Determining whether a Louis Vuitton bag is fake is one of the hardest things because these are some of the most counterfeited luxury bags in the market today.

The LMVH group that owns the Louis Vuitton luxury brand spends millions per year trying to fight counterfeit Louis Vuitton bags. Their efforts were awarded by the president of the anti-counterfeiting agency, who recognised their hard work in protecting customers from fakes in the market. The luxury brand is also looking into newer methods to help customers check the legitimacy of a product they are buying online.

Buying your Louis Vuitton bags or purses from legit sellers like bagover is one way to protect yourself from disappointment and losing money. Authentic Louis Vuitton bags don’t come cheap, thanks to their top-grade Italian leather and precise craftsmanship.

Sometimes spotting a replica is easy when the seller doesn’t claim they are original. But when a seller is purposely deceiving customers by selling well-crafted replicas, it becomes more challenging. Manufacturers are becoming savvier, and when such counterfeits are presented as real, you should always pay attention to the small details.

Here are easy ways to spot a fake Louis Vuitton bag.

1.  Pay attention to the logo and monograms

One of the most common ways to check whether your Louis Vuitton bag is authentic, especially with monogram bags, is to look at the shell pattern. For Louis Vuitton bags, the classic LV logo should be symmetrical, and the L should always be lower than the V. if the letters look somewhat off and not perfectly aligned, the bag is fake.

It is also essential to take a good look at the placing and consistency of the monogram pattern. You will notice that the order of one strip should be fleur-de-lis, a circle, another fleur-de-lis, and the LV logo. The strip alternating will then contain the fleur-de-lis.

If your bag is made of Damier Ebene canvas, then the logo 'Louis Vuitton Paris' in a square is usually in the same line on the side of the bag as it is on the other side.

For the logo embellishments, also check that they are beautifully crafted and symmetrical. For example, the Maison logo usually writes ‘Louis Vuitton Paris’ in two lines.  

2. The stitching is usually top-notch

Another way to check the authenticity of a Louis Vuitton bag is to check the artistry. Same as Gucci bags and other luxury brands, an authentic piece will have perfectly aligned stitches that are the same length. Artisans who make luxury brands are so skilled that they can match the number of stitches on all the designs. Nowadays, the number of stitches may change from collection to collection to throw off counterfeiters. Any hanging stitches should also be a red flag.

For Louis Vuitton bags, the stitching thread is usually more of a mustard than a brighter yellow hue, and most replicas don’t get this colour right. Also, the leather pieces that make up the bag are usually perfectly cut and fitted. If there are bubbles, creases, or misalignment due to lousy fitting on a bag you are eyeing, you might want to put that bag down.

3. Beautifully crafted brass hardware

The next thing to check for authenticity is the hardware. Louis Vuitton uses top-grade brass hardware that comes in a matte or shiny look with gold colour. For shiny zippers and locks, do a refection test; the brass usually reflects the same as a mirror would.

The zipper on an authentic bag should not snag when you unzip the bag; it should run smoothly and easily. Louis Vuitton makes their zippers and does not use YKK zipper or any other branded zippers.

Check the hardware is not covered in plastic because most fakes are covered in plastic to make sure they don’t tarnish right away. Quality hardware does not tarnish, so it is not covered.

Every metallic piece of an original purse must have the Louis Vuitton engraving. It must look precise and well crafted.

4.    Vachetta leather darkens over time

The leather strips that make up the handles of Louis Vuitton bags are called Vachetta leather. The leather is made out of natural untreated European calf hide that oxidises and darkens over time.

If you notice the stripes remain a pale colour for a long time, then your bag is fake. The leather should darken into a beautiful golden shade as it ages. This tip comes in handy if you are opting to buy used Louis Vuitton bags.

5. Coding

Louis Vuitton luxury bags do not come with authentication cards, but you will find a unique stamp with the date code and the place inside the lining if you want to tell an original bag. Today Louis Vuitton bags are not only produced in France but also in Italy, the US, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland. Every country comes with its unique code.

Since the 80’s the luxury brand uses a six-character date code stamp for its bags, the first two characters are letters – a code for the place, and the rest of the four characters are numbers – month and year of production. However, the brand regularly updates its coding; from 2007, the digit code signifies the week and the year they produced the bag. Before 1980, the brand never used date codes.

It’s also essential to pay attention to the inside stamps; the luxury brand has been using the same font for years, and the fast and easiest letter to observe is the ‘O’ in Vuitton. It must be perfectly round and not an oval shape. The double TT in a Vuitton also seems like they are almost touching each other, and the L has a longer first vertical line than the horizontal. The logo is also usually perfectly centered on a square of leather stitched with mustard-coloured threads on the inside pocket.

If you have any doubts about the authenticity of a Louis Vuitton bag you wish to buy, then follow the above simple tips to ensure you are getting value for your money.