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What is a "date stamp"?

	It is a code stamped on Louis Vuitton items for their internal use.  Louis Vuitton does not stamp "serial (sequential) numbers", so it's 100% possible that my Noe and St. Cloud are stamped the exact  same code.
	Louis Vuitton actively started stamping codes in the 80's.  This means that older pieces do NOT have anything resembling the date stamp at all.  Even when items were manufactured in the 80's, I've found quite a few purses (especially St. Cloud and Jeune Fille) not stamped at all.  With items manufactured from 1990, it's reasonable to assume there is one, including domestic pieces (model number with T's).  But absence of date codes doesn't necessarily mean the piece is not authentic!  Please read on.
	These codes are supposed to be "hidden" and hard to find, and the location changes from year to year, model to model.  So if your 7-year old Vuitton wallet has a stamp on the inside lining, and the exact same model manufactured this year has a stamp in the coin compartment, do NOT panic.
	Vuitton NEVER stamps a catalog number on their products.  Many fakes do have a "faked code", and they used to use the catalog number (i.e., M61665).  Here is some examples of a faked date stamp.

	Recent fakes DO HAVE A DATE STAMP THAT MAKES ALL KINDS OF SENSE.  (go to fakes page)
	I can't tell you this loud enough; presence/absence of the date code itself does NOT guarantee authenticity of Louis Vuitton at all.

! UPDATE !

	Date codes do not verify authenticity.  Of course it's one of the first places for us to look to see if anything bogus is stamped, but Louis Vuitton does NOT stamp date codes for the proof of authenticity AT ALL.  It has come to my attention that most of you overly depend on the date codes, which is extremely dangerous.  Again, these days fakes come with valid date codes anyway!
	There is more than one coding pattern!  It is true that most of recent ones are two letters and four numbers, but Louis Vuitton's date codes have variations.
	It is NOT true that date codes starting with certain letters must be with "made in France (Spain, USA, Italy)".  Codes with SD could be accompanied by "made in France" or "made in USA".  The bottom line is date codes are not for the consumers to determine anything with.

I must explain a little bit more than I care to share.  Vuitton's U.S. factory, for example, didn't even stamp any date codes in many small accessories in its early days (early 90's).  Their factory in Spain is the same way.  I was also caught up in this dreadful "date code" business in the past because I did not have enough knowledge under my belt to determine authenticity without depending on Date Codes.  After I started serious collecting, studying, and buying/selling, I've come across many authentic pieces without date codes (not even vintage).  I've raised hell with Louis Vuitton (because I was the original purchaser of some!) many times, and I even got a written letter from the U.S. factory (a true miracle, even hand-signed), then finally learned that purposefully or not, some pieces just don't have date codes!

Another thing I must share with you is that date codes are directly stamped on the lining in many pieces or a D-ring leather tab.  Cite is another good example that date codes can be found on the pocket lining directly, on the synthetic lining part that rots.  What if you have that part replaced by Louis Vuitton?  They stamp a brand new date code, completely different from the original one!  See, it really means nothing to Louis Vuitton when it comes to authentication.

Some date codes are stamped sooooo close to the seam, and you may have to force the purse open at the seam.  I have a dealer friend in Japan, who actually RIPPED a purse in her effort to find the date code.  She knew it was authentic, but because of the misconception & myth of "date code has to be present" by the majority of consumers, she just "had to" find it before she displayed it on the shelf.

When taking anything to Louis Vuitton for authentication, if the store manager isn't 100% sure, it goes to the factory.  Unless one has been crafting Louis Vuitton for 60+ years, nobody knows every single model.  The Louis Vuitton factory authenticates by the quality of the materials and craftsmanship.  They pay no attention to date codes for authentication, unless of course the date code is bogus to begin with, in which case stores don't even have to bother the factory.  This is why we, non-Vuitton authenticators without knowing all the secrets of Louis Vuitton materials, MUST know them from every angle possible, from the "bumpiness" of the monogram canvas to the quality of the thread because we are not equipped like Louis Vuitton factories.   Whether there's a valid date code or no date code, it has very very very little to do with authentication!