Ultimate Guide to Authenticating Louis Vuitton Bags (I)

Guide to Authenticating Louis Vuitton Bags

GUIDE

5/2/20252 min read

1. The Box

Louis Vuitton uses two standard box designs, and you may encounter both. The key difference? The box on the right was introduced in August 2020.

Spot the Fake (Quiz Time!)

  • Left (Fake):

    • Cheap, bright yellow color (authentic is muted).

    • Smooth, textureless surface (real boxes have a subtle grain).

    • Bright blue font (authentic is deep navy).

    • Uneven, cramped letter spacing.

  • Right (Authentic):

    • Correct font weight and spacing.

    • Navy blue, evenly printed text.

Letter Analysis:

  • L: The horizontal stroke is very short.

  • O: Perfectly round (fakes are often oval).

  • U: Narrow with a small opening.

  • T: Short horizontal stroke; the two Ts are close together.

2. Dust Bag

  • Material: Fake dust bags feel flimsy; authentic ones are sturdy.

  • Stitching:

    • Authentic: Tight, high-twist thread with fine stitching.

    • Fake: Loose, single-thread stitching.

3. Leather (Monogram Canvas)

Pattern & Texture

  • Authentic:

    • Raised, irregular grain (feels textured).

    • Monogram flowers have blurred edges (not sharp).

  • Fake:

    • Overly uniform, smooth texture.

    • Crisp, unnatural flower edges.

Four-Leaf Clover Motif

  • Authentic: Asymmetrical—one side thicker, the other thinner.

  • Fake: Symmetrical, uniform thickness.

Logo Stamp

  • Authentic "L": Smooth, rounded hook at the bottom.

  • Fake "L": Angular, poorly defined.

4. Stitching

  • Authentic:

    • Waxed cotton thread (dark yellow).

    • Stitches slant (left low, right high) with even spacing.

  • Fake:

    • Straight, machine-like stitching.

    • Glossy, overly bright thread.

Note: Occasionally, authentic bags may have stray threads—this doesn’t mean fake!

5. Hardware Inspection

General Quality

  • Authentic:

    • Matte, brushed gold finish

    • Heavy, substantial feel

  • Fake:

    • Overly shiny, cheap-looking

    • Lightweight

Engravings

  • Authentic:

    • Crisp, deep engravings

    • Perfectly centered

    • Smooth edges

  • Fake:

    • Shallow, uneven engravings

    • Rough edges