How To Check Chanel Serial Number Online
Victorio Galindo
If you want to check the code of your Chanel bag to get an idea on authenticity, you're in the right place. This Chanel Serial Number Checker will allow you to check Chanel serial number online and get your handbag's age as a result. It's a part of checking a Chanel bag's authenticity.
As of April 2021, Chanel has made an interesting new twist in joining the efforts to eliminate counterfeiting. Much like Louis Vuitton's switch to the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchips and eliminating date codes, Chanel has put an end to the need for authenticity cards and the serial number sticker. Beginning with handbags, their purses will now include a plaque that matches the color of the hardware with a CC and a seven letter and digit combination etched into it. Small leather goods will continue to include the authenticity card.
This new system is implemented to deter the removal of the serial since the removal of the plaque will damage the bag. With a plaque, this also eliminates the loss of authenticity cards allowing Chanel to have information about the purchase.
NOTE: Please be aware that this free Chanel serial number checker is not a replacement of professional authentication. If the checker returns your handbag's age, it doesn't necessarily mean the handbag you're verifying is authentic. Counterfeiters know how to copy Chanel serial numbers. This calculator can only point out replicas that don't follow Chanel serial numbers' format.
If you love Chanel but do not have years of authentication experience, the following is a detailed guide on the science of authenticating Chanel handbags--something you can quickly refer to at home or when you're on the go.
Because authenticating Chanel is also an art that takes years to develop--like recognizing the smell, texture, weight, flexibility and knowing how vintage bags age--we recommend that you always get your bag professionally authenticated, or purchase from a reputable reseller with an authenticity guarantee.
Caution: If you are authenticating a used Chanel bag that uses a chip technology instead of hologram (early year 2021 and newer) skip to authentication step 2 and then follow detailed steps later in the article that describe how to authenticate newer Chanel bags with NFC chip technology.
Chanel started using the date code system in the mid 1980's. We call them the social security numbers of the Chanel bags. Look inside the bag for a sticker with the serial number. The location of the serial number varies depending on the style of handbag and the year, but unless the bag is very vintage you should always find the date code inside.
The year the bag was made is determined by the amount of digits in the serial number, and the first digit(s) in that serial number. If your bag has 8 digits, it was produced between late 2005-current.
If the serial number on a bag does not follow the Chanel formula or has more than 8 digits it is most certainly a fake. In rare cases you can find vintage Chanel bags with a 6-digit serial number. Most bags made in 1986 had a 7-digit number starting with zero, but in very early 1986 bags the leading zero was skipped where a 6-digit number started with a 1 or 2.
Of course, the Chanel formula is readily available information, so advanced counterfeiters could create a serial number that fits the table above. Pay attention to the font, the sparkles and the x cutout in the hologram. You need to examine the serial number sticker more carefully: it will never be a plain, boring sticker that looks out of place.
Also, if you find "Chanel" printed at the top or the bottom of the sticker it is not a real Chanel handbag. It is a common trait among counterfeit stickers. "Chanel" is supposed to be printed on the side of the sticker.
If you looked everywhere inside the bag and still find no serial number, it's not the end of the world! Remember, these are stickers that are constantly rubbing against the bag's contents, and they can fall off and fade with use. It could also be a vintage authentic Chanel crafted prior to 1986.
Pictured: examples of authentic Chanel date codes. Note how they combine several unique identification and safety features: iridescent speckles, CC logos and 'X' scores on the plastic. They are usually found either on a small leather tab such as in the bottom left example, inside of an interior pocket or tucked into a corner of the bag's interior.
Chanel bags also feature high stitch count: in most cases there should be 10 or more stitches per edge of the diamond quilting. This keeps the bag sturdy and also prevents puffiness from the leather. Exact stitch count can vary with the type of Chanel bag, but if you see unusually low stitch count, it is likely a fake.
Get up close and personal with the bag and count the stitches! Chanels have very high stitch count to preserve shape and provide durability. You should count about 10 stitches per diamond edge, but this number can vary with the model.
Pictured: Close up images of Chanel's quintessential leather intertwined chain link strap. The leather should be expertly stitched, with no uneven edges or bumps. With Chanel, the beauty isn't just the silhouette, but also in the finest details.
It is very common for counterfeit Chanel bags to mess up the alignment of the diamond quilting between the flap and the rest of the bag. If you see a blatant misalignment, you can fully disregard the bag as a fake.
Pictured: You can tell a real Chanel bag from a fake by examining the quilting. On the left is a fake bag: the quilting is very obviously not aligned between the pocket and the bag. On the right is an authentic bag: the stitching pattern looks seamless from the pocket to the bag.
It is also important to note that as the bag ages and is worn, the leather will tend to relax slightly and the quilting may not line up perfectly. A bag with this slight imperfection may still be authentic, so be sure to check other areas!
Zippers are easily overlooked, but be sure to inspect it carefully as the zipper often has many telltale signs of authenticity. Chanel uses different kinds of zippers depending on the bag, but the most notable types are Lampo, the DMC, the YKK, the eclair zipper, the triple 'C' in a circle and an unmarked zipper for very vintage Chanel bags.
In April of 2021 Chanel replaced serial number holograms with microchips embedded within a metal plate. This metal plate now replaces the hologram sticker and the authentication card. Yes, no more hologram date codes and authentication cards.
The chip identifies the bag within Chanel's proprietary database. Anybody with an NFC scanner can scan the microchip, but only Chanel staff have access to the Chanel database and can retrieve information about the bag.
Some fear that the microchip makes it impossible to authenticate a bag outside of a Chanel boutigue. This cannot be further from the truth. With the introduction of the microchip Chanel gave us numerous additional ways to authenticate their bags.
The serial number hologram was a good element, which was hard for counterfeiters to replicate. However, it was also a very frail sticker, which often came off through the daily use. If you look closely, the new metal tag with a microchip is so intricate and carefully designed that you can glean a lot into confirming your bag's authenticity.
An interlocking CC logo and an 8-character alphanumeric serial code must appear on the front of the plate. The CC logo has to be above the code. The CC logo and the font are laser-inscribed into the metal plate and must be perfectly even with no imperfections in the shape of the CC or the shape of the letters and digits. The alphanumeric code will no longer tell us the production year at a glance. However, we can check the production year in a different way.
Feel the metal tag with your finger. An authentic laser-inscription into the metal plate is so light and shallow that you should not feel it with your finger. Your finger should slide freely. However, you will feel it if you slide a finger nail over it. The inscribed parts of the plate should feel like an extremely fine finger nail file. If you can feel the inscription with your finger it means it is too deep and is likely a counterfeit.
Chanel staff will not scan your bag if you bring it inside a store, unless you have a receipt and are trying to return or repair your purchase. After scanning the chip inside the metal plate, Chanel personnel will be able to access their database with the dates of manufacture, distribution, purchase and even repairs of your specific bag.
To check if your new Chanel bag is real, in addition to inspecting the microchip tag, be sure to look closely at stitching, hardware, CC logo, quilting pattern and zippers as we describe in detail above.
The leather of choice on many Chanel bags is lambskin which should feel soft to the touch and have a visibly smooth appearance. The superior quality of leather used by Chanel should be easy to distinguish from the feel and appearance of a counterfeit. If you are inspecting a lambskin leather bag, ensure it feels extremely soft to the touch.
Another popular leather used by Chanel is caviar skin which is made from pebbled calf leather. This type of leather has a bubbly appearance and is more textured to the touch. It is less likely to scratch and mark and is a more durable leather than lambskin. When you run your hands over genuine caviar leather you should feel raised dimples.
The quilting pattern is synonymous with Chanel and can be a good indicator of whether a bag is genuine or not. A good place to check the quilting is the back of the bag where the pocket lies. The stitching should maintain the consistent diamond pattern and line up perfectly. However, if you are purchasing a pre-loved Chanel bag it is possible that wear or the stretching of the leather has led to the lines becoming slightly out of place so this is only a valid indicator if purchasing a new Chanel bag.
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