Vuitton bag will almost always come across them: date codes. These codes are often hidden inside your purse. These date code give you more insight into where and when an item was made. But what do they actually mean, and how do you read them correctly?
What is a Louis Vuitton date code
A Louis Vuitton date code is a combination of letters and numbers that shows where and when an item was produced. It is not a serial number and not a unique identification number. This means that multiple bags can share the same date code. Keep in mind that counterfeit/fake bags may sometimes also have correct date codes.
Important to know:
- Louis Vuitton has used date codes since the 1980s
- The structure of the code has changed several times over the years
- A date code is not proof of authenticity on its own
Where can you find the date code?
The location of the date code differs per model. On older vintage Louis Vuitton bags, the date code can sometimes be faded or hard to read. This is normal for items that have been used for many years. You can often find the date code:
- On a leather tag inside the bag
- Along a seam
- In a corner or fold of the purse
- Behind an interior pocket
Does every Louis Vuitton bag have a date code?
Not every Louis Vuitton bag has a date code. Louis Vuitton started adding date codes around 1982, but stopped in March 2021. Since then, Louis Vuitton no longer uses date codes and instead uses microchips (RFID) embedded in the purse. These chips are invisible and can only be read by Louis Vuitton. They contain information about the country of production, the production date, and internal sales data.
Why are some date codes missing?
It can happen that a Louis Vuitton bag does not have a visible date code. This does not automatically mean the bag is not authentic. Possible reasons are that the code has faded due to use, the code is placed in a hard-to-find location, the item was produced before 1980 or after 2021 and contains a microchip.
Louis Vuitton country codes
The letters in the date code refer to the atelier where the item was made. Louis Vuitton produces many items in France, even when a model is sold worldwide.
How do you read a Louis Vuitton date code?
The structure of the date code depends on the year of production. Want to check a date code quickly? You can take a look at the Louis Vuitton Authenticator. We’ll walk you through the date codes.
Date Codes Examples and Meanings
Date codes of Louis Vuitton are stamped inside a bag or on a label. Below, you’ll find a few examples to show how date codes can be read and what they can tell you about an item’s origin and age.
Examples of Date Code Locations in Louis Vuitton Bags
SPEEDY
CROISSANT
KEEPALL
POCHETTE ACCESSOIRES
NOÉ
TROCADERO
JEUNE FILLE
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Buying vintage Louis Vuitton at Pepper Luxury Vintage
At Pepper Luxury Vintage, we only select items that meet our quality and authenticity standards. Whether it’s a Speedy, Noé, or any other Louis Vuitton bag, every bag is carefully inspected.
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