Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to the most frequent questions from UK collectors, private buyers, and luxury sourcers regarding serial format inspection and secondary-market pricing.
Why does my post-2021 Louis Vuitton or Chanel bag have no date code or hologram sticker?
Louis Vuitton discontinued physical leather date-code tabs on 1 March 2021 in favour of concealed NFC microchips. Chanel similarly retired sequential numeric hologram stickers (ending at series 31xxxxxx) in April/May 2021, replacing them with an interior metal plaque etched with a randomised 8-character alphanumeric code and embedded NFC chip. If a seller presents a physical Louis Vuitton date tab claiming a 2022–2026 date, or an 8-digit Chanel sticker starting with 32xxxxxx or higher, treat it as a major counterfeit warning.
Does a matching serial or date-code format guarantee a bag is 100% authentic?
No. A matching code format never proves a handbag is authentic. High-grade counterfeits ('superfakes') routinely copy and clone genuine serial numbers, date codes, and blind stamps from real bags, meaning a fake bag carrying a cloned sequence can and will pass a code-only check. The Atelier Index is an independent editorial reference and statistical price index (operated by Carly Litwin trading as The Atelier Index): we never physically inspect handbags, never issue certificates of authenticity, and accept zero liability for any purchase or dispute on third-party marketplaces. We are strictly pro-authenticity and exist to help collectors spot obvious era/workshop mismatches early and steer buyers toward authorised boutiques and physical multi-point authentication (such as eBay UK Authenticity Guarantee, Vestiaire Collective Direct, Sellier Knightsbridge, or The Handbag Clinic) before releasing funds.
How are the 90-day UK median resale prices calculated?
We aggregate completed UK secondary-market sales and verified UK consignment clearing prices in Pounds Sterling (£ GBP) over the preceding 90 days, trim extreme top/bottom outliers, and segment clearing values into Pristine, Excellent, and Good condition bands.
What qualifies for an Under-Market Arbitrage Alert?
When an authenticated UK listing (or EU listing with UK duties included) is priced at least 25% below our 90-day UK median for that exact model while remaining above our counterfeit scam-floor threshold, our system flags the spread and dispatches an alert to Collector Watch, 90-Day Hunt Pass, and Sourcer Pro members.
What is the difference between Collector Watch (£19/mo) and the 90-Day Hunt Pass (£29 one-time)?
Collector Watch (£19/month) is a flexible rolling monthly subscription that you can pause or cancel at any time. The 90-Day Hunt Pass (£29 one-time) gives you full Collector Watch alerts for up to 3 target models for 90 consecutive days with a single payment and no recurring billing.
Inspecting a Pre-Owned Bag on eBay UK, Vestiaire, or Vinted?
Inspect the workshop stamp in five seconds, check post-2021 microchip transitions, and benchmark the asking price against 90-day British resale medians before making an offer.