Louis Vuitton Fonts - Real or Fake?

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Snagged By A Phony LV Bag?

Spotting a Phony Louis Vuitton Logo

In this guide we have illustrated some details about

real Louis Vuitton handbags

on ebay and other domains that will help you weed out the fakes. This is in no way a conclusive or complete guide to every detail about Louis Vuitton, but it has enough information to highly increase you chances of spotting the fake Louis Vuitton handbags. Combining some of these brand specific points with the universal tells we have listed should help keep you insulated from many of the fake L. Vuitton handbags in the open market.

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Louis Vuitton under $200

Pre-Owned Louis Vuitton deals

Louis Vuitton Speedy 25

Louis Vuitton Speedy 30

Louis Vuitton Speedy 35

Louis Vuitton Speedy 40

Louis Vuitton Monogram wallet

Louis Vuitton Tutorial Sections:

Louis Vuitton Monogram Pattern
Louis Vuitton Font-Date Code ←
Louis Vuitton Hardware
Speedy 30 Stats
L.V. Wallet
Lotus (LV) font test

Louis Vuitton Accessory Guides:

Louis Vuitton Belts
Louis Vuitton Sunglasses

Louis Vuitton ßÿlaws:

I. Louis Vuitton does not discount.
II. Louis Vuitton does not have outlets, or seconds or irregulars.
III. Louis Vuitton does not wholesale.

3. Font/stamp: Louis Vuitton uses a very specific font. Stamps on Louis Vuitton merchandise are referred to as "heat stamps" or "hot stamps."

Below is an image of an authentic Louis Vuitton font:

Note: Notice the letters, authentic Louis Vuitton fonts conform to the same general guidelines.

←[Real] The [L] in Louis usually has a shorter horizontal leg than a standard (arial, times etc) L font. And the [O] in Louis is usually a wide circle, and appears to overlap (or share a border) with the letter L. [Example of this further below, or try our Lotus (LV) font test for greater detail.]
Therefore, an oval shaped O, or a fully extended L should be considered red flags. Many fakes have these two letters incorrect. The [U] in Louis and Vuitton can sometimes vary. Some heat stamps have the U in Louis slightly wider than the U in Vuitton. Most stamps (left), have both letters U equal length. The [S] in Louis, and in Paris may have a slightly shorter top curve than bottom curve. The top and bottom curve can also be equal. The double [TT] in Vuitton will have the crosses of the double TT nearly touching, and some authentic logo stamps they may actually appear to touch. Overall the font should be a clear impression, with crisp letters and no signs of sloppy, bleeding or mis-stamped letters. Much of the time it comes down to the quality of the stamp impression, and lower quality Louis Vuitton logo stamps will have areas where the rushed, sloppy work is noticable.

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Damier Geant Canvas Bags

Damier Granite Canvas

Embossed Leather

Louis Vuitton `Embossed

Below is an image of a real vs. fake Louis Vuitton font/stamp:

←[Real]: The yellow vertical line divides the space between the L and the O, and here you can see (left) that the letters [L and O] appear to slightly overlap into each others areas (however, it is more of a shared border). This feature is enabled by the shorter leg of the Louis Vuitton L, and the overly rounded O. Also, in the real image (left), notice the [U] in Louis, and the U in Vuitton. The letter U in Louis is has a slightly more angular bottom curve than the U in Vuitton. [More detail on the [UU] variance details here. Also, the right side of the U prong in Vuitton has an ever so slightly thicker line than the left side of the U. This is also ok. Some Louis Vuitton stamps might not have this feature, (these subtle details may vary depending on country of origin). As such, these subtle font details are quality features of an authentic Louis Vuitton heat stamp, and fake stamps (often times) may not display these features. Also notice how crisp the stamp impression is, the letters do not bleed into the leather.

←[Fake] Note: The yellow dividing line between the letters L and O shows that the letters do not appear to overlap or share a border. The spacial contrast between the letters (L+O left), and the (L+O above) is evident. Also, the fake Louis Vuitton (left) show that the [U] in both Louis and Vuitton are the same total width, with an equal width to the right prong as the left prong of the U. This is generally fine. But in this case, the two fonts that are being compared are of the same model/style Louis Vuitton wallet, and in a case where two of the same bags-wallets-belts etc are being compared, the fonts should have the same consistant details.
F/N:The ® (registerd trademark) symbol is jammed up too high in its circular frame in the fake LV image. Also, notice how the print seems to bleed into the leather creating an almost blurry appearance. This is what a cheaply printed stamp will look like, compared to an authentic Louis Vuitton heat stamp. It looks like the folks who counterfeited the fake stamp did try to reproduce the thicker right [U] prong in Vuitton, but it came out overly blotchy.

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Louis Vuitton Monogram Cruise

Louis Vuitton Monogram Damier

Monogram Damier Leather

Monogram Denim

Monogram Denim Patchwork

Fake Louis Vuitton label:

Notice: On this fake label (left), nearly every letter is an incorrect font. The letters [L] and the [O] do not appear to overlap into each others spaces or share a border. As there is a clear space between the two letters. (Also the letters [O], namely the first O in Louis,is dented). One of the reasons they (L+O) do not overlap (or share a border) is due to the dented far left side of the letter. The O in Vuitton also shows these same dented areas. It is clear that both the letters O are not perfect circles. The S is also an incorrect font, as the loops on the top and the bottom are overly long and curved. The [N] is also wrong, being too thin and almost squished in. Also some of the letters at the tops have a stamp impression that looks like it is trailing off to the left, especially the U in Louis. This is a quality issue. The stamp impression was poorly pressed, or quickly pressed (more likely), and it has left behind an obvious glitch at the top of some of the letters. It looks like the entire stamp was shifted to the right during the stamping, (a possible last second attempt to center the logo). Or it is possible that the stamp process was just a typical counterfeit rush job. [We will also note the pinch of irony here with a website watermarking "do not copy" on a photo of an illegal trademark violation.]

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Monogram Miroir - Mirror

Date code: Since the early 90's, the date code has been two letters then four numbers. Older models may have used one/two letters then three/four numbers, simply three numbers alone (more info below).

Beware: Some authentic vintage pieces from the early 1980's and back have no date code at all. However, the majority of all Louis Vuitton post early 80's will have a date code. No date code should always give rise to suspicion, and we highly recommend an expert opinion when you encounter a Louis Vuitton with no date code, barring that every other detail looks up to par.

Quick List:

[1]: France: A0, A1, A2, AA, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, CT, DU, ET, FL, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SD, SL, SN, SP, SR, TH, VI
[2]: USA: FC, FH, LA, OS, SD
[3]: Spain: CA, LO, LB, LM, LW
[4]: Italy: CE, SA
[5]: Germany: LP

Updated List:

[1/1/12] Louis Vuitton Date Code Updates Beta

Louis Vuitton (original) Date code list:

Louis Vuitton Date Codes

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Monogram Multicolor

Monogram Multicolore

Monogram Roses

Monogram Rubis

Below is an image of an authentic Louis Vuitton date code:

Note: By referencing the chart (above), this date code "SP" tells us that this bag was made in France.

Louis Vuitton ebay

Monogram Shearling

Monogram Suede

Monogram Vernis

Monogram Watercolor

Shape: Naturally all of the same Louis Vuitton models/styles will conform to the same shapes.

Below is an image of a fake (left) vs. Real (right) Speedy shape.

Note: These two bags are (supposed) to be the same Speedy model, but the shapes are different. The fake has a rounder, sloppier shape to it. Always know the shape of the model you are considering purchasing. Have an authentic image of the bag on hand to compare.

Fake [left] - Real [right]

fake vs. real Speedy shape

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Monogram Patent Leather

Louis Vuitton Suhali Leather

Steven Sprouse Collection

Louis Vuitton Travel Bags

Louis Vuitton Mens Bags

Tags/plastic wrap: Louis Vuitton does not come with tags attatched to the handbag, or with plastic wrap on any of the parts. These are well known tells, most people know these tells. Most of the fake handbags you will see that have this obvious tell are those sold on "replica" websites who advertise the bags as being fake to begin with.
Below is an image of a fake Louis Vuitton with a tag attached:

Fake Louis Vuitton with tag attached

Below is an image of fake Louis Vuitton with plastic wrap:

Note: The monogram pattern on this fake is also not symmetric. This is a slightly more subtle tell than the earlier example we used in Louis Vuitton monogram pattern.

Fake Louis Vuitton with plastic wrap