If you own a Louis Vuitton bag or are planning to buy one, you may have noticed a series of numbers and letters imprinted on a leather tab inside the bag. This is the Louis Vuitton serial number, which is unique to every bag and holds valuable information about its authenticity, production date, and origin. In this article, we will guide you through how to read a Louis Vuitton serial number step-by-step.
What is a Louis Vuitton Serial Number?
A Louis Vuitton serial number is a combination of letters and numbers that identifies the specific model, year of production, and country of origin of the bag. The serial number is usually stamped on a leather tab sewn into the lining of the bag or printed on a small white tag attached to the interior pocket.
Why is it Important?
Knowing how to read a Louis Vuitton serial number is essential for determining the authenticity of the bag. Counterfeiters often try to replicate every detail of an authentic Louis Vuitton bag, but they can never duplicate the unique code that comes with each genuine item.
How to Read a Louis Vuitton Serial Number
- Step 1: Locate the Serial Number
- Step 2: Determine Production Date
- Step 3: Identify the Country Code
- Step 4: Locate the Style Number
- Step 5: Check for Additional Codes
The first step in reading a Louis Vuitton serial number is finding it. As mentioned earlier, it’s usually located on a leather tab sewn into the lining or printed on a white tag inside the pocket.
The first two letters or digits in your LV serial number represent the year and month in which your bag was produced. The first letter represents the year (A = 1980, B = 1981, C = 1982 .. X = 2015, Y = 2016, Z = 2017), and the second letter represents the month (A = January, B = February, C = March . L = December). For example, if your serial number starts with SD, it means your bag was produced in France in April 2018.
The next two letters or digits represent the country code where your bag was manufactured. For instance, “FL” stands for France, “SP” for Spain, “TH” for Thailand and “US” for the United States.
The following four to six digits are known as the style number or model code. This number is unique to each Louis Vuitton product and identifies its style, shape, and size. You can use this number to check if your bag matches a particular product on their website.
Some Louis Vuitton bags may also have additional codes stamped on them such as the “Made in France” stamp or a date code which represents when and where the bag was made.
In Conclusion
Knowing how to read a Louis Vuitton serial number is crucial if you want to ensure that you’re buying an authentic LV product. By following these simple steps, you can easily identify when and where your bag was made and verify its authenticity.
Remember that each LV item has a unique serial number that is specific to that item only. Be wary of counterfeit products with fake serial numbers that don’t match LV’s official records.