How Louis Vuitton Date Codes work
When this article was published on 30 September 2023, Vivy Brandname noted that buyers of Louis Vuitton bags often asked about the production year and Date Code, or DC. This guide explains how to read the codes.
For the production periods covered below, Louis Vuitton used Date Codes to identify when and where a bag was made. A code may be stamped in different locations or sewn into the bag, and its letters and numbers follow formats that vary by production period.
Early 1980s
Louis Vuitton Date Codes from this period contain no letters, only three digits. In the pictured example, 819 indicates production in 1981, in month 9.
Mid-to-late 1980s
Louis Vuitton Date Codes changed slightly during this period. A letter was added to identify the country of manufacture. In the pictured example, the full Date Code is 839 BO: 839 denotes September 1983, while the BO prefix identifies Italy.
Early 1990s to 2006
Louis Vuitton Date Codes from this period contain four digits, while the letters continue to identify the place of manufacture. The digits indicate the year and month. In the pictured example, DU1015 indicates France, year 2005, month 11.
2007 to March 2021
In Louis Vuitton Date Codes from this period, the letters continue to identify the place of manufacture, but the digits changed to show the week and year of production. In the pictured example, DU4179 indicates France, year 2019, production week 47.
Country codes can be difficult to remember, so Vivy Brandname provides the comparison lists below.
France production codes
A0, A1, A2, AA, AN, AR, AS, AX, BA, BJ, BU, CT, DR, DU, ET, FL, GR, LW, MB, MS, MI, NO, RA, RE (also Italy), RI, SA (also Italy), SD (also USA), SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TA, TH, TJ, TN, TR, TS, VI
USA production codes
FC, FH, OS, SD (also France), LA, FL
Spain production codes
CA, CR, GI, LB, LM, LO, LW
Italy production codes
BO, CE, FA, FO, RE, MA, NQ, PL, RC, RO, SA (also France), ST, TD
Switzerland production codes
DI, FA (also Italy)
Germany production codes
LP
After March 2021: microchips
At publication on 30 September 2023, the article reported that Louis Vuitton had introduced a newer microchip system after March 2021 to address counterfeiting. It described the chip as recording specific characteristics of each bag and being embedded in a concealed location rather than removable like a sticker. The article listed the following recorded details.
Note: As reported at publication, only Louis Vuitton staff at a shop or boutique could display or scan the microchip information for inspection. Procedures may have changed since then.
- The location where the bag was made, including country and factory
- The bag's specific description, such as model and size
- The bag's Style Code
- The shop or website through which the bag was sold, including the name of the sales associate
- Details of the client who purchased the bag, known as Customer Details
