Louis Vuitton was originally founded in 1854. Over the decade, it gained immense popularity which makes it one of the most counterfeited designer labels in the world. Initially, the brand was more famous for its revolutionized travel gear but it slowly transitioned into a more diverse brand offering its own line of bags and a variety of accessories.
With the rise of online shopping and pre-owned marketplaces, you need to beware of falling prey to fake Louis Vuitton handbags and other accessories.
However, just like any other online purchase, you need to be careful of the replicas, defaulted and fake stuff which scammers are selling at the same price as the original piece. We know it can be a difficult job but not impossible.
Here’s a list of tips which can come in handy for Louis Vuitton Authentication.
1. Check the stitching pattern of your bag
The new generation of Louis Vuitton bags such as Alma, Neverfull and Speedy will always have exactly five stitches across the handle tabs areas. This sets it apart from fake Louis Vuitton handbags. Another thing worth noticing is that Louis Vuitton uses a linen thread that is strengthened with beeswax which makes sure that the thickness and the colour of the threads remain consistent and free of damage.
2. Check the stamping on the bag
The stamp can be a very important factor in determining whether your Louis Vuitton handbag is fake or original. There are some specific features of a Louis Vuitton handbag is which every lady should be aware of:
● Original Stamp and Fake Stamp
An original stamp has a very short tail on the original Louis Vuitton stamp. The O’s are really round and are relatively bigger than the L. The two Ts almost touch each other and the lettering is quite thin and crisp.
All the fake Louis Vuitton handbags will clash with the above points. For example, the sizes and shapes of Os and Ts will help you to put the finger on the exact fault. You can also search through the internet for original and fake Louis Vuitton handbags stamps to be more clear about the above information.
3. Look at the date codes
All Louis Vuitton handbags which are made after the early 1980s come with a manufacturer code. This entails two letters for the location where it was initially made and four digits to tell you which year it was made.
Authentic Louis Vuitton handbags date codes will match the “Made in (country)” heat stamp whereas those which are fake will have some of the missing information about the code and location.
Countries and their date codes
- Made in France- A0, A1,A2, AA, AAS, AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, CO, DR, DU, CT, ET, FL, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SD, SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TJ, TH, TR, TS, VI, VX.
- Made in Italy- BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, RC, RE, SA, TD.
- Made in Spain- CA, GI, LO, LB, LM, LW.
- Made in U.S.A.- FC, FH, FL, LA, OS, SD.
- Made in Switzerland- DI, FA.
- Made in Germany- LP.
The above codes are mentioned with the location which will help you to look for the original Louis Vuitton handbag. However, it is important to remember to not judge the authenticity of a Louis Vuitton handbag purely on the basis of country codes because Louis Vuitton date codes do not work the same way as a serial code used to check the authentication of a Chanel handbag.
Some authentic Louis Vuitton handbags may have date codes that are either illegible or fade away over the passage of time.
Apart from that, many fake bags have a date code tab but the leather and typeface do not match the authentic one.
4. Be familiar with Louis Vuitton styles
It is always good to stay updated about new styles and bags by your favourite brand to know if the bag you’re willing to buy was originally made by Louis Vuitton in the first place. This may sound really obvious but many counterfeiters will try to sell you fake designs.
Therefore, it is always advisable to do search on Louis Vuitton handbags by colour, material and texture so you know what you’re buying.
5. Check the handbag’s hardware
There hasn’t been much variation in Louis Vuitton’s hardware since its birth. All Louis Vuitton handbags made since 1991 are manufactured out of heritage gold brass hardware with the “LV” logo. In short, no modern Louis Vuitton handbag will have a branded zipper. The authentic zipper is on the left while the fake one is on right.
Moreover, all Louis Vuitton hardware wears out in a similar way. For example, verdigris may appear on old bags.
6. Look carefully at the Louis Vuitton materials
Be it Louis Vuitton’s famous Damier, Monogram or Multicolour, all Louis Vuitton canvases have unique characteristics to ensure originality.
However, few characteristics which remain consistent are; exterior panel which is symmetrical and centred, Monogram meets at the seam and so does the squares on the Damier.
7. The smell
An original Louis Vuitton handbag will have a crisp and clean smell mixed with a tinge of leather odour. On the other hand, replica Louis Vuitton handbags may smell like chemicals and plastic. Even if an authentic Louis Vuitton handbag smells different, it would never smell as chemicals.
8. Check the price of your Louis Vuitton handbag
Louis Vuitton is a well known and famous brand and keeping this point in view, you need to be careful of cheap price tags. If it seems too good to be true then it probably is! It is safe to do a brief research on the market value of the bag you’re planning to purchase.
We hope that the above tips will make you a pro in identifying your favourite brand’s original handbag but then again, it won’t be free of any risks.
We would advise you to shop through a trusted source which offers return back guarantee and answers all your queries and concerns in a satisfying manner.
Happy Shopping!