Chanel started placing serial numbers in their handbags in 1986. These bags were also accompanied by an authenticity card with the matching serial number. Tip: Authenticity Card helps find the age of your Chanel bag. From the late 1990s to the present, the serial number has been printed on a white sticker beneath 2 gold Chanel logos. The serial number is most often located inside the bag at the lower left corner or on the zipper pocket. The sticker should be covered with a rectangle. Chanel logos can be found on the serial number sticker and was protected by a clear tape with hologram security feature from 2000 on. The manufacturing date shows variation of the sticker, Chanel logo and hologram design (view below). Note that serial number stickers may. From the late 1990s to the present, the serial number has been printed on a white sticker beneath 2 gold Chanel logos. The serial number is most often located inside the bag at the lower left corner or on the zipper pocket. The sticker should be covered with a rectangle of clear tape large enough to cover then entire sticker. If the serial number on a bag does not follow the Chanel formula or has more than 8 digits or less than 7, it is most certainly a fake. 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.

What is the best way to tell a fake or genuine Chanel bag? The serial numbers are an infallible clue. Our guide shows which number range the bag should have, what the fonts look like, and the clues to tell if it is fake.

Chanel handbags are sold only very selectively through selected distributors. Therefore, make sure that the online store is trustworthy.

Serial numbers to identify a fake or genuine Chanel bag

Since the mid-1980s, Chanel bags have been delivered with an authenticity card. A serial number is embossed on the card. The same serial number can be found inside the handbag on the interior cladding or on a tab. The serial number inside the Chanel handbag is affixed by a sticker, which has been protected by a transparent foil with hologram since the beginning of 2000. The design of the stickers and hologram as a safety feature has changed over time and are described here.

Note: The published information may change or contain errors. We do not guarantee the up-to-dateness, correctness and completeness of the information provided.

Serial numbers and authenticity cards

As far as second-hand Chanel bags are concerned authenticity cards and serial number stickers do not constitute proof of authenticity. In deed they are quite easily forged. However they may help determine which year a bag has been manufactured.A missing serial sticker equally doesn’t mean the bag is a fake as many vintage bags have worn or missing serial stickers.

In 1984 Chanel started stamping a unique number for each item on an authenticity card and printed the same number on a serial sticker inside the item. Serial stickers identify the bag’s model and year. Note that bags made before 1984 do not have stickers

Chanel changes the location of the internal sticker depending on the models of bags and accessories and some can even be a little awkward to find.

it is common to find authentic second hand bags with worn or even missing serial stickers. It is simply a sticker and sooner or later with use it slowly starts to deteriorate.

As a simple guide, 6 digit codes indicate a bag made between 1984 and 1986, 7 digit codes a bag made sometime between 1986 and 2004 and 8 digit codes a bag made from 2005 onwards.

8-digit number:

19******Chanel series: 2014-2015

18****** Chanel series: 2013-2014

17****** Chanel series: 2012-2013

16****** Chanel series: 2012

15****** Chanel series: 2011

14****** Chanel series: 2010-2011

13****** Chanel series: 2009-2010

12****** Chanel series: 2008-2009

Check Chanel Purse Serial Number 1866494

11****** Chanel series: 2006-2008

10****** Chanel series: 2005-2006

7-digit number:

9****** Chanel series: 2004-2005

8****** Chanel series: 2003-2004

7****** Chanel series: 2002-2003

6****** Chanel series: 2000-2002

Check Chanel Purse Serial Number Lookup

5****** Chanel series: 1997-1999

4****** Chanel series: 1996-1997

3****** Chanel series: 1994-1996

2****** Chanel series: 1991-1994

1****** Chanel series: 1989-1991

0****** Chanel series: 1986-1988

Chanel Purse Serial Number Check

6-digit number:

Check Chanel Purse Serial Number Search

(1XXXXX – 42XXXX) Chanel series: 1984-1986

Authenticity cards were also introduced at the same time as the serial sticker. The serial number on the card should match the serial number inside the bag. It is worth noting that forging authenticity cards is relatively easy and that Chanel have never produced cards with a hologram effect. Authentic cards are thick, coated with plastic and feel a bit like a credit card.