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, we are able to tell you exactly when an item was made and thus how old the bags we sell are.

What is a Chanel date code or 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 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.

1. The number of digits in the code
2. 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)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo Chanel logo’s above the serial number

16XXXXXX

2012

• 8 digits starting with 16
• 0’s have strikethroughs
• 1’s have small serifs (feet)
• T

  wo Chanel logo’s above the serial number

15XXXXXX

2011

• 8 digits starting with 15
• 0’s have strikethroughs
• 1’s have small serifs (feet)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo 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)
• T

  wo 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 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