Date Added: December 17, 2006

Audrey Hepburn with her Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy 25
The Louis Vuitton Speedy is classic, I mean really what celebrity or any purse enthusiast doesn’t have the Louis Vuitton Speedy. Lookie above even Audrey Hepburn was photographed with this classic piece.

If you want to get your hands on a vintage Louis Vuitton handbag, like Audrey’s, then take notes. Listed below are a few tips on checking for authenticity when in the market for a vintage LV.

This is a repeat, but very valuable tips on how to spot a Fake Vintage Louis Vuitton Handbag:
1976 through 1991 Louis Vuitton gave special permission to “The French Company” to manufactured bags under a special license for them to produce accessories ornamented with the iconic “LV” symbol. They (TFC) are still producing handbags today that resemble the shape of some of the Louis Vuitton handbags, such as the speedy and some luggage bags, however they don’t use the “LV” symbol anymore and their bags aren’t even close to the exclusive price range of Louis Vuitton.

If you are shopping for a Vintage Louis Vuitton handbag, here are some tips. Remember that just because it says its vintage doesn’t mean that it is. Counterfeiters have been replicating Louis Vuitton items since the labels first trunk was produced back in the late 1800’s.

- No Date Code? Date Code is important for the new Louis Vuitton handbags but not so much for the older pieces. The vintage as well as the “French Company” prior to the early 1980’s will not have date codes.

- Darker treated Leather. The leather used on the vintage Louis Vuitton handbags was a darker treated carmel color leather, not the untreated vachetta leather with a patina that we know today.

- The strip across the bottom. The current Louis Vuitton Speedy handbags being produced have the “LV’s” upside down on one side. The French Company Speedy actually has a seam on the bottom, covered with a leather strip. The LVs on each side are “”rightside up.”

- If vintage and produced by the French Company, then it will be labeled so. The French Company handbags and luggage will have labeling that says that notifies the buyer that the item was made under a special license and that it was made in the USA. Most often, the tag is an almost paper-like tyvek tag sewn into a side seam of the bag.

- Zipper Pulls. The vintage Louis Vuitton handbags used Talon and Eclair zipper pulls.

- Vintage “French Company” pieces do not have a removable lock. The “French Company” used press-lock closures.

- Hardware. French Company Louis Vuitton hardware is quite different from the hardware used today. Today the hardware used on the Louis Vuitton handbags are mostly made of goldtone brass however, vintage pieces commonly used plated nickel. Also the Louis Vuitton name (as well as “LV” symbol) was not embossed on the zippers.

eBay Alert for Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy’s:

* Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy 35 Purse - Made by “The French Company” under the special license back in the 1970s. In great condition. Starting bid $450 and less than a day left.

* Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy Purse - Not in the best condition. Current bid is $102.50 with less than a day left.

* Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy Purse - Made in USA under special license by French Luggage of California. Current bid is $202.50 with 2 days left.

* Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy Purse Gently Loved. Current bid is $50 with 3 days left.

* Vintage Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 Purse - Purchased back in 1986 and still in good condition. Current bid is $26 with 3 days left.

If you want a brand new Louis Vuitton Speedy then wander on over to eluxury.com, the only authorized online seller for Louis Vuitton handbags.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, December 17th, 2006 at 12:31 am and is filed under Louis Vuitton, Celebrity Style, eBay Item, Gallery, Handbag, News, Vintage, Celebrities & their Handbags, Vintage Stars. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.