Legitique Authentication Tools
Louis Vuitton Date Code Checker
Check your Louis Vuitton date code
Enter the letters and numbers stamped inside your Louis Vuitton item. The checker will parse common 1980s, 1990-2006, and 2007-2020 formats.
What is a Louis Vuitton date code?
A Louis Vuitton date code is a production marking used on many bags, wallets and small leather goods before the microchip era. It usually combines letters and numbers. The letters often point to the factory or country of production, while the numbers indicate the month and year or week and year depending on the production period.
A correct-looking code is not the same as proof of authenticity. The code must be consistent with the “Made in” stamp, model, canvas or leather type, stitching, heat stamp font, hardware finish, lining, construction and overall age of the item.
How to use this LV date code checker
Type the code exactly as it appears inside the item. The checker removes spaces and punctuation, then compares the letter prefix with common Louis Vuitton country code lists and decodes the number sequence using the most common date-code rules.
Use the result as a first screening step before buying or selling. If the code is missing, hard to read, unusual or inconsistent with the item, a professional Louis Vuitton authentication review is the safer next step.
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Louis Vuitton country code table
The letters in many LV date codes point to the factory location. Some letters are linked to more than one country, so always compare the country code with the “Made in” stamp, model, material, font and construction.
| Country | Known country codes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| France | A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS, AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, CO, CT, CX, DK, DR, DT, DU, ET, FL, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SA, SD, SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TA, TJ, TH, TN, TR, TS, VI, VX | Some codes overlap with USA, Italy or Spain. AAS is often listed as special order. DK is often linked to relined items. |
| Italy | BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, NZ, OB, PL, RC, RE, SA, TD | SA can also be listed for France. BC can also appear in Spain lists. |
| Spain | BC, CA, GI, LB, LM, LO, LW, UB | LW can also be listed for France. Always compare it with the heat stamp. |
| United States | FC, FH, FL, LA, OS, SD, TX | FL and SD can also be listed for France. |
| Germany | LP, OL | Usually seen less often than France, Italy, Spain and USA codes. |
| Switzerland | DI, FA | Often listed for selected Louis Vuitton production. |
How Louis Vuitton date codes changed over time
Louis Vuitton used several date-code systems before moving many items to microchips. The same four digits can mean different things depending on whether the item was made before or after 2007, which is why the checker uses the decoded year to choose the likely month-year or week-year format.
| Era | Typical format | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1980s | No standard code | Many vintage pieces do not have a date code. Authentication depends heavily on materials, construction, stamping, model details and provenance. |
| 1980s | Three or four numbers, sometimes followed by letters | The first digits usually indicate the year and month. Letter suffixes often indicate factory location, but this period is less standardized than later codes. |
| 1990-2006 | Two letters plus four numbers | Letters indicate factory. The 1st and 3rd numbers indicate month, and the 2nd and 4th numbers indicate year. |
| 2007-2020 | Two letters plus four numbers | Letters indicate factory. The 1st and 3rd numbers indicate week, and the 2nd and 4th numbers indicate year. |
| 2021 onwards | Microchip | Most Louis Vuitton leather goods moved away from visible date codes and use embedded microchips instead. A missing visible code is not automatically suspicious for recent pieces. |
Why a Louis Vuitton date code can still be misleading
Counterfeit Louis Vuitton items often include date codes that look convincing at first glance. A fake bag may use a real factory prefix, a possible production week and a date that matches the style's general release period. That is why a date code checker should be treated as a screening tool, not a final authentication answer.
For example, the date code might suggest France, but the heat stamp may say “Made in U.S.A.” or the model may have construction details that do not fit the decoded year. The stitching count, glazing, zipper brand, canvas alignment, hardware engraving, interior lining and typography all matter. Legitique reviews those signals together instead of relying on one stamp.
Where to find the date code on a Louis Vuitton bag
On many Louis Vuitton bags, the date code is stamped on a leather tab, inside a pocket, near a seam or directly onto lining material. The location depends on the model and production period. A Louis Vuitton Speedy, Neverfull, Alma, Pochette, Keepall or wallet may each place the code differently.
If the stamp is faded, photograph it in bright indirect light and try multiple angles. Do not over-clean, scrape or treat the area, because that can damage leather or lining. If the item is from 2021 onwards, you may not find a visible date code because many newer pieces use embedded microchips.
What to do after checking your LV date code
If the code decodes cleanly, compare the result against the “Made in” stamp and the model's known production history. If the result is unusual, missing or contradictory, do not panic. Some legitimate items have repairs, relining, special orders, limited runs or less common factory markings.
Before buying, selling or filing a dispute, get a professional Louis Vuitton legit check with clear photos of the full item, date code area, heat stamp, hardware, zipper, stitching, corners, handles, interior and serial or microchip-related evidence where available.
When to order a professional Louis Vuitton authentication
Order an authentication when the price is high, the seller is unknown, the item has no receipt, the code does not match the country stamp, the bag is from the microchip era, or you plan to use the result for a marketplace claim, chargeback, insurance file or resale listing.
Legitique's Louis Vuitton authentication service checks the date code together with the full bag: shape, canvas, leather, glazing, smell, alignment, stitch quality, fonts, hardware, zipper, lining and model-specific construction.