A Brief Glimpse Into: Chanel

Founder:
Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel

Year Founded: 
1910

Creative Director as of 2023: 
Virginie Viard

Owned By:
Self Owned

Most Known For: 
The Flap Bag

Fun Fact: 
Coco Chanel is credited in creating the LBD and revolutionized women’s dress by introducing pants and suits.

Learn More:
Wikipedia
More on Chanel

Chanel Authenticity Cards and Serial Numbers

Until 2021-2022, every handbag and small leather goods manufactured by Chanel since the mid 1980s would include a unique serial number on a sticker placed inside of the item along with an authenticity card with the matching number embossed on it.

These cards along with the stickers have changed over the years which we have shown below.

Authenticity Cards

Chanel authenticity cards have changed since their inception and below we have examples of authentic and counterfeit cards and the changes they have gone through.

Authentic Examples

Chanel Authenticity Card-Front

This is an example of what an authentic Chanel authenticity card front should look like.

Chanel Authenticity Card-Back

This is an example of what an authentic Chanel authenticity card back with the serial number should look like.

0 Series
The first cards in the zero series had a white stripe behind the serial number. The font was also thicker.

0 Series
The white stripe is no longer behind the serial number and the font has changed. The white CC logo at the upper right corner started to show up at the end of the 5 Series.

0-32 Series
While there have been subtle changes to the Chanel Authenticity Card, it remained in this style until the move to the new serial sticker and metal plaques.

Counterfeit Chanel Authenticity Cards
Just because a card is present and the number matches the sticker, it does not mean that the item is automatically authentic. Below we will share the most counterfeited Chanel serial number on three different authenticity cards.

This is the most counterfeited Chanel serial number is 10218184.

10218184 Counterfeit Chanel Authenticity Card

10218184 Counterfeit Chanel Authenticity Card 

10218184 Counterfeit Chanel Authenticity Card

Looking at the authentic card above, there are a few points that you want to look at when trying to determine the authenticity of the card.

1. There will be a small plastic bump on the right side of the Chanel authenticity card when looking at the backside where the numbers are.
2. The white CC round logo on the backside of the card should not be translucent and under a magnifying microscope (see images below) you can see the differences between counterfeit and authentic.
3. The fonts on the serial number and the text have changed over seasons and the gold border, while can be reflective, it will not show a hologram.
4. The T and Y in the word Quality should always touch and the fonts should be consistent. See the authentic and counterfeit images below between the T and Y in Quality.

Counterfeit and Authentic Macro Images

Authentic Example

Counterfeit Example

Authentic Example

Counterfeit Example

Authentic Example

Counterfeit Example

Counterfeit Example

Counterfeit Example

From 1986 to 2021, all handbags and small leather goods included their own unique serial number. This was placed on a sticker inside the item and was not meant to be removed. From the beginning of these stickers, they have changed which we have noted below.

When reading a Chanel serial number on a sticker, you can learn when the item was manufactured by matching the first two numbers on the sticker to the correlating year, see below.

0 Series
7 Digits – 0XXXXXX
Years – 1986 to 1988

~0’s have no strikethroughs
~1’s have serifs (feet)
~ Serial number is printed on a white sticker with the left side being cutout

1 Series
7 Digits – 1XXXXXX
Years – 1989 to 1991

~7 digits starting with 0
~0’s have no strikethroughs
~1’s have serifs (feet)
~ Serial number is printed on a clear sticker with the Chanel CC logo printed on a white sticker with three sides with the left side being cutout

2 Series
7 Digits – 2XXXXXX
Years – 1991 to 1994

~0’s have no strikethroughs up to 27XXXXX
~1’s have serifs (feet)
~Serial number is printed on a white sticker with the Chanel CC logo

3 Series
7 Digits – 3XXXXXX
Years – 1994 to 1996

~0’s have strikethroughs
~1’s are sans-serifs ( no feet)
~The serial number printed on a white sticker with the Chanel CC logos

4 Series
7 Digits – 4XXXXXX
Years – 1996 to 1997

~0’s have strikethroughs
~1’s are sans-serifs ( no feet)
~The serial number printed on a white sticker with the Chanel CC logos

5 Series
7 Digits – 5XXXXXX
Years – 1997 to 1999

The number zero (0) has a strike through up to 51XXXXX.
Zeros (0) have no strike-throughs from 52-56XXXXX.
Zeros (0) have strike-throughs from 57XXXXX on.
~1’s are sans-serifs ( no feet)
~The seven (7) digit serial number is printed on a white sticker with two Chanel CC logos above.
~Gold speckled clear tape covers the sticker with X cut-lines to prevent the sticker from being removed without damage.
~The Chanel name appears on the right side and a dark line appears on the left.

6 Series
7 Digits – 6XXXXXX
Years – 2000 to 2002

~0’s have strikethroughs
~1’s are serif (feet)
~Two Chanel Logos above the serial number
~The Chanel name appears on the right side and a dark line appears on the left.

7 Series
7 Digits – 7XXXXXX
Years – 2002 to 2003

~0’s have strikethroughs
~1’s are serif (feet)
~Two Chanel Logos above the serial number
~The Chanel name appears on the right side and a dark line appears on the left.

8 Series
7 Digits – 8XXXXXX
Years – 2003 – 2004

~0’s have strikethroughs
~1’s have small serifs (feet)
~Two Chanel logo’s above the serial number