How to Buy Authentic pre-owned Louis Vuitton?

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While buying a pre-owned Louis Vuitton bag, it is a must that you get your money’s worth and that the product you buy is genuine. If you want to know how to buy authentic pre-owned Louis Vuitton, here are a few tips on how to identify whether the pre-owned Louis Vuitton that you are about to buy is a genuine one.

Monogram Placement: Check for the symmetry in the monogram placement. This is a very important indicator of an authentic Louis Vuitton piece. Most Louis Vuitton monogram bags and wallets, regardless of the style, have a side to side symmetry except for few very old vintage bags.



 how to buy authentic pre-owned Louis Vuitton

Side to side symmetry in the monogram placement

Countries Manufactured: Louis Vuitton has many factories outside France. Based on the model, LV bags are currently being manufactured out of France, in countries such as USA, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland other than the obvious France. So, do not think that your Louis Vuitton bag is a non genuine one just because it is manufactured outside France.

 how to buy authentic pre-owned Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton bag made in Spain

Eye for Details: Louis Vuitton is very particular about their stitching and lining. The stitched would be even and regular and there will be the same number of stitches in different bags of the same model. The lining material would invariably be made of cotton canvas material and never suede. The color of the canvas is often brown.

How to Buy Authentic pre-owned Louis Vuitton

LV speedy bags have 5 stitches going cross the handle tab.

Fonts: Louis Vuitton uses a particular type of font with a well rounded O. Verify this to check for the authenticity of your bag.

How to Buy Authentic pre-owned Louis Vuitton

Note the even and regular stitches and round “O”.

Tags: When a brand new Louis Vuitton is purchased from a store, there are usually two tags that are supplied along with the bag but provided separately. The first tag would have “Louis Vuitton” and the material of the bag. The second one would have the model number, the bar code and the bag’s name in French. The tags are never attached to the bag. Sometimes you get a care booklet. However, there is no authenticity card that accompanies a Louis Vuitton bag, and if someone offers you a LV bag with such a card, then it is in all probability a non genuine one.



Receipts: Some non genuine sellers may try to convince you by saying “comes with the original receipt”. A pre-owned bag with receipt doesn’t guarantee you buy authentic pre-owned louis Vuitton. Remember that a receipt can easily be counterfeited and the presence or absence of one does not in any way tell you whether the bag is genuine or not. A genuine LV receipt would be on watermark paper and the size would be smaller than an A4 paper. You can also verify whether the store address given in the receipt actually exists. It should also have the name of the sales person who sold the bag as well as the complete contact details of the buyer.

Dust bag: The earlier dust bags were made of soft cotton flannel material with a very tiny LV embossed on it. The later versions are more yellowish and are made of thicker linen like material with LOUIS VUITTON more prominently displayed across the front. But any further advertisement or writing on the dust bag – and you should know that it is not genuine.

Date Codes: It is very important to understand the meaning Louis Vuitton date code in order to buy authentic pre-owned Louis Vuitton. Louis Vuitton bags manufactured after 1980 would have a date code, but you can get genuine older models without the date code as well.

 

 



49 replies
  1. Holli
    Holli says:

    I have some sort of Louis Vuitton bag but I think it is a fake due to the stitching not being perfect in all places on the purse. The date code is RA-178003. Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Joyce Villarante
    Joyce Villarante says:

    Hi! Just bought a preloved papillon 30 that comes with a mini. The date code of the bag is SP0056 but the mini doesn’t have one. Is it authentic? The rest of the hardware looks fine. Just not sure about the date codes.

    Reply
      • Joyce Villarante
        Joyce Villarante says:

        Thanks Yvonne! Do you have any idea if the mini papillon doesn’t really have a date code? I saw in one article posted by someone who claims to be a LV expert as well that the mini that came with the papillon 30 doesn’t really have a date code. Also the bag is around 7 years old so the leather strap is tanning on the darker side. Does it indicate that it’s authentic leather?

        Reply
        • Yvonne
          Yvonne says:

          Hi Joyce! I don’t claim myself as a LV expert:)I just love handbags!
          As to your questions about the pouch without date code, I’ve never seen a LV Pap pouch with a date code, the pouches of LV bucket bags have date code though.
          Hard to tell if the leather is authentic unless seeing and touching it in real life:).
          Hope this helps!

          Reply
  3. Mary
    Mary says:

    Hei yvonne. Can you please check this for me… I wanted to make sure if my thought’s right.it seems fake to me the way i look at the handbag and the code. But in your own opinion please:

    Lv keepall bandouliere 55: serial code: VI 0932
    Whats thw code mean in this number?

    Reply
  4. Kristie
    Kristie says:

    Hi could you help w an authentication question. About to buy an LV neverfull. The code is SA 0079. Is this a legit code? Also bag says made in France. Thanks!!

    Reply
  5. Nia
    Nia says:

    Hello Yvonne…. I need help with authentication of this vintage speedy I brought….it’s date code 824 SA? Also it does not have an inside pocket the hardware looks good but I’m not sure could you please help with this please…. Thank you

    Reply
  6. Melandie Walton
    Melandie Walton says:

    Yvonne I recently purchased a Louis Vuitton Speedy with code V.I.882 the letters are actually above the numbers, is this authentic?

    Reply
  7. Angela
    Angela says:

    RA-1780-008 With a separate tag that has M92055 . Real or Fake? It also has a small piece of leather attached with purse pattern on it.

    Reply
  8. Guia Ayangco
    Guia Ayangco says:

    Please help. I saw a very cheap LV bandouliere bag pre-owned but almost new. Date stamp is OTO124. Is this real? Thank you!

    Reply
  9. Christina
    Christina says:

    Hi I purchase a secondhand bag there is a small code inside A-1780-003 is real or fake can you please help me

    Reply
  10. Jamie Wilson
    Jamie Wilson says:

    I purchased a Keepall 60 with a code of TH0067. All of the registered trade marks are there and everything seems flaws. I purchased it in France at Consignment Shop. Is it Real?

    Reply
  11. Jamie Wilson
    Jamie Wilson says:

    I purchased a Keepall 60 with a code of TH0067. All of the registered trade marks are there and everything seems flawless. I purchased it in France at Consignment Shop. Is it Real?

    Reply
  12. Tammy M. Lechleiter
    Tammy M. Lechleiter says:

    Sorry to bother you but I have a LV bag not sure if it’s authentic. Could you please help? Stitching looks great and so do the handles but I still have my doubt, I don’t have the greatest luck, lol. The zipper and some of the the nail heads say Louis Vuitton wasn’t sure if authentic bags had that. The date code for this bag is FL0067. Thanx so much

    Reply
  13. Ann Mann
    Ann Mann says:

    Hi there! Bought a LV AZUR SPEEDY 30 with Date code SP1016. It looks really good but I’m not sure on the date code. It does have 30 under the little tab on the side. Thanks!!

    Reply
  14. Chel
    Chel says:

    Hi Yah!! Help please! I just bought a pre owned Saumar 30. It has a date code of AR0990 and underneath it says Made in France. Check all the stitching and the monogram it all check what an authentic LV should be. But when I check the label it only say “LOUIS VUITTON” with the R (encircled on top of it) there’s no Made in France written on it. Although the “O” is well rounded. Is this bag a fake or authentic? Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

    Reply
  15. Lavette
    Lavette says:

    Hello,
    I’ve learned so much from reading your blogs.
    Today is my birthday and I Jpurchased LV bag from eBay as my gift to me from me…
    Artsy MM SD4155, embossed in pocket. Looks good otherwise, however I would appreciate your take on it.
    Can I send u a few pics to get your feedback?
    I want to put my nerves at ease.
    Thank you,
    Lavette

    Reply
  16. E.hemingway
    E.hemingway says:

    Hi there ,
    Could you help me please, bought a LV trocadero bag with code
    Inside top corner MB 1926 .. Well used but looks genuine.
    I could send a photo if you want .

    Mrs Hemingway .

    Reply
  17. Shelley C
    Shelley C says:

    I have found a LV deep red patten leather w/ code TT345Q. Is it authentic or fake?

    Thank you for helping me. I am very new to buy used bags, and am a bit frightened.

    Reply

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