Louis Vuitton has stamped a date code inside every bag since around 1980. It is not a serial number and it does not prove authenticity on its own — but knowing how to read one tells you where and roughly when a bag was made, and a code that doesn’t decode correctly is a red flag worth taking seriously.
Important: Louis Vuitton date codes confirm origin and era — they do not guarantee authenticity. High-quality counterfeits carry plausible date codes. Authenticate by the full picture: hardware, stitching, canvas, heat stamp, and date code together.
Where to find the date code
The location varies by style — look in all of these spots:
- Speedy, Alma: Stamped on a small leather tab near the zipper pull, or on the inside lining seam near the handles.
- Neverfull, Totally: On a small leather tab attached to the interior pocket.
- Pochette Accessoires: Inside the main pocket, on the lining or a leather tab.
- Wallets & small leather goods: Stamped directly into the lining, often near the card slots.
- Luggage: On a leather patch sewn into the interior.
The code is heat-stamped into leather or embossed — you should be able to feel the impression with your fingertip. A printed or inked-on code is a red flag.
How to read a Louis Vuitton date code
Every date code is two letters followed by four numbers. The letters identify the country and factory; the numbers encode the date.
The letter prefix: country of manufacture
| Country | Common factory codes |
|---|---|
| France | A0, A1, A2, AA, AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, CT, DU, DR, DT, ET, FL, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SD, SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TH, TR, TS, VI, VX |
| USA | FC, FH, LA, OS |
| Germany | LP, OL |
| Italy | BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, OB, RC, RE, SA, TD, UB |
| Spain | CA, GI, LB, LM, LO, LW, UB |
The four numbers: reading the date
The digits are interleaved — they do not read left to right. The 1st and 3rd digits give one number; the 2nd and 4th digits give another.
1990–2006: Month and year
1st + 3rd digit = month (01–12) · 2nd + 4th digit = year (last two digits)
Example: VI1012 — “VI” = France · digits “1012” → month = 1+1 = 11 = November · year = 0+2 = 02 = 2002 → made in France, November 2002
2007–present: Week and year
Same interleaved pattern, but the first number is now the week of the year (01–52), not the month.
Example: SD3108 — “SD” = France · digits “3108” → week = 3+0 = 30 = week 30 (late July) · year = 1+8 = 18 = 2018 → made in France, week 30 of 2018
Earlier formats
| Era | Date code format |
|---|---|
| Pre-1980 | No date code at all. Pre-code bags are genuine and often more valuable. |
| 1980–1982 | 3-digit numeric codes only. |
| 1982–1989 | Transitional formats — letters appear but numbering is inconsistent. Less reliable to decode. |
| 1990–2006 | 2 letters + 4 digits, interleaved for month + year. |
| 2007–present | 2 letters + 4 digits, interleaved for week + year. |
Date code red flags
- Code doesn’t decode to a plausible date. A “month” of 13 or a “week” of 60 is impossible.
- Code is printed, not stamped. Authentic codes are heat-pressed into the leather — you should feel the indentation.
- Letter prefix doesn’t match a known factory. Random two-letter combos that don’t appear in any documented factory list are a warning sign.
- Code is on a loose tag, not the bag itself. Some sellers attach a date code tag that came from a different bag.
- No date code at all on a post-1980 bag. Modern bags without codes (1980 onward) are suspicious unless clearly identified as a limited edition or pre-code vintage piece.
What a date code cannot tell you
A plausible date code does not prove a bag is authentic. Counterfeiters know the format and stamp convincing codes. Authenticate the full bag: the hardware weight and finish, the canvas print alignment, the heat stamp (LV logo on the bag itself — should be centered, crisp, and free of bleeding), the stitching color and count, and the zipper brand (authentic LV uses Éclair or S-Lock zippers, never YKK). The date code is one piece of a larger puzzle.
This guide is educational and is not a guarantee of authenticity. For a binding determination, use a professional authentication service. Vintage Bag Value is not affiliated with Louis Vuitton or LVMH.