There are a number of elements to look for in authenticating a Louis Vuitton handbag.  

GENERAL DETAILS:

When purchasing pre-owned Louis Vuitton bags, check to see if the style was ever created by Louis Vuitton in the first place. Was that Speedy 25 ever really made in Vernis Empreinte? Check online to see if the bag is currently available on the Louis Vuitton website or on a trusted reseller’s website for older styles. Some counterfeiters stay true to the original designs, while others create completely new products.

Louis Vuitton hardware is made from brass. Some fake hardware is simply coated plastic and will not be as heavy as real brass. Lettering on hardware should be clear and crisp.

Be aware of bags with tags attached or plastic around the handles or hardware. Louis Vuitton never does this.

Check the price of the bag online. An authentic bag would not sell for less than $100.

 

DATE CODES:

Louis Vuitton started adding date codes with 3-4 numbers in the early 1980s. These were in effect up until March 1st, 2021. Newer models will have a non-visible microchip embedded instead to hold the manufacturing information, which can be accessed in a Louis Vuitton store.

More current date codes have two letters followed by four numbers. The two letters represent where the bag was made. The first and third numbers represent which week of the year it was manufactured, and the second and fourth numbers represent the year it was made. Date codes are stamped into the lining of the bag, on a leather tag or on the leather piece holding the D-ring.

See our Louis Vuitton Date Code Guide for more details >>

 

QUALITY:

Look at the quality of the leather piping, the stitching, and the hardware. Louis Vuitton is meticulous and frayed is a dead giveaway for an inauthentic bag!

 

MONOGRAM:

Make sure that the monogram print is straight. Also be aware of any “LVs” that are cut off at the edges of the bag as Louis Vuitton takes care never to break this iconic element. While a crooked monogram is cause for concern, an upside down monogram is not. Some bags, like the classic Speedy, are made from one continuous piece of canvas resulting in an upside down monogram on one side.

Look at the colour. It should be on a brown background with a golden brown monogram print. Fake bags are often tinged with yellow or green.

 

STAMP:

The Louis Vuitton Paris stamp can be found in the interior on a piece of leather, printed directly into the interior, or printed on a piece of leather outside the bag.

The L has a very short tail, the O’s are very round (not oval shaped), and the T’s almost touch each other.

A real LV stamp will be clear and crisp and will read “Louis Vuitton Paris” along with the country of origin. Louis Vuitton bags are made in France, Germany, Spain, the USA, Italy, and Switzerland.

 

 

LINING:

Some Louis Vuitton bags are lined with a micro suede material called alcantara. The material is soft to the touch. Fake alcantara can feel rough and scratchy.

Louis Vuitton bags are also lined with a range of printed fabrics. When shopping for a used Louis Vuitton bag, make sure to research which lining was used in the bag you’re interested in purchasing and always steer clear of monogram printed linings.

 

KNOW THE SELLER:

Be wary of sellers offering pre-owned designer handbags that do not offer returns or will not send you additional photos of the finer details of the bag. You can also do a little bit of background research and read reviews of sellers.

Ask for a receipt. Louis Vuitton keeps excellent records and provides receipts going back many years.

 

Shop our Louis Vuitton collection >>

Also, check out our latest Louis Vuitton review video.

Interested in having us take a look at your Louis Vuitton bag? Get a certificate of authentication from Love that Bag etc today with our new handbag authentication service - available to customers across Canada.

Love that Bag is not affiliated with the above-mentioned brands. We guarantee these to be authentic items.