The year the bag was made is determined by the amount of digits in the serial number, and the first digit(s) in that serial number. If your bag has oito digits, it was produced between late 2005-current.
Eight digit serial number printed on white sticker covered with clear tape with two Chanel logos."X" cut-lines prevent sticker from being removed without damage. "CHANEL" appears on rightright side of the sticker. Dark line appears on left side of sticker. Gold speckles appear throughout sticker.
Pictured: examples of authentic Chanel date codes. Note how they combine several unique identification and safety features: iridescent speckles, CC logos and 'X' scores on the plastic.
This characteristic ensures that if you choose to sell your Chanel years later, you'll likely fetch a handsome sum. I previously owned the medium model, bought secondhand (almost new, complete with box and invoice), and even managed to resell it at a slight profit.
You want to know if your bag is the real deal, so what should you do first? If the bag has an authenticity card, skip it.
Bags with a 9-digit date code are not authentic as genuine codes are seven or eight digits long, sometimes six.
Chanel's incorporation of advanced technology like NFC-enabled microchips and blockchain adds another layer of security to authenticate their products.
Chanel’s 2020 date code on their handbags is 30XXXXXX. If your handbag’s date code starts with 27XXXXXX, 28XXXXXX or 29XXXXXX, then it was made in mid/late 2019.
Even the counterfeiters who are able to use higher quality materials and construction - copyright bags known as “super fakes” - they often lack the attention to detail applied to authentic Chanel bags. Here is what to look for.
A hallmark of an authentic Chanel lock is its smooth and consistent finish is gold or silver, which should not show signs of flaking or discoloration, on the silver or gold plated surface, over time.
It was the first of its elegant and practical kind, each bag designed and made featuring the iconic quilted leather, which is now synonymous with many Chanel bags, Coco loved so much.
Since graduating in 2013 with a BA (Hons) in English and contemporary media, she’s worked as a feature writer for an independent publication Chanel serial number guide and a contributor for Quill’s creator network. She now marries her passion for words and style, writing for some of the most esteemed fashion and lifestyle publications, Who What Wear UK and Stylist.
Date codes: Introduced in the mid-1980s, date codes act as unique identifiers that can be used to authenticate Chanel items.
Chanel started using the date code system in the mid 1980's. We call them the social security numbers of the Chanel bags. Look inside the bag for a sticker with the serial number.