When purchasing a pre-owned Louis Vuitton bag on hewi, you can have peace of mind as our items are pre-authenticated. However we’ve pulled together a handy guide detailing tell-tale authenticity signs to look out for.
The LV monogram emblem is one of the most identifiable characteristics of a Louis Vuitton bag. It was created over a century ago to try and prevent counterfeiting.
Although the Louis Vuitton logo may appear deceptively simple, it unveils its authenticity when closely examined. In an authentic LV logo, the letter "L" is positioned slightly lower than the "V," producing an impeccable overlay. The interlocked LV letters are perfectly aligned without any slant, distortion, smudges, fuzzy edges, or discoloured hues.
When the LV monogram is patterned with the quatrefoil motifs, the pattern should flow uninterrupted, without any irregular gaps. The sequence is consistent and any misalignment to the pattern could suggest a counterfeit bag.
Finally, check the construction of your bag to understand how the pattern should flow. On the Neverfull, two pieces of material are used and connected at the base, so the pattern will always be the correct way up. With some models such as the Speedy, a single continuous panel of material is used, so the logo might appear upside-down on one side.
Anticipate nothing short of excellence when evaluating the stitching adorning a Louis Vuitton bag; anything less than impeccable craftsmanship is swiftly rejected at the production stage. The stitching on every LV bag serves as a reliable litmus test to discern the authenticity of a bag.
Genuine bags boast flawlessly executed stitches, impeccably aligned and uniformly spaced. The stitch count remains consistent, thus ensuring an unwavering standard across all Louis Vuitton bags. For instance, the authentic Louis Vuitton Alma, Speedy, and Neverfull bags exhibit precisely five stitches along each tab where the handles are affixed.
The handles of a wide range of Louis Vuitton handbags are meticulously crafted from vachetta leather, a cowhide with a natural tone that gradually transforms into a lustrous honey hue as it matures. Therefore if you see a vintage Louis Vuitton bag with pristinely coloured handles, it may be counterfeit.
Frequently, the handles are accentuated by a contrasting burgundy edge trim, which, similar to the handles themselves, matures into a deeper shade over time. Scrutinise the contrast trim for any imperfections, an artificial appearance, or a painted finish, if you believe the bag may be counterfeit.
Examine the typography on your Louis Vuitton bag stamp when checked for a counterfeit. Among the distinctive characteristics, one stands out: the notably wide and flawlessly circular "O." Notably, the "L" boasts a particularly abbreviated tail, and the two "T"s in "Vuitton" nearly touch.
The stitching encircling the embossed stamp should mirror the overall bag's precision, devoid of any errant threads, frayed edges, or uneven lines. Also look for the presence of the registered trademark symbol (®), and check that it is aligned atop the "V" and "U" in "Vuitton."
Finally, don’t be concerned if the bag’s origin is outside of France, Louis Vuitton also crafts its bags in locations such as Spain, Germany, Italy, and even the United States.
While Louis Vuitton frequently employs distinct linings for various collections, Monogram canvas bags predominantly feature a brown cotton lining, and historically, Damier Ebene Canvas bags sport a red microfiber interior. However, it's essential to note that exceptions to this pattern exist, particularly with limited edition runs, so research any limited edition ranges for their style before purchasing.
Often counterfeit Louis Vuitton bags have brown or tan lining, but the material used is a suede. Straight away this triggers the alarm bells, as Louis Vuitton do not use suede in their material lining.
During the early 1980s, Louis Vuitton initiated the practice of incorporating date codes into their products, a system designed to denote a bag's manufacturing origin and production date. This protocol persisted until March 2021, at which point Vuitton transitioned to integrating microchips into their items.
For all items created before March 2021, the date code serves as a valuable tool for verifying the bag's production location. Date codes are typically positioned within the bag, often embossed onto a tag situated within a side seam. Locating them might pose a challenge, and in older bags, the codes could even show signs of fading or wear.
Date codes follow the below structure:
Items from the 1980’s: Year (2 digits) + Month (1 digitl) + Country Code eg 882A0
Items from 1990 to 2006: Country Code + Month (1st and 3rd digit) + Year (2nd and 4th digit) eg A00962
Items from 2007 onwards: Country Code + Week Of The Year (1st and 3rd digit) + Year (2nd and 4th digit) eg A01028
If a bag was manufactured after March 2021, it will contain an NFC tag embedded in the bag. You can’t see the NFC tag, however it contains a unique identifier that can be scanned by Louis Vuitton to reveal the information about each bag.
Every hardware component on Louis Vuitton bags showcase etched engravings, which are crystal clear when viewed. The metal itself is durable, uniform in its colour and tends to have a golden hue. It should not show any signs of discolouration. Interior and exterior hardware should be the same colour.
If the hardware feels coarse, irregular, lacks sturdiness, feels insubstantial, hollow, or, incredibly, exhibits a plastic-like texture, it is highly likely that the bag is counterfeit.
Authentic Louis Vuitton bags will not come with plastic or paper wrapped around the handles or hardware. There will also never include hang tags.
Louis Vuitton dust bags are made from 100% cotton, with neat seams. They will either contain the LV logo or the brand name spelled out. Authentic dust bags won’t contain any other wording.
From the Neverfull, to On The Go, Keepall and Speedy, we have a wide range of pre-authenticated pre-owned Louis Vuitton bags.
