Do you ever open your Chanel bag and wonder what that small rectangular sticker is on the interior lining of your Chanel? These are usually found in the bottom left hand corner or the interior lining of the interior zipper pocket. These stickers are referred to as Serial Numbers, Date Codes, Hologram Stickers, or Authenticity Codes. Serial numbers indicate the year a Chanel handbag was manufactured and will indicate the age of your Chanel bag.
The very first serial numbers ever produced were in 1986, and are referred to as Series 0. Prior to 1986, serial numbers were not included on the interior lining. Serial numbers were included on the interior lining after 1986 to prevent counterfeit bags from being produced and are used as an additional support to authenticate your Chanel handbag. Here are examples of Series 1 through Series 10 Chanel serial number codes.
Series 9 and below, beginning with the digit 9, are seven digits within the serial sticker. Series 10 and above, beginning with the digit 10, are 8 digits within the serial sticker. Although any bag 20 years of age or older is considered "vintage", series 12 (or the year 2008) was the very last series of Chanel to plate the hardware in 24K gold. Because of this, most individuals consider "vintage" Chanel to be 2008 or older because they are plated in 24k gold.
When purchasing pre-owned, always double-check that the serial number located inside the bag matches the included auth card (if there is an auth card). Peruse the table below to get familiar with each series and the year they were manufactured in the included date stamp guide and serial code examples for vintage Chanel. If ever in doubt, be sure to seek out professional help to authenticate your Chanel handbag and never solely rely on your serial number.
Serial Number | Year |
12XXXXXX | 2008-2009 |
11XXXXXX | 2006-2008 |
10XXXXXX | 2005-2006 |
9XXXXXX | 2004-2005 |
8XXXXXX | 2003-2004 |
7XXXXXX | 2002-2003 |
6XXXXXX | 2000-2002 |
5XXXXXX | 1997-1999 |
4XXXXXX | 1996-1997 |
3XXXXXX | 1994-1996 |
2XXXXXX | 1991-1994 |
1XXXXXX | 1989-1991 |
0XXXXXX | 1986-1989 |