It goes without saying that Chanel's classic flap bag is one of the most iconic styles in fashion. The wallet debuted shortly after Karl Lagerfeld joined the brand in the mid-1980s. Designed with the modern woman in mind, the classic flap features a distinctive “CC” turnlock closure and woven leather straps. Its popularity was almost immediate, but with fame came concerns about counterfeiting.
In an attempt to limit counterfeit products, Chanel In 1986, we first began producing handbags and accessories with serial number stickers. This serial number, which is used as a standard for verifying authenticity, is attached to the inside of Chanel products and indicates when the product was manufactured. Each of these numbers is unique to that bag and there are no repeated numbers.
NOTE: Although the serial number matches the original card, it does not determine the style/model of your bag. This serial number is unique to that item and card.
Chanel began issuing cereal stickers when they began using them. certainty This is a card with the corresponding serial number on it. This card has seen some changes over the years, but has always been a black plastic card with white text and a gold border. Below you will find an example of the serial number sticker with the corresponding authentic card.
Chanel bags produced from 1986 to the present are made with serial number stickers and genuine cards, but the stickers may be damaged or peel off, or the cards may be lost. Just because a Chanel handbag doesn't have these features doesn't mean it's always considered a counterfeit.
The first serial numbers were printed on white stickers with a subtle interlocking “CC” logo. Each serial number is a seven-digit number printed in a cutout on the left side of the white sticker, with an opaque film surrounding the sticker. The photo below is an example of a vintage bag produced in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The serial number is printed on the sticker cutout and indicates that the handbag was produced between 1989 and 1991 in the 1 Series.
In the 1990s, Chanel's serial number stickers began to evolve into much more distinguishable “CC” logos printed across the sticker. The serial number on the bag below is a dark interlocking CC with an opaque film on the sticker.
An early 5 Series sticker indicates that this bag was manufactured between 1997-1999.
Chanel has continued its anti-counterfeiting efforts, including adding additional features to the serial number stickers toward the end of the five series products. The numbers are still printed on the white sticker, but the entire sticker is now completely covered in clear tape with gold and blue glitter. This serial number is printed on a double holographic sticker. The bottom layer has a serial number printed on it and is cut in an X shape, making it impossible to remove without damaging the sticker. It features a repeating “CHANEL” line with a gray line running vertically on the left margin and a very small “CC” logo running vertically on the right margin.
Below we've included examples of different bags from the 6 Series to the 26 Series.
The 6 Series sticker above indicates that the bag was manufactured between 2000 and 2002.
The 9 Series sticker above indicates that the bag was manufactured between 2004 and 2005, while the 14 Series sticker indicates that it was manufactured in 2011.
The 26 series sticker above indicates that the bag was manufactured in 2019.
Here is some additional information to consider regarding your Chanel serial number:
Below you will find a chart with the Chanel serial number format and the corresponding year of production. If you're curious about the year your Chanel product was produced, use the following chart to find out the year.
Note: Serial numbers from the 0 series to the 9 series contain 7 digits, while the current 10 series serial numbers contain 8 digits.
As of April 2021, Chanel has made an exciting new move to join the fight against counterfeiting. Just as Louis Vuitton switched to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchips and eliminated date codes, Chanel also eliminated the need for authenticity cards and serial number stickers. Starting with the handbags, the wallets now include a nameplate engraved with CC and a combination of seven letters and numbers to match the color of the hardware. Small leather goods will continue to include an authenticity card.
This new system was implemented to prevent serial removal as removing the name plate could damage the bag. The nameplate prevents the loss of your original card and ensures that Chanel has information about your purchase.
Don't forget to check out our other blogs for what's next: Popular Chanel Materials and How to Clean a Chanel Bag!
***Couture USA only authenticates items that you wish to sell or consign to us.
There are several companies that provide authentication services. Mypoupette, CarolDiva, and Authenticate4U are all reputable authentication companies that will be happy to review your items for a small fee. ***
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Updated July 2021
