Does a date code ensure the authenticity of a Louis Vuitton Bag? The short answer is no. Some fake bags have completely wrong codes on them. Some other fake bags have date codes that make perfect sense but located incorrectly on the bags or printed rather than discreetly embossed like the original bags… The thing is, you need to know a lot more about a bag than the date code alone. Never the less, understanding Louis Vuitton date code is a vital part to identify a Louis Vuitton bag’s authenticity.
Louis Vuitton date codes indicate the country of production and production time of the particular Louis Vuitton products. Prior to 1980s, Louis Vuitton date code didn’t exist. In early 1980s, Louis Vuitton introduced date codes containing 3 or 4 numbers. Since late 80s, Louis Vuitton date codes include numbers and 2 capital letters (some times A0, A1, A2).
Louis Vuitton has many factories in France and outside France. The two capital letters (sometimes A0, A1,A2) tell us in which country the manufacturing factory located. Some examples are showing in below table, please note this list is not exhaustive and subject to update from time to time. Please feel free to let us know if the code of your original Louis Vuitton bag is not included on the list!:).
| Country |
Factory Codes |
| France |
A0, A1, A2, AA, AN, AR, AS, AX, BA, BJ, BU, CT, DU, ET, FL, LW, MB, MI, NO,
RA, RI,SA (Also for Italy), SD (also USA), SL, SN, SP, SR, TH, VI, V.I., TS |
| USA |
FC, FH, OS, SD (also France), LA |
| Spain |
CA, CR, GI, LB, LM, LO, LW |
| Switzerland |
DI, FA |
| Germany |
LP |
| Italy |
BO, CE, FO, RE, MA, RC, RO, SA (also for France), TD |
Louis Vuitton Date Code history and meaning.
Before 1980s:
No date code. Louis Vuitton products might have tags or stamps on them sometimes.
1980- sometimes 1990:
Date codes have 3-4 numbers with no letters, later 2 letter (some times A0, A1, A2) with 3-4 numbers.
3 numbers – first two numbers represent year, last number represents month. E.g.:821 means made in January 1982
Date code of Louis Vuitton Grand Maceau Bag: 821
4 numbers – first two numbers represent year, last 2 letters represent month. 8610 means made in October 1986
2 letters 3 numbers – 884TH means made in France April 1988.
Date code from a Louis Vuitton Papillon bag: 884 TH
3 numbers 2 letters – 882 V.I. means made in France February 1988.
A Louis Vuitton Saumur bag: 882 V.I.
2 letters 4 numbers LL YYMM – TH8906 means June 1989.
A Louis Vuitton Amazone Bag: TH 8911
From sometimes in 1990- 2006:
2 letters 4 numbers LL MYMY – A11903 Means Made in France, October 1993.
Louis Vuitton Rondonnee bag: A11903
From 2007 till now:
2 letters 4 numbers e.g.: DU4037 means Made in France 43rd week of 2007.
Louis Vuitton Diamie Azur Speedy Bag: DU4037
Here are my other useful articles about pre-owned Louis Vuitton:
