Guide to: how to read Chanel serial numbers

August 14, 2020

Collection of Chanel bags 2023 on the left, and a close up of a Chanel serial number 2023, on the right.

How to read the serial number in your Chanel bag

Part of what’s so amazing about vintage items, is that they come with history. Thanks to Chanel date codes or serial numbers, Our experts are able to tell you exactly in what period our items were made. Even when the Chanel serial number is nog longer readable.

What is the Chanel serial number?

Like many popular designer brands, Chanel suffered from plagiarism a lot. The use of serial numbers was most likely one of the ways the brand tried to make it easier to find counterfeit products. Chanel started using serial numbers in 1984. Even though you can use this code to identify the manufacturing date of an item, it’s a different from a date code. Some people call it the date code, date stamp, or the authentication code. We will refer to it as the Chanel serial number. The Chanel serial numbers are, unlike Louis Vuitton date codes, unique to a specific item. Meaning two Chanel bags can never have the same serial number.

Do all Chanel items have a serial number?

All Chanel bags and accessories manufactured after 1984 have their own serial number. This serial number is very important to find out the year in which a Chanel item was manufactured. Next to this, the code can be used in the authentication process of an item. However, there are definitely more features to look at, and counterfeit Chanel items often come with a (fake) serial number as well. So please don’t use the serial number as the only reference to authenticate your item!

Chanel serial numbers are placed on an authentication sticker on the inside of the bag, as well as on a separate corresponding authenticity card. All new Chanel items will have both of these; however, vintage items are often found without the sticker or card. This is because the sticker can fade or fall off over time, and the card easily gets lost.

Where to find the serial number?

Date code stickers can usually be found on the inside lining, the design of the sticker varies depending on the year the bag was manufactured.

You will be able to find the Chanel date code or serial number on an authentication sticker on the inside of the bag, as well as on a separate authentication card. If you are looking for the Chanel authentication sticker, search here:

In the interior lining
In the corners (mostly facing up or down)
On a small leather tab inside the bag (usually in corners)

How to read a Chanel serial number

Chanel uses an in-house system to create their serial numbers. This means that no one, except Chanel employees, will know the exact logic behind the numbers. Chanel doesn’t provide any services to check the codes and, as far as we know, there isn’t any online Chanel serial number calculator either. However, you can still use the serial number to find out when your item was manufactured.

To find out in which year your Chanel item was manufactured, look at the following two factors.

The number of digits in the code
The first 1 or 2 digits of the code, also known as the series

Look up your Chanel date code / serial number and check the production date by using the table below. First count the number of digits in your code, check the first 1 or 2 digits (depending on a 7- or 8-digit code) and you’ll be able to find the right series. Please note that there are currently no items with a 9-digit code (2021).

31XXXXXX	2021	8 digits starting with 31 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
30XXXXXX	2020	8 digits starting with 30 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
29XXXXXX	2019	8 digits starting with 29 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
28XXXXXX	2019	8 digits starting with 28 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
27XXXXXX	2019	8 digits starting with 27 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
26XXXXXX	2018 - 2019	8 digits starting with 26 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
25XXXXXX	2018	8 digits starting with 25 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
24XXXXXX	2017 – 2018	8 digits starting with 24 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
23XXXXXX	2016 - 2017	8 digits starting with 23 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
22XXXXXX	2016 - 2017	8 digits starting with 22 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
21XXXXXX	2015 - 2016	8 digits starting with 21 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
20XXXXXX	2014 - 2015	8 digits starting with 20 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
19XXXXXX	2014	8 digits starting with 19 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
18XXXXXX	2013 - 2014	8 digits starting with 18 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
17XXXXXX	2012 - 2013	8 digits starting with 17 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
16XXXXXX	2012	8 digits starting with 16 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
15XXXXXX	2011	8 digits starting with 15 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
14XXXXXX	2010 - 2011	8 digits starting with 14 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
13XXXXXX	2009 - 2010	8 digits starting with 13 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
12XXXXXX	2008 - 2009	8 digits starting with 12 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
11XXXXXX	2006 - 2008	8 digits starting with 11 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
10XXXXXX	2005 - 2006	8 digits starting with 10 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
9XXXXXX	2004 - 2005	7 digits starting with 9 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
8XXXXXX	2003 - 2004	7 digits starting with 8 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
7XXXXXX	2002 - 2003	7 digits starting with 7 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
6XXXXXX	2000 - 2002	7 digits starting with 6 0's have strikethroughs 1's have small serifs (feet) Two Chanel logo's above the serial number
5XXXXXX	1997 - 1999	7 digits starting with 5 0's have strikethroughs up to 51XXXXX. 0's have no strikethroughs from 52XXXXX to 56XXXXX. 0's have strikethroughs from 57XXXXX on 1's have small serifs (feet) from 57XXXXX on
4XXXXXX	1996 - 1997	7 digits starting with 4 0's have strikethroughs 1's are sans-serifs (no feet)
3XXXXXX	1994 - 1996	7 digits starting with 3 0's have strikethroughs 1's are sans-serifs ( no feet)
2XXXXXX	1991 - 1994	7 digits starting with 2 0's have no strikethroughs up to 27XXXXX 1's have serifs (feet)
1XXXXXX	1989 - 1991	7 digits starting with 1 0's have no strikethroughs 1's have serifs (feet)
0XXXXXX	1986 - 1988	7 digits starting with 0 0's have no strikethroughs 1's have serifs (feet)
XXXXXX	Mid-1980s	6 digits

*Please note that Chanel releases new serial numbers over time. It is possible that there are newer series released after this blog was posted.

In 2021, Louis Vuitton introduced a groundbreaking microchip technology for their bags and small leather goods. Unlike previous models, new LV items no longer feature date codes. Instead, they are embedded with an invisible microchip that can be scanned using Louis Vuitton's in-store authenticator. This advanced authentication method aims to combat counterfeiting and deter the replica market effectively.

In our collection at Étoile Luxury Vintage we have a lot of beautiful vintage Chanel bags of which we absolutely guarantee you that they are authentic. Please feel free to check our collection here!

With love,
Jessica & Millie