Authentic Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes date code guide

LOUIS VUITTON DATE CODE GUIDE
Louis Vuitton date codes or authenticity codes began appearing after the 1980's. Vintage Louis Vuitton manufactures prior to 1980 would not have any date codes, and can only be verified as authentic by looking at various factors: evaluating when the style was introduced, looking at the exterior leather, inspecting the lining/stitches etc..
Below is the table of the date codes used by Louis Vuitton on their products, which can be interpreted according to

1. 1. Date the product was manufactured
2. 2. Location of the manufactured product

Other methods of determining the authenticity of the Louis Vuitton product will be where the code is located for that particular item and the apperance of the code. For example, they can appear either on:

• - separate leather tab that stick out of the inner lining with the code embedded
• - directly embossed on the inner lining and close to the inside seam of the product
• - directly embossed on the under side of the D-ring (typical of Speedy)
• - directly embossed on Alcantara lining (suede material on inside of Epi leather bags)
• - stamped on the inside lining close of the seam of canvas leather lined bags (usually in an offset dark color)

Note: Fake bag manufacturers are getting better at replicating the authentic products so it is important to always evaluate the exterior, interior, grommets, hardware, lining etc.. as date codes can be easily replicated. However, fake bag manufacturers do not focus on quality made products and easily forget to include specific details as they typically mass produce their items.

Date Code	Description
Early 80's	3 or 4 digit date codes, representing the month and year that the product was manfuctured.
Late 80's	3 or 4 digit date codes (as above) followed by two letters representing the location that the product was manufactured.
1990-2006	First two letters represent the location that the product was manufactures. Followed by four numbers: - First / Third number = Month - Second / Fourth number = Year
2007-onwards	First two letters represent location Followed by four numbers: - First / Third number = Week - Second / Fourth number = Year
Locations	Letter Abbreviations
France	A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS (Special Order), AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, DU, CO, CT, ET, FL, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SD, SL, SN, SP, SR, TH, TR, VI, VX
Germany	LP
Italy	BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, RC, RE, SA, TD
Spain	CA, LO, LB, LM, LW
Switzerland	DI, FA
USA	FC, FH, LA, OS, SD, FL

CHANEL DATE CODE GUIDE

Chanel will typically have an interior hologram sticker with date codes that correspond to the year of manufacturer, as well as "slashes" on the number zero corresponding to the particular year of manufactured and feet or font serifs on the number one.
Note: Hologram stickers do fall off on occassion and the lack of a sticker does not mean that the bag is not authentic.

Serial Number	Year Manufactured	Number labels
14XXXXXX	2011	zero strikethrough, 1 in serif font
13XXXXXX	2009-2010	zero strikethrough, 1 in serif font
12XXXXXX	2008-2009	zero strikethrough, 1 in serif font
11XXXXXX	2007-2008	zero strikethrough, 1 in serif font
10XXXXXX	2006-2007	zero strikethrough, 1 in serif font
9XXXXXX	2005-2006	zero strikethrough, 1 in serif font
8XXXXXX	2004-2005	zero strikethrough, 1 in serif font
7XXXXXX	2003-2004	zero strikethrough, 1 in serif font
6XXXXXX	2000-2002	zero strikethrough, 1 in serif font
5XXXXXX	1997-2000	No zero strikethrough on 52X* - 56X*
4XXXXXX	1996-1997	zero strikethrough, 1 sans serif
3XXXXXX	1994-1996	zero strikethrough, 1 sans serif
2XXXXXX	1991-1994	zero NO strikethrough only until 27X*, 1 serif font
1XXXXXX	1989-1991	zero NO strikethrough, 1 in serif font
0XXXXXX	1986-1989	zero NO strikethrough, 1 in serif font

HERMES DATE CODE GUIDE

Hermes will typically have an embossed stamp of the a letter and a geometric shape (either a circle or a square), which represent the year it was manufactured. Hermes made prior to 1970 will have no shape but just an embossed letter.

No Shape	Circle	Square
1945 A 1946 B 1947 C 1948 D 1949 E 1950 F 1951 G 1952 H 1953 I 1954 J 1955 K 1956 L 1957 M 1958 N 1959 O 1960 P 1961 Q 1962 R 1963 S 1964 T 1965 U 1966 V 1967 W 1968 X 1969 Y 1970 Z	1971 A 1972 B 1973 C 1974 D 1975 E 1976 F 1977 G 1978 H 1979 I 1980 J 1981 K 1982 L 1983 M 1984 N 1985 O 1986 P 1987 Q 1988 R 1989 S 1990 T 1991 U 1992 V 1993 W 1994 X 1995 Y 1996 Z	1997 A 1998 B 1999 C 2000 D 2001 E 2002 F 2003 G 2004 H 2005 I 2006 J 2007 K 2008 L 2009 M 2010 N