Chanel is best known for its timeless designs and superior craftsmanship. Throughout the years, Chanel has changed small details to evolve with the times, but for the most part the brand has stayed consistent in terms of quality, construction, and materials. Many of Chanel's pieces take thousands of hours to create, making sure each bag is perfect from the smallest stitch to the largest piece of leather. This acute attention to detail helps ensure the longevity of each bag. For this reason, vintage Chanel bags are just as popular, if not more popular than the brand's current season pieces—and often why they can be hard to tell apart. Thankfully, dating a Chanel bag is actually quite simple, and a skill that will surely come in handy when hunting for the perfect bag for yourself.

All Chanel bags (after 1984) contain serial numbers, and these serial numbers are your key to identifying the year the bag was made. Scroll down to the Serial Number Dating Chart below for the breakdown.

Chanel Serial Number Dating Chart: Here's how to date your Chanel bag.

26XXXXXX2018-Present
25XXXXXX2018
24XXXXXX2017-2018
23XXXXXX2017
22XXXXXX2016-2017
21XXXXXX2014-2016
20XXXXXX2014-2015
19XXXXXX2014
18XXXXXX2013-2014
17XXXXXX2012-2013
16XXXXXX2012
15XXXXXX2011
14XXXXXX2010-2011
13XXXXXX2009-2010
12XXXXXX2008-2009
11XXXXXX2006-2008
10XXXXXX2005-2006
9XXXXXX2004-2005
8XXXXXX2003-2004
7XXXXXX2002-2003
6XXXXXX2000-2002
5XXXXXX1997-1999
4XXXXXX1996-1997
3XXXXXX1994-1996
2XXXXXX1991-1994
1XXXXXX1989-1991
0XXXXXX1986-1988
Example of Chanel serial numbers.
Example of Chanel serial numbers.