How to Identify an Authentic Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas. Since 1854, Louis Vuitton has been in the business of manufacturing and distributing high-end, couture accessories. One of his most popular purses is the Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas. You can find what seem like Louis Vuitton purses everywhere you go these days, but chances are, only a small percentage of them are authentic. Most of the purses are knock-offs or copycats. If you are interested in purchasing a Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas handbag but are concerned about authenticity, you're not alone. It's difficult to keep track of the tell-tale signs of knock-offs. Telling the fake Louis Vuitton from the real McCoy takes a good eye, some patience and a little product knowledge.
With the circulation of knockoff designer handbags and the growing business of selling pre-owned handbags, you want to be assured that you’re getting an authentic handbag. Louis Vuitton handbags have a series of numbers and letters, called Date Codes, that can tell you when and where that bag was manufactured. Look for a serial number. All Louis Vuitton wallets will have serial numbers. Look for a price tag. This is a good way to spot a fake Louis Vuitton wallet, because Louis Vuitton items never have price tags or bar codes attached to them. Examine the leather. The leather of the wallet should feel smooth to the touch and look shiny. Louis Vuitton Zippy Wallet. Related Styles. Louis Vuitton Wallets Louis Vuitton Monogram Wallets Louis Vuitton Emilie Wallets Louis Vuitton Insolite Wallets Louis Vuitton Damier Wallets Louis Vuitton Zippy Coin Purses Louis Vuitton Epi. Example I, Serial number 'SP0011' means the bag is made in France and it was made on January, 2001. You take the. Authentic New Louis Vuitton Monogram Phone Wallet Bag & Box fits iPhone 6 Image. Authentic New Louis Vuitton Monogram Phone Wallet Bag & Box fits iPhone 6. £195.00 Buy it now.
Look to see if your Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas purse comes with a yellow authenticity card, a tag or canvas sample swatch attached anywhere to the item. Louis Vuitton has never used a yellow card, nor has it ever attached tags or canvas swatches to any item in any of their lines. If your purse has any of these items, it's a fake.
Look at the handle of your purse. Louis Vuitton never covers the handle with tissue paper or plastic.
Look at the leather details on the purse. It should be a pinkish-flesh color when new and a light, honey brown when aged. It should never be yellow or dark brown. Any leather trim will also have yellow stitching.
Check to see if your purse has a base or bottom that has been sewn on. Authentic Louis Vuitton purses are usually made from one single, unbroken piece of leather or canvas.
Look very closely at the seams of the purse. Are any of the 'LV' monogram symbols cut off? Louis Vuitton never cuts into the 'LV' on a monogram canvas item. Regardless of where the individual monogram symbols appear on an item, they should all be whole. One possible exception is on the Ellipse.
Turn the handbag around and look at the back. The monogram symbols should be upside down. If they're not, the bag is not an authentic Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas.
Chanel Wallet Serial Number
Warning
Don't believe an item is an authentic Louis Vuitton just because a seller asks a lot of money for it. Even a trusted, established seller can get taken now and then. Always do your own inspection of the monogram canvas. Sometimes sellers on eBay either don't know how to photograph an item in a way that allows you to examine it properly, or they are trying to prevent you from doing so. If you see an item on eBay you're interested in, but you aren't satisfied with the available photo(s), ask to be shown additional photos. A seller with an authentic product won't mind.
The more popular the Louis Vuitton bag, the more likely you are going to come across a lot of counterfeits in the marketplace. Such is the case for the Louis Vuitton Neverfull. Despite being around since 1998 this bag has grown wildly popular in the past 5 years and for good reason. It’s classically styled and has so many practical uses that you will never want to get rid of your bag. I personally would be wary of any used Neverfull because no savvy buyer would ever part with this bag. I would give up my Speedies before I would part with my Neverfull. So since the Neverfull has drastically increased in popularity, and it’s such a simple design, the market has been flooded with dozens of knock-offs making it incredibly difficult for an untrained buyer to determine if any pre-owned Neverfull being sold online is actually authentic. Let’s look at the step-by-step guide to follow when authenticating a Louis Vuitton Neverfull.
The other day my cousin who was also carrying her Neverfull GM Damier in Ebene and we noticed that our interior linings didn’t match. The lining of my Neverfull had fleur and circles while hers was just stripes. She received a matching carrying clutch with her Neverfull and I got only the bag itself. If it hasn’t been for my background in authentication we would have probably both been thinking that the other person’s bag was a fake. Fortunately, I knew the answer to why two authentic Neverfulls have different linings and I want to make sure that all my other Louis Vuitton lovers understand how to authenticate a Neverfull as well. With so many new interior colors coming out year over year following this entire checklist is really important to ensure that you don’t fall victim to a fake Neverfull.
Despite having different interior linings both of these Neverfull bags are authentic. Which makes it even tricker to spot a fake.
Louis Vuitton Neverfull Fun Facts
- Print first produced: 2007
- Damier: literal translation “checkerboard”
- Sizes Available: PM, MM, GM
- Color Waves: Azure – cream/gray combination, Ebene – brown/gray combination
- Made of: Canvas treated with fabric and a vachetta leather trim. On the Ebene style the leather has a PPC coating.
- Durability: GM can carry up to 200 pounds ++
- Second Hand Resale: Hold their value really well
The Complete Guide to Authenticating a Louis Vuitton Neverfull (Damier)
Step 1. Check the date code
The date code should always be tucked behind the wide inner pocket. Replicas might put the date code someplace more obvious to sway their buyers into being convinced by seeing it. No matter what year your Neverfull is, the date code should be in the correct place with the letters and numbers evenly spaced.
Step 2. Review the checkerboard
There are only 8 Louis Vuitton marks on the dark brown checkerboard square on each side of the Neverfull GM. The bottom has only 1.
Step 3. Look at the interior base
Gucci Wallet Serial Number
On the inside of a real Neverfull, the base should be a solid color, not printed with the strip or the pattern.
Step 4. Examine the interior bindings
Authentic Neverfull bags should have seamed binding on the interior base and a grosgrain ribbon that reinforces the sides.
Step 5.Interior pocket length
Extends all the way to the inside base of the bag, doesn’t stop part way.
Step 6. Printed lining
Based on an archive LV print. Because of their recent popularity, there are no monogram and Damier bags with different colored linings. Make sure that the collection and color lining that you are looking at on the bag match what was produced by Louis Vuitton.
Step 7. Brown not black
The Ebene Damier bag is much more brown than black. Replicas will be more black.
Step8. Canvas not leather
The Neverfull is actually a canvas bag, not leather. The only leather on the bag will be the vachetta leather trim and on the Ebene style the leather will have a PPC coating and will never get a patina. For a well used bag the canvas will become more soften slightly while a new Neverfull will be more stiff.
Step9. Lining pattern variety
Depends on the interior color and year. Bags as recent as 2011 will show fleur and circles but shortly after (uncertain of the exact year) they started producing bags with just the stripe lining.
Example: Both of these bags 2011 and 2013 are authentic – but the 2011 bag has the fleur and the 2013 bag has only stripes. If you are looking at purchasing a pre-owned Neverfull and the date code shows that it was produced prior to 2013, there should be fleurs on the lining not just solid stripes. Read this article to learn how to analyze a date code.
Step10. Try the zipper
High quality zippers and cheap zippers move very differently. Even after decades of using a Louis Vuitton that zipper will still run smoothly and never snag.
Step 11. Count the stitches per inch
The mark of fine craftsmanship is stitches per inch. Fake bags will have less stitches per inch and real ones will have more. I generally count no less than 7-8 stitches per inch.
Step 12. Check the straps and d-ring
The straps, when pulled in reduce the size of the bag. The can be secured to the inside of the bag to make it more sturdy. The exterior straps should have a d-ring on the end, not a buckle.
Step13. Examine the hot stamp
The hot stamp should be crisp, straight, 3 lines, short legged L, very circular “O’s”, R in a circle on top of the Louis Vuitton.
Step14.Look for straight stitch lines
The stitch line on a Louis Vuitton should be nearly perfect. It should always remain an equal distance from the edge of the handbag at every point, and for the entire length of the stitch. There should be no irregular stitch lengths.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are purchasing from a luxury consignment store or online, following this checklist as closely as possible is the very best way to ensure that a pre-owned Neverfull, or any Louis Vuitton is authentic. Keep in mind this is such a great and versatile bag I rarely see people who own it willing to part with it. So unless you are purchasing from a credible online premium luxury handbag retailer be very wary of replicas especially the Japanese Super Fake!
Looking for an authentication guide for all Louis Vuitton bags? Check out the in-depth: Checklist to Authenticate a Pre-Owned Louis Vuitton