Louis Vuitton’s oldest purse goes back to 1854, a testament to the luxury brand’s rich legacy. Louis Vuitton’s signature purses are famous for their canvas. With so many different designs already introduced in collaboration with other brands, the replication of a Louis Vuitton purse has become easy.
Spotting a real one from a fake one is extremely difficult because not everyone knows about this brand’s extensive design range. This guide on how to tell if a Louis Vuitton purse is real covers every inch of the purse. From the exterior to the interior, the logo design, the canvas pattern, and the hardware ― subtle changes in each one of them should be looked at in detail.
Before we begin, let’s take a look at some of the existing and new purse designs that Louis Vuitton has so far:
Popular Louis Vuitton Styles and Patterns
- Signature Monogram Canvas:This canvas is the most common and popular element of a Louis Vuitton purse. It features the “LV” logo in tan on dark brown leather. The pattern never changes in color or design. The logo name is always written in straight lines.
- Speedy: The second-most popular Louis Vuitton purse is Speedy. This purse has a simple design and two round handles. It resembles a doctor’s bag and does not have a shoulder strap. It has a gold padlock on the front, and the interior has one small pocket. The sizes available in this purse include 40, 35, 30, and 25.
- Damier Graphite Canvas:This Louis Vuitton print features a classic block pattern, which is either in grey or black color. This purse is edgier in style and made in light colors. The pattern always remains the same and lines up with the seams and edges.
- Takashi Murakami Collection: Contemporary artist Takashi Murakami partnered with Loius Vuitton and designed a unique collection of bags for the luxury brand. 33 bags were made of leather in various shades of white, and each one had the “LV” logo in different colors. There was also a Cherry Blossomvariant that had the flower design on the canvas, and each one of it had a small face in the middle.
- Alma: Last but not least is the Alma purse that has a structured style. With double zippers and a padlock, this purse has a wide round opening. The prominent features of this purse are its leather key bell, present in interior pockets and textile lining.
- Neverfull:This tote-style purse is made of slim leather, which makes it stand out from other Louis Vuitton purses. It has two cinch straps, gold hardware, and a removable clutch and is available in various sizes.
How to Spot a Real Louis Vuitton Purse
Now that you know the different patterns and styles of Louis Vuitton purses, let’s take a look at how to tell if a Louis Vuitton purse is real or not:
Inspect the Material
One of the features that tell you whether the Louis Vuitton purse you are holding is real or a fake is its trim. The trim is made from a different leather material than that of the purse. Known as Vachetta leather, the trim is done in a light color and tans over the years naturally. Of course, this isn’t something that you can check on the spot.
When it comes to the purse’s material, Louis Vuitton uses top-quality leather, lambskin, camel skin, crocodile, and boa. Fakes are usually made with cheaper materials, like vinyl and pleather. Unlike other branded purses with a hard exterior to maintain their form, a Louis Vuitton feels smooth to touch.
Inspect the Stitching
Louis Vuitton purses don’t have a straight stitch. The stitches are at a slight angle but straight in line. There won’t be a stray thread in sight because the purses are hand-stitched. The color of the stitching matters too. To ensure the thread doesn’t get loose, Louis Vuitton coats it in a resin that makes it weather-resistant and durable.
The stitching matches the color of the purse too. If all of these features are present, look for one more patented element —the stitching count. The tab to which the handle is attached should have 3 to 5 stitches. The count varies according to the purse’s style but is never above 5.
Certificate of Authenticity and Date Codes
A Louis Vuitton does not have a certificate of authenticity. Shocking, right? The purse also comes with a cream-colored card featuring a bar code name of the collection on it. Don’t be fooled by counterfeiters who offer an authenticity card because there’s no online system in which you can enter the number.
As for the date code, you will find a small tag located in the inside pocket. Purses made before 1980 have no date codes. In the 80s, the date code consisted of 3 to 4 numbers and 2 letters. The former represented the month, and the latter represented the country the purse was made in.
From the year 1990 to 2006, the date code was reverse. The letters were written first and then the numbers. The former still represented the country the purse was made in, but the latter represented the month and year.
In 2007, the luxury brand revised the date code again. Now, the code is made of 2 letters and 4 numbers. The former still represents the country the purse was made in, but the latter represents just the year.
Check the Stamping
The stamps on Louis Vuitton bags’ leather labels can help you can spot a genuine piece easily. This label also has angled stitches and the words “Louis Vuitton,” “Paris,” and “Made in Italy” engraved on it. Make sure that the font is consistent and there’s no fading. As for any tags, none attach to the purse. They are either kept inside the pocket or in the dust bag.
Inspect the Hardware Quality
Every piece of hardware on a Louis Vuitton purse is made of brass metal and is in a gold color tone. If you see anything made of plastic, the purse is fake.
Check Logo Consistency
Unlike other brand purses, Louis Vuitton does not have any emblem logos. The canvas itself makes the brand’s identity clear. When it comes to the brand’s “LV” insignia, the bottom line of “L” extends quite long, and the bottom end of the “V” comes slightly above the “L’s” line. The full name Louis Vuitton is often engraved on the hardware and follows the same pattern.
Check the Lining
Authentic Louis Vuitton purses have a lining made of brown-colored canvas material. It’s completely plain with no logos on it. To confuse people, counterfeiters often line a Louis Vuitton purse with leather.
Our Final Thoughts on How to Tell if a Louis Vuitton Purse is Real or Fake
As you have just read, telling a real Louis Vuitton purse apart from a fake requires knowledge of all its peculiarities, and that’s what we have shared in this post.
If all these elements seem too hard to remember, know that the bar code and the logo design can assist you with how to tell if a Louis Vuitton purse is real or not. Follow this piece of advice, and you’ll be able to identify fakes easily.
