What is a Louis Vuitton date code?
Since the 1980s, every Louis Vuitton bag has carried a date code: a combination of two letters followed by four numbers, usually stamped inside the bag, on a pocket or a seam. This code indicates the manufacturing factory and the production period, but it does not replace a complete authenticity check.
How to read a date code
The two letters designate the manufacturing workshop (France, Spain, United States, Italy...). The four numbers are read in pairs: the 1st and 3rd positions indicate the week of production, the 2nd and 4th indicate the year. The format has evolved several times since the 1980s, so the exact meaning depends on the period.
Why the date code is not enough
Counterfeiters now reproduce plausible date codes. A correctly formatted code is therefore only one clue among others: the quality of the canvas, the alignment of the monogram, the finish of the seams and hardware must also be examined.
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