The classic monogram on a Louis Vuitton bag are interlocking letters LV, where V is slightly above L. The logo also includes a four-petal fleur-de-lys, as well as a fleur-de-lys inside a square and a four-petal flower inside a circle. No crooked letters, stars, other flowers or geometric figures are authentic Louis Vuitton logos.

On authentic bags the logo continuity plays a great part. Once a line from the stitch starts with a fleur-de-lys, it will finish with the fleur-de-lys. Once the pattern starts from the half-circle, it must finish with a half-circle. Fun fact: classic Speedy bag are made of one piece of leather, this is why the logo on one side of the handbag would be upside down from another side of the bag. 

If the purse is made of Damier Ebene canvas, the logo “Louis Vuitton Paris” in a square should be in the same line on one side of the bag as it is on another. Pay attention to those details.

The number of stitches on one side of the handle should match the number of stitches on another. On a Speedy bag, the top line of stitches on a handle used to account for five. Nowadays in order to mislead counterfeiters, the number might change from collection to collection. 

There should be no stitches on the bottom of a classic Speedy bag, unless it is a special edition or variation.

Since 1983, Louis Vuitton has used a six-character date code stamp for its handbags. The first two characters are letters (a code for the place) and the rest of the four-characters are numbers (the month and the year of production). However, the company keeps updating their coding to the extent that since 2007 the digit code has signified the number of the week in the year whenthe item was produced. Authentic stamps look like this:

Also, pay attention to the fonts of the inside stamps; the company has been using the same font for years and the first and easiest letter to observe is “O” in Vuitton. It must be perfectly round as a circle, not oval-shape like 0. “TT” in Vuitton almost touches each other and L has a longer first vertical line than the horizontal. Furthermore, it is perfectly centred on a square of leather, usually stitched with a mustard colored thread to the inside pocket.

The shapes of the hardware that connects an item together, like handles or zippers must be smooth. While in fake bags connecting pieces and ring hooks might be rounded, the original LV bag has a D-ring. If it is a square piece, the edges of it are extremely smooth and not sharp at all. 

Zippers should slide like butter, very smooth and easy. If you feel like it’s stopping along the way or requires some “oil”, that’s a red flag.

Every metallic piece on an authentic purse must have a Louis Vuitton engraving. It must be crisp, precise and well crafted. The logo that fully says “Louis Vuitton” on round rivets must be perfectly circled.

Speaking of handles - an original LV bag NEVER comes with plastic wrappers around its handles. Never! 

In addition, once you start using your LV, the tanned beige handles will turn darker brown as it’s made of cowhide leather that oxydizes. If with time, the handles don’t change colour that should warn you. Also, if you are buying a pre-loved vintage bag with such handles, they should be dark as well.

The dust bag should only say LOUIS VUITTON or have a monogram, no additional information. Often times fake manufacturers put too much information and thus compromise themselves.