LV Authentication Guide & Date CodesS

Contrary to popular belief, Louis Vuitton handbags (excluding luggage and rare limited pieces) do not have serial numbers. Rather, Louis Vuitton handbags have "date codes"stamped either on interior tags or directly on the interior linings. With the expeption of early handbags (early 1980s and older), dat codes can be foud on all Louis Vuitton handbags and other items made by the luxury brand (e.g. sunglasses)
Most date codes are a combination of letters and numbers. The letters indicated the country in which the item was made while the numbers indicate the month/year of the production date. The format of the date codes are as follows:
Prior to early 1980s. No date codes.

Early 1980s. Three or four numbers followed by two letters with the first two numbers representing the year, the next number(s) representing the motnh and the last two letters representing the country. E.g. "874VX" would indicate a manufacturing date of May, 1987 and factory location in France. Late in the 1980s, the letters representing the factory location came before the three or four numbers representing the manufacturing date.

Louis Vuitton Factory Location Codes (Note this is not a complete list.)

France A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS( Special Order), AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, DR, DT, CO, CT, CX, ET, FL, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SD, SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TJ, TH, TR, TS, VI, VX

Germany LP, OL

Italy BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, OB, RC, RE, SA, TD

Spain CA, LO, LB, LM, LW, GI

Switzerland DI, FA

USA FC, FH, LA, OS, SD, FL

1990 Two letters followed by four numbers with the first two letters representing the factory location, the first and third numbers representing the month and the second and forth numbers representing the year. For example, "VI1025" would indicate a factory location in France and manufacturing date of December, 2005.

2007 and newer. Two letters followed bfour numbers with the first two letters representing the factory location, the first and third numbers representing week of the year, and the second and forth numbers representing the year. For example, "SD2057"would indicate a factory location of the USA and a manufacturing date of the 25 week (or May) of 2007.
Keep in mind that the fact that an item has a date code does not guarantee that it's authentic since many counterfeit items have date codes. A valid and properly stamped date code is just one of many parameters that are checked to guarantee the authenticity of a Louis Vuitton handbag.