As a trusted online source of the best in designer handbags, shoes, garments and accessories, LAB guarantees the authenticity of our items. Here at LAB, each item is carefully selected to meet our high standard of quality. In many cases, our items come with original certificates of authenticity and/or dust bags from the original purchase.

When shopping our site, please read the descriptions of each product carefully and look at all of the photos provided. We show all of our handbags as they are, so please note the size. Colouring of bags may be slightly different onscreen vs. in-person due to varying computer-monitor calibration.

All of our handbags are guaranteed authentic, or you will receive a full refund.

If you feel the handbag you purchased from LAB is not authentic, you must contact us within 14 days of receipt of your item/s in order to initiate the refund process. To receive a full refund, we require that you return the item and include official documentation that proves the designer handbag you purchased from us is not authentic. You can obtain such documentation from a recognized authenticator service. We will attend to any matter and work together with you to resolve it.

If you have any questions about a purchase or about a return, please feel free to contact us via email at labluxuryresale@gmail.com.

Louis Vuitton Date Code Guide

Louis Vuitton date codes or authenticity codes began appearing after the 1980s. Vintage Louis Vuitton manufactures prior to 1980 would not have any date codes, and can only be verified as authentic by looking at various factors: evaluating when the style was introduced, looking at the exterior leather, and inspecting the lining and stitching.

We have incorporated a chart that is used by Louis Vuitton to identify and authenticate their products according to:

1. Date the product was manufactured
2. Location of the manufactured product

Other methods of determining the authenticity of the Louis Vuitton product include where the code is located for that particular item and the apperance of the code. For example, they can appear either on:

• separate leather tab that stick out of the inner lining with the code embedded
• directly embossed on the inner lining and close to the inside seam of the product
• directly embossed on the under side of the D-ring (typical of Speedy)
• directly embossed on Alcantara lining (suede material on inside of Epi leather bags)
• stamped on the inside lining close of the seam of canvas leather lined bags (usually in an offset dark colour)

Note: Fake bag manufacturers are getting better at replicating the authentic products, so it is important to always evaluate the exterior, interior, grommets, hardware, lining etc., as date codes can be easily replicated. However, fake bag manufacturers do not focus on quality-made products and often forget to include specific details, as they typically mass produce their items.

 

Year manufactured: 2021 - present
Features: As of March 1st 2021, all Louis Vuitton bags or small leather goods manufactured no longer include the LVMH tried and true, physical date codes. In lieu of their hot stamped or debased date codes, microchips have been introduced by the brand primarily to stop counterfeits and help with repairs. LV has been integrating the embedded and non-visible microchips into their items, to be scanned at Louis Vuitton boutiques. Held on a private blockchain accessible only to LVMH, the chips do not reveal any personal information, nor do they compromise the privacy of the customer whatsoever. These chips are encrypted with basic information, such as the product name, materials used, etc, and cannot be copied or modified.

 

Date Code	Description
Early '80s	3 or 4 digit date codes, representing the month and year that the product was manfuctured.
Late '80s	3 or 4 digit date codes (as above), followed by two letters representing the location that the product was manufactured.
1990-2006	First two letters represent the location where the product was manufactured, followed by four numbers:- First/Third number = Month; Second/ Fourth number = Year
2007-2021	First two letters represent location, followed by four numbers: First/Third number = Week; Second/Fourth number = Year
Locations	Letter Abbreviations
France	A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS (Special Order), AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, DU, CO,  CT, ET, FL, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SD, SL, SN, SP, SR, TH, TR, VI, VX
Germany	LP
Italy	BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, RC, RE, SA, TD
Spain	CA, LO, LB, LM, LW
Switzerland	DI, FA
USA	FC, FH, LA, OS, SD, FL

 

 

Where To Find Louis Vuitton Date Codes

But where exactly are these date codes? Finding a date code on a Louis Vuitton bag isn't easy... They are always tucked away along seams and inside pockets. Get ready to look in every nook and cranny of your LV. If you’re having a hard time locating a date code, here are some tips for finding Louis Vuitton date codes:

• Embossed on a leather tab attached on the interior lining of the bag
• Embossed on a leather tab attached on the interior seam of a pocket
• Stamped on the directly fabric along a seam or pocket edge
• On exterior leather strap close to the strap brass hinge
• In wallets, stamped on the inner edge of bill compartment
• In agendas, stamped under the flap closest to a seam

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Common Date Code Locations on Popular Louis Vuitton Bags:

Louis Vuitton Speedy bag: Inside the bag under the pocket, stamped on a leather tab
Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag: Date code is located inside the bag, along the interior edge of the zip pocket, stamped on a leather tab
Louis Vuitton Alma bag: Date code is located inside flat pocket, stamped on a leather tab
Louis Vuitton Artsy bag: Date code is located on the fabric of the lining inside one of the wall pockets, not on a small leather tag.

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Louis Vuitton Date Code Fonts, Colors, and Material

Louis Vuitton has used a variety of fonts throughout the years for date codes to identify the location/manufacture date and to trick counterfeiters. You'll find serif and sans serif fonts on date codes depending on the year and factory location (for example, different Speedy bags have both serif and sans serif date codes).

A single style may have multiple locations of date codes through the years (a Speedy bag may be produced in France, Spain, and USA). A date code may look slightly different depending on whether it is stamped into Alcantra fabric or a leather tab, stamped and colored (as on Epi pieces). This can throw a buyer off in terms of whether the date code looks correct or not, but it's intentional to ward off counterfeiters.

Chanel Handbag Authentication Guide

 

Authentic Chanel handbags from the mid 1980s on come with authenticity cards embossed with a serial number (pictured on right). The serial number matches the serial number appearing on a sticker placed somewhere within the handbag’s interior lining. The serial number sticker has Chanel logos and was protected by a clear tape with hologram security feature from approximately 2000-on. The sticker, Chanel logo, and hologram design varied with the manufacturing date (see chart below). Note that over time, serial number stickers may become detached from handbags. Authentication cards also often become lost. Therefore, Chanel handbags missing these items may still be authentic.

Serial Number Year Manufactured Style of Numbers     31XXXXXX 2021 30XXXXXX late 2020-2021 29XXXXXX 2020 28XXXXXX late 2019-2020 27XXXXXX mid 2019 26XXXXXX late 2018 - 2019 25XXXXXX 2018- 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   24XXXXXX 2017-2018 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   23XXXXXX 2017 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   22XXXXXX 2016-2017 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   21XXXXXX 2015 to 2016 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   20XXXXXX 2014 to 2015 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   19XXXXXX 2014 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   18XXXXXX 2013 to 2014 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   17XXXXXX 2012 to 2013 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   16XXXXXX 2012 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   15XXXXXX 2011 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   14XXXXXX 2010 to 2011 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   13XXXXXX 2009 to 2010 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   12XXXXXX 2008 to 2009 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   11XXXXXX 2006 to 2008 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   10XXXXXX 2005 to 2006 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   9XXXXXX 2004 to 2005 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   8XXXXXX 2003 to 2004 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   7XXXXXX 2002 to 2003 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   6XXXXXX 2000 to 2002 0's have strikethroughs. 1's have small serifs (feet).   5XXXXXX 1997 to 1999 0's have strikethroughs up to 51XXXXX. 0's have no strikethroughs  from 52XXXXX to 56XXXXX. 0's have strikethroughs from 57XXXXX on. 1's have small serifs (feet) from 57XXXXX on.   4XXXXXX 1996 to 1997 0's have strikethroughs. 1's are sans-serifs (no feet).   3XXXXXX 1994 to 1996 0's have strikethroughs. 1's are sans-serifs (no feet).   2XXXXXX 1991 to 1994 0's have no strikethroughs up to 27XXXXXX. 1's have serifs (feet).   1XXXXXX 1989 to 1991 0's have no strikethroughs. 1's have serifs (feet).   0XXXXXX 1986 to 1988 0's have no strikethroughs. 1's have serifs (feet).

Hermes Date Code Guide

Every Hermes item is handmade and therefore has its own intricacies based on the craftsman and leather. Each Hermes item will be embossed with the logo stamping in the natural, gold or silver with Hermes Paris logo. Everything should be lined up - evenly and centered with the Hermes name.

Hermes leather items should have a blind stamp. Hermes uses letters in alphabetical order to date the bags surrounded by a shape. From 1945 to 1970, no shapes were used. From 1971 to 1996, a circle shape is used. From 1997 to present, a square shape is used. The list shows the year made, and the letter that would be stamped on the bag based on that year. At the top of every list is the shape that the letter would be framed inside.

Additional numbers/letters appearing next to the blind stamp indicate the section at the atelier where the bag maker works. 

Hermes Blind Stamp and Year Reference Guide

No Shape	Circle	Square
1945 A	1971 A	1997 A
1946 B	1972 B	1998 B
1947 C	1973 C	1999 C
1948 D	1974 D	2000 D
1949 E	1975 E	2001 E
1950 F	1976 F	2002 F
1951 G	1977 G	2003 G
1952 H	1978 H	2004 H
1953 I	1979 I	2005 I
1954 J	1980 J	2006 J
1955 K	1981 K	2007 K
1956 L	1982 L	2008 L
1957 M	1983 M	2009 M
1958 N	1984 N	2010 N
1959 O	1985 O	2011 O*
1960 P	1986 P	2012 P
1961 Q	1987 Q	2013 Q
1962 R	1988 R	2014 R
1963 S	1989 S	2015 T (no square)
1964 T	1990 T	2016 X (no square)
1965 U	1991 U	2017 A (no square)
1966 V	1992 V	2018 C (no square)
1967 W	1993 W	2019  D (no square)
1968 X	1994 X	2020 Y (no Square)
1969 Y	1995 Y	2021 Z
1970 Z	1996 Z

* Note some Hermes bags including the Evelyne and Double Sens left the factory with a "JO" stamp in a rectangle instead of O stamp in square.

Hardware

Authentic Hermes hardware or metal accents on their handbags are usually plated in precious metal. The use of precious metals means that the metal on an authentic Hermes handbag will not tarnish. A small hallmark will appear next to the "Paris" stamping on gold plated hardware.

Buying a Hermès Belt in the Correct Size

Buying a Hermès belt in the correct size is very important. If the belt is too short, it may become uncomfortable. On the other hand, if the belt is too long, the excess leather will flap around and this may ruin an outfit. While the general rule is to buy a belt one size larger than the trouser size, Hermès makes it very easy to buy a belt in the correct size.
 

Size	Length of Belt (centimeters)	Length of Belt (inches)
060	60	23.6
065	65	25.6
070	70	27.5
075	75	29.5
080	80	31.5
085	85	33.5
090	90	35.4
095	95	37.4
100	100	39.4
105	105	41.3
110	110	43.3
115	115	45.3
120	120	47.2

Because Hermès is a French fashion house, the sizes inscribed on the belts are measured in centimeters. This is true for both women's and men's belts. When looking to buy a Hermès belt online, a customer can simply measure her waist and compare the result to the table above in order to determine her exact size.