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Published October 2026 · Contact
The Neonoe: A Simple Shape With Hard-to-Judge Details
The Louis Vuitton Neonoe is a drawstring bucket bag with a flat base, a leather cord that cinches through brass grommets, and a removable shoulder strap that clips to two V-stitched leather tabs at the rim. It is sold in Monogram canvas, Empreinte leather and other materials, in several sizes, and it turns up constantly on resale sites under spellings such as "Neo Noe", "Neonoe" and "NeoNoé". It is not the same bag as the older Noé, which has a different shape and different reference points (see our Louis Vuitton Noé guide).
This guide is built from genuine Neonoe orders in our own archive (hundreds of genuine orders across the Louis Vuitton range) and from the fake Neonoes we have been sent. The honest finding is that most of the fakes had the right shape, the right canvas print, a believable date code, correct-looking grommets and a stamped strap tab. A listing photo of the front of the bag settles very little. What follows is what genuine hardware, stamps and tags look like, so that you can hold a specific bag against them.
Worth knowing
We do not have a ranked list of repeatable photo tells for the Neonoe, so this guide has no real-vs-fake comparison table and no pass/fail checklist. It shows genuine construction and says plainly what each detail can and cannot prove. If a bag matches everything here and the price is real money, a professional review of close-up photos is the safe next step.
The Grommets and Strap Rivets
The two grommets at the top of the bag, and the rivets on the strap, are brass and carry "LOUIS VUITTON" around the ring. On a genuine bag the lettering is evenly spaced, crisp and reads correctly all the way round.
A correct-looking grommet or rivet is a reasonable sign, but not a decisive one. The fake Neonoes we looked at copied this hardware well, so do not let it carry the verdict on its own.
The Strap Tab and Clip
At the rim, a pointed leather tab is stitched in a V to the body and holds a brass ring for the strap clip. On genuine bags the tab is stamped "LOUIS VUITTON PARIS" on one face with a small ® mark, and the clip is engraved "LOUIS VUITTON" too.
The other face of the tab carries a "made in" stamp. Genuine Neonoes are made in more than one country, so a "made in France", "made in Italy" or "made in U.S.A." stamp is not a reason to doubt a bag, and not a reason to trust it either.
The Inside Zip Pocket and Zip Pull
Inside, a flat zip pocket sits against the lining, and its zip pull is the one detail we found worth a closer look. On the genuine bags we examined, the pull is engraved over three lines: LOUIS / VUITTON / PARIS.
Worth knowing
In the bags we have checked, several fakes had a zip pull reading only "LOUIS VUITTON" with no PARIS line. Treat that as a lead, not proof: other fakes did show PARIS, and the sample is small, so a pull that reads PARIS does not clear a bag. If yours has no PARIS line, ask for a clear photo of the whole pull and have the bag checked before you buy.
The Date Code Tab
The date code is a heat-stamped letter pair and four digits on a small tab sewn inside the bag. On the genuine Neonoes we looked at, the tab itself varies: a black fabric tab, a black leather-look tab with a pale cut edge, and a pale pink leather tab all appeared. Tab type is not something to judge a bag by.
Since 2007 the code is two factory letters and four digits: the first and third digits are the week, and the second and fourth are the year. So SD3109 is week 30 of 2019, RI4117 is week 41 of 2017 and FK0260 is week 6 of 2020. You can check any code with our Louis Vuitton date code guide and the decoder below.
Worth knowing
A code that decodes sensibly tells you when and where a bag was made. It does not tell you the bag is real, because counterfeiters copy genuine-looking codes and the fake Neonoes we saw mostly did. Bags made from about 2021 onward carry an internal chip rather than a stamped code, so a recent bag without a visible code can be normal. See our [Louis Vuitton RFID chip guide](/blog/louis-vuitton-rfid-chip-guide).
Interior Labels and "Made In" Tags
Some versions, such as the Empreinte bags, have a small stitched leather patch inside reading "LOUIS VUITTON PARIS made in France". Others have a leather tag reading "made in U.S.A. of imported materials" with the LV mark.
Genuine Neonoes are made in France, Italy and the USA, and the factory letters in the date code should agree with the country on the label. At least one fake we saw carried the same kind of stitched patch as a genuine bag, so a correct label does not prove a bag by itself.
What a Photo Cannot Prove
- The date code format. Fakes copy it, and a code on a different tab type is not a fault.
- The tab type and the "made in" country. Genuine bags vary on both.
- Heat-stamp depth, hardware colour and stitch count. These shift with age, light and photo angle, and we could not tie any of them to the fakes.
- Packaging and receipts. A box, dust bag or card is context, not evidence. Louis Vuitton does not issue certificates of authenticity.
When to Get a Professional Opinion
If a Neonoe matches the details above and the price is significant, the reliable next step is a professional look at close-up photos of the grommets, strap tab, zip pull, date code tab and interior labels. LuxeDetect authenticates Louis Vuitton bags from your photos and returns a verdict with a Certificate of Authenticity.
A code that checks out doesn't prove the item is real. Counterfeiters copy genuine codes.
Our authenticators check the stamps, hardware and construction of your Louis Vuitton against verified references, from $25. You get a verdict within 24 hours, and a Certificate of Authenticity if the item passes.
Authenticate My Louis Vuitton →FAQ
How can I tell if a Louis Vuitton Neonoe is real?
No single detail settles it from photos, because good fakes copy the shape, canvas, grommets and date code. Compare the grommets, strap tab stamp, inside zip pull and date code tab against the genuine examples above, and have a bag checked professionally before paying real money.
Is a Neonoe the same as a Noé?
No. The Neonoe is a newer bucket bag with a flat base and a different drawstring and strap setup. The Noé is the older, deeper drawstring bag, so use the Noé guide for that one.
Where is the date code on a Neonoe?
On a small tab stitched inside the bag, near the lining seams or pocket. Lift the lining and look for a tab with two letters and four digits stamped in gold or black.
Should the inside zip pull say PARIS?
On the genuine bags we examined it reads LOUIS VUITTON PARIS over three lines. A pull with only LOUIS VUITTON is worth treating with suspicion, but because other fakes did show PARIS, it is a warning sign and not a test.
Can a real Neonoe say "made in U.S.A." or "made in Italy"?
Yes. Genuine Neonoes are made in several countries, so the country alone is not a reason to doubt a bag. The factory letters in the date code should agree with the country on the label.
Does a Neonoe with no date code mean it is fake?
Not necessarily. Bags made from about 2021 onward carry an internal chip instead of a stamped code. For an older bag with no code, ask the seller for a clear photo of the inside tabs.
