Louis Vuitton belts are a versatile accessory that can dress up even the more simple tee and jeans outfit. If you fell in love with this accessory, we don’t blame you. However, if you’re looking to purchase a secondhand belt, you need to be sure that you’re buying the real deal.
Take a look at the belt below. Do you think it’s a real Louis Vuitton belt or a replica? One of our customers sent it in to have it verified. We’ll examine all the details together in a few minutes and decide whether it’s authentic and worth the $400 price tag.
The item in question is supposed to be a Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Canvas Initiales 40 mm belt.
Most modern replicas look very similar to original items. However, in most cases they fail to copy the details. To verify the item’s authenticity, we’ll examine the item’s details, paying attention to overall quality, hardware engravings, stamps and serial numbers.
Any inconsistency is a red flag. If there are several red flags, that would mean that the item is a replica.
If you’re wondering how to know if a Louis Vuitton belt is real, scroll down to see real side-by-side examples of authentic and knockoff Iniliales belts.
MORE ON DESIGNER BAGS AND ACCESSORIES AUTHENTICATION:
Do Louis Vuitton Belts Have Serial Numbers?
Before we proceed to examining this Louis Vuitton belt, let’s discuss general information that is supposed to be on each item.
All Louis Vuitton belts have an identification number on the backside. This identification number defines the style of the belt. Two numbers below indicate the size in centimeters and inches and can vary.
Note that some vintage belts don’t have any serial numbers.
Louis Vuitton Belt Buckle Examination
Examining the real LV belt buckle is essential in order to note the differences. However, when it comes to hardware, there’s little to no difference between authentic and real belts. One can not slight changes in the front buckle though.
The other side of the buckle is not consistent with original items.
The metal screws have a slightly different shape compared to the real LV belt buckle. In addition, the metal looks different on the item in question.
It’s a serious red flag.
Identification Number
The identification number on the item in question is NOT consistent with authentic items.
The belt in question, a Damier Azur belt, has ‘M9608’ number on it. However, this identification number belongs to the Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Initiales 40mm belt.
This is wrong, since the item in question is a Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Initiales 40mm belt, which is an another style. This Damier Azur item must’ve had the ‘M9609’ identification number on it.
It’s a huge red flag.
LV Belt Heat Stamp Check
Let’s now examine the heat stamp differences between the item in question and authentic items.
First, the material doesn’t look consistent with original items. It’s noticeable that the backside of authentic items looks smooth, whereas on the item in question it’s bumpy.
Next, the font is not consistent with an authentic item’s font. The most obvious differences are the following:
- The R trademark sign is larger than on an authentic item
- The ‘O’ in ‘VUITTON’ is oval, while on authentic items it’s a perfect ‘O’
- The ‘R’ in ‘PARIS’ has another shape
- There’s too much space between ‘in’ and ‘Spain’ compared to authentic items
Several red flags were revealed when it comes to the heat stamp. There’s already enough evidence to deem the belt in question not authentic.
Date code
The date code reads ‘CT3114’. According to the Louis Vuitton date code system, that would mean that the item was manufactured in France (CT) on the 31st week of 2014.
This information contradicts the heat stamp on the item in question, which says that the item was produced in Spain.
Apart from that, the date code font is not consistent with authentic items’ font. It’s pretty hard to notice without knowing all the fonts though.
There are red flags when it comes to the date code too.
Summary
As a lot of red flags were found during the examination, based on the pictures provided, in our opinion a Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Canvas Initiales 40 mm belt with a date code CT3114 is NOT AUTHENTIC.
Louis Vuitton Belt Authenticity Check
If you’re purchasing a preowned belt from a renowned French fashion goods manufacturer, it’s always better to double-check it with a professional. We at GabyLuxxy have been specializing in Louis Vuitton secondhand items for over 8 years.