How To Tell If A Louis Vuitton Bag Is Real Or Not

Source: DHgate, Tag: Fashion & Beauty

Love Louis Vuitton? Find out if the Louis Vuitton designer bag you have is real or not.

  • Louis Vuitton is among the world’s oldest and highly sought-after fashion retailers. Founded by Louis Vuitton in 1854, the French popular fashion house becomes synonymous with luxury. It gained colossal popularity around the world from its expensive trunks that featured the company’s signature preserved canvas.
    Also, the currently well-known LV monogram was a prominent feature on the brand’s travel trunks from 1896. All these and the other qualities and features that made Louis Vuitton trunks so incredible are still present even in today’s Louis Vuitton signature bags, like the Neverfull or Speedy.

  • As early as 1896, counterfeits had already begun trying to shamelessly knock off the incredible trunks. If that’s the case, then it means that knock-offs are still in existence, given that the iconic trunks are now even more popular and expensive than they were more than a century ago. It is this incredible durability and quality that makes LV bags so expensive and desirable. As expected, with such kind of exclusivity and demand comes the great longing of counterfeits to dupe customers by selling cheaply.
    Louis Vuitton has manufactured very many types of bags since its establishment to the extent that detailing steps and ways to authenticate each handbag would need a book. However, there is one important thing that LV has consistently done for more than the 150 years it has been in existence – ensuring the best craftsmanship, hardware, and high-quality materials when making each item. Those who are into these handbags should be aware of what qualities the LV bags share as this can help a great deal in weeding out the fakes, which might exist. We have outlined authentication methods that can be used to tell if any of these bags, no matter which year they were made, is real or fake.
    Methods to Authenticate Real Louis Vuitton Handbags
    When it comes to how to tell if a Louis Vuitton bag is real, there are various methods to use. The methods mainly involve looking at the pattern and stamps on these products. The methods also involve focusing on minor details, including stitching and hardware. Researching the seller to find out if they are trustworthy is also another way to tell if the bags you are about to buy are real or otherwise.
    Verifying Based on the Pattern and Stamps
    The stamping on all handbags is one thing that Louis Vuitton has kept consistent all over the years. Follow the following steps to verify authenticity:
    Find its “Made in” Stamp printed on the Handbag All genuine LV handbags or any other product for that matter, always have a “Louis Vuitton” stamp on them. There must also be a stamp marked “Made in Germany” (or in France and any other country where it was manufactured). The stamp must be underneath the bag. If you can’t find this stamp on the handbag you are about to purchase, then it means that it is not a genuine one.
    The style of all the letters is what you should pay attention to. The stamp should be directly pressed into the leather. The stamp must also include some features that also indicate its genuineness. These features include:

    • Crisp and thin lettering

    • Os must be round and also bigger as compared to the L

    • Ts must be very close that you might think they are touching

    • The O and L must be close together

Verify if the Date Code of the Bag Matches its “Made in” Stamp
The date code is usually inside every LV bag and at the edge of their opening. Ensure that the bag’s date code includes a 4 digit number and 2 letters. The letters typically indicate the place where the item was manufactured. Within the four-digit number, the first two numbers should show the week in which the bag was made, while the second two digits should indicate the year. The letters you see in the date code must indicate the same country that is indicated by the bag’s “made in” mark. If this is not the case, then you are most likely staring at a fake bag.
As you are trying to verify the bag’s authenticity, remember that the products made before 1980 should not have any date code. This means that this method won’t help you authenticate such bags.
Also, be aware that the region of the country where the item was manufactured is indicated by several different letter codes. For example, VI, TH, SD, and MI are all the letter codes used for various regions of France.
Check the Back for an Upside-Down Louis Vuitton
Letters are used in one continuous strip to make all the LV bags. Therefore, on the front of any bag, the LV logo must look right side up, while on the backside, it should appear upside down. If there are more strips, or if the one continuous strip is not continuous, then it could be that the bag is fake. Also, if you see that the LV logo on either side of the bag is right-side up, then the bag might be a counterfeit.
This method can only be used to verify LV bags with the logo. The method is not a dependable way to check authenticity if the bag doesn’t feature the LV logo.
Check if the Pattern throughout the Louis Vuitton Bag is Even
The LV bag’s print must be even throughout each bag. If there is a circle that cuts off on one side of the bag, then the cut-off must be exactly at the same spot on the other side. Ensure that the pattern looks straight. The pattern must never be crooked or at an angle.
If you realize that the logo on the bag is cut off at any point or hidden, then chances are that it is a knockoff. The LV logo is always even and the real one is uniform and not cut off.
Verify by Inspecting the Hardware & Other Details
The hardware that goes to the production of all the Louis Vuitton bags is one thing that has remained consistent ever since the brand introduced trunks in its inventory. Therefore, scrutinizing the hardware is one of the most effective ways on how to how to tell if a Louis Vuitton bag is real. This can be done in various different ways:
Inspect the Quality of the Hardware and Zipper
A real LV bag’s hardware is real metal coated with gold. The zipper is also made of the same material. There must be no tarnish or discolouration on the metal. The metal should look bright and shiny. If the hardware looks tarnished or discoloured, or if it is plastic, then the bag could be a knockoff.
The printing on the bag’s hardware should be clean and precise. For bags with snaps, the LV logos should be printed clearly on those snaps. The lack of logos on snaps is a red flag.
Find a Patina on a Vintage Bag
The handle of an LV bag can change to brown colour from its usual bright white colour over time. It can even change to a brownish red after being used for years. This is due to the fact that the leather not only oxidizes but may also absorb oils from the skin of the owner as he or she handles the handbag. This change in colour over time is what is known as the patina. You should find a patina on any handbag with a mark “vintage” because this occurrence is a natural part of the overall ageing process of the leather.
For example, a deep shade of brown should be the colour of the handle of a handbag that was manufactured in the 1990s. If the handle of such a bag is still white or light tan, then that bag is not real.
The handle should not be wrapped in any material such as plastic. That is a clear sign that it is not real.
Look for Brown Canvas in the Bag’s Interior Lining
A real LV bag should be lined beautifully with a quality material, usually a brown canvas. Knock-offs often use suede or cheap material to line their handbags. An authentic LV handbag may usually be lined with microfiber suede, polyester, or cross-grain leather and other textiles based on a particular design.
Ensure each Handle has Five Mustard-yellow Stitches on the Top
Every LV handbag must have 5 stitches running across the entire top of the handle. The stitches are sewed using mustard-yellow threads. A bag with more than five or fewer stitches is not a real one. Also, if the stitches are not mustard-yellow, then the bag must be fake. The stitches must also look even and very neat. Otherwise, it is a knock-off.
Authenticating by Evaluating the Supplier or Seller
There is usually no need to even know how to tell if a Louis Vuitton bag is real when you are buying from a reputable, trusted seller. Always insist on buying from known online platforms such as DHgate, Alibaba, and Amazon, and so on. Sellers who sell on DHgate are all verified and are committed to selling only legitimate LV handbags.
Research about the Seller
Before you buy a handbag from an online avenue or from any store, ensure that you are doing your research to find out if the seller has a good reputation. Check the feedback left by other customers and find out what rating they have given to the bags and other products. Only buy from a seller whose percentage of positive feedback is overwhelming.
Ask the seller to send you pictures. They should send you many pictures and the photos should show details, which you can use to authenticate if the bag is real.
Confirm if the Price is Reasonable
A legitimate handbag should retail at $100 and above, even if it is not new. If a seller is selling you a handbag at a suspiciously raw price, chances are that it is fake.
Where to Shop Louis Vuitton bags
An Authentic LV bag is typically an expensive product. Luckily, there are some online platforms where you will find real ones at lower prices. If you don’t have the money for the usual price tag, you can visit DHgate for real Louis Vuitton handbags going at very affordable prices.
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Where is the Date Code Located on LV Handbag?
All LV bags have date codes, which is the indicator of where they were made. The first and 3rd numbers, or simply the first 2 letters are the marker of the week the product was made. The 2nd and 4th numbers show the year it was made.
What these Bags Very Expensive?
What makes LV handbags very expensive is that they are luxury and top fashion accessories. They are also handmade from expensive and quality materials. What’s more, none of them should go on sale. All items of the same range must be sold within their season. Any item that fails to sell is destroyed and not sold at a lower or discount price. Lastly, they are durable and well made.
My Bag has FL1108 as the Code, What Does It Mean?
This date code shows that the handbag was manufactured in France in 2018, the 10th week.
Who Can Help Me Identify If The Bag Is Real?
If you are not sure of how to tell if a Louis Vuitton bag is real, you seek the help of a known bag expert. Bag experts can easily confirm if the details are real or fake.
Conclusion
Due to their popularity and unique designs, LV handbags are generally at risk of being counterfeited. To ensure that you are not investing in a knockoff, it is important to have an idea of how to tell if a Louis Vuitton bag is real. We have outlined several details that you need to ensure are accurate to be sure that the bag is authentic. We do hope that this will help you when purchasing your next LV bag.


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