Guide to the Louis Vuitton Date Codes

Every Louis Vuitton bag from the last 40 years has a date code stamped somewhere on the bag. Since the brand implemented their date code stamps in the early 1980s, there has been some variation in the way the date of manufacturing of each bag has been represented. If you struggle with interpreting these date codes or even have a hard time finding it on your bag, keep reading this article for some helpful tips!

Placement of Date Codes on Popular LV Bags

• LV Neverfull Bag (the most popular LV Bag): The date code is placed under the right hand side of the flap, where the letters and numbers are imprinted onto a leather tab.

• LV Speedy 30 Bag: There are 2 leather tabs inside the bag, which have nothing on them, but if you look under the pocket (a zipped pouch), the date code can be found on the tab to the right.

• LV Pochette Metis: The date codes for this bag are harder to find, as it is not located in the main compartment of the bag, but rather inside the back zipper pocket. The leather tab containing the date will be on the right hand side.

• LV NeoNoe bucket bag: The serial code can be found inside the zipper compartment in the center of the bag. When looking from the front of the bag, the tab would be found in the left hand side of the zipper compartment. 
  

• LV Toiletry Pouch: In this bag, the date code is embossed into the leather lining of the bag, instead of on a rectangular leather tab. This can be found at the top of the bag, near the leather tab at the end of the zipper.

• LV Onthego Tote: The serial code is found inside of the zipped compartment, where the date code is featured on a leather tab inside the pocket’s lining.

• LV Artsy Bag: The date code is featured inside of the pockets of the bag. For this bag, the date code could either be found on a leather tab OR embossed on the lining of the bag (interior of the pocket).

• LV Alma Bag: Date code is located inside the flat pocket, stamped on a leather tab.

• LV Keepall: This bag has 2 leather tabs on either side of the  interior. The date code will be embossed on one of these tabs (if the bag has a zipped pocket, lift the  pocket to find  the tab with date code stamped on it.)

• LV Capucines: The date code is located in the zipper compartment in the back of the bag, embossed on the interior leather of the bag.

Deciphering the LV Serial Code:

In Louis Vuitton’s contemporary bags, the serial code generally consists of 2 letters followed by 4 numbers. The 2 letters tell  you which country the bag was manufactured in (Ex: France, Spain, US), and the 4 numbers tell you the date of manufacturing. However; it is important to note that the date codes didn’t always follow this pattern. Please refer to the infographic below to help you decipher the pattern of date codes  of Louis Vuitton bags from the late 80s to present day.

Louis Vuitton Date Code Guide

*NOTE: As of March 1st 2021, Louis Vuitton has replaced their traditional date code stamps in favor of microchips embedded in their bags and SLGs.

Louis Vuitton Factory Codes Guide

 France:  

A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS (Special Order), AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, CO, CT, CX, DR, DT, DU, ET, FL (also USA), LA (also USA), LM (also Spain), LW, MB, MI, ML, MM, NO, RA, RI, SA (also Italy), SD (also USA), SF, SK, SL, SN, SP, SR, TA, TH, TJ, TN, TR, TS, TY, VI, VX

Italy:

BC (also Spain), BO, CE, FH (also USA), FO, FP, MA, NZ, OB, PL, RC, RE, SA (also France), TB, TD

Spain:

BC (also Italy), CA, LO, LB, LM (also France), LW, GI, UB

USA:

FC, FH (also Italy), FL (also France), LA (also France), OS, SD (also France), TX

Germany:

LP, OL

Switzerland:

DI, FA

Relined Items:

DK

by: Sabsstyle_