Every Louis Vuitton bag made between the early 1980s and March 2021 carries a small stamped date code — a combination of letters and numbers that tells you where and when the bag was made. Being able to read it is one of the most useful skills for any vintage buyer. Here is the exact system we use when checking bags at our shop in Fukuoka.
Where to find the date code
Date codes are stamped on a leather tab inside an interior pocket, on the interior lining, or under a strap. Common locations by model:
- Speedy 25/30/35/40: on a leather tab inside, next to the interior pocket
- Keepall: under the handle attachment or inside on a leather tab
- Neverfull: inside the interior pocket, on the left seam
- Wallets and pouches: stamped directly on the lining
How to decode it
1990–2006: two letters followed by four numbers (e.g. SP0968). The letters are the factory code. The 1st and 3rd numbers are the month, the 2nd and 4th are the year — so SP0968 means September 1998, made in France.
2007–March 2021: same format, but the 1st and 3rd numbers are the week of the year (e.g. SD2129 = week 22 of 2019).
1980s: three or four numbers only (year + month), sometimes followed by two letters.
Common factory codes
France: A0–A2, AA, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, CT, DU, ET, FL (also USA), MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SD (also USA), SL, SN, SP, SR, TH, VI, VX. Italy: BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, OB, RC, RE, SA, TD. Spain: CA, LO, LB, LM, LW, GI. USA: FC, FH, LA, OS, SD, FL, TX.
What a date code can and cannot tell you
A correct date code does not guarantee authenticity — counterfeiters copy them. A wrong or missing code, however, is an immediate red flag (note: codes can wear off on very old pieces, and post-2021 bags use an embedded microchip instead). We always verify the date code together with stitching, hardware, canvas alignment and materials. Read more about our process on our Authenticity Guarantee page.
Shop with confidence
Every bag in our Louis Vuitton collection is checked by our team in Japan, and the date code is photographed in the listing so you can verify it yourself before you buy.