Vintage Dooney & Bourke

All Weather Leather Handbags and Wallets from the 1970s to the 1990s – Made in USA

Dooney & Bourke Registration Tags

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Native American Jewelry Tips
Hello Paula,

I have a question about Dooney serial numbers. I have recently inherited a large number of vintage Dooney’s Some of them are exactly as you stated in your web site others have a serial number that starts with a “B” but still has the red white and blue made in USA tag. I also have what is a newer one that has the red, white, blue tag with no USA and the serial number starts with a “J”. Do you know what country this may have been made? I am sure these are authentic and they match up with my Dooney, which I know is authentic. I am not sure if a I want to sell these or start collecting vintage Dooney’s myself. Can you help me??

Carmen R

Authentic Dooney & Bourke All Weather Leather Essex Handbag Made in USA

Lucky you to inherit a large number of Dooneys !

First of all, counterfeiters are very clever and make their own faux leather duck seals, tags and fobs to try to make bags look authentic. But if a bag is indeed authentic, the sewn in tags do provide some information.

Authentic bags that have the red, white and blue Dooney & Bourke, Made in USA label sewn inside, the first portion of the serial number on the back will start with either an A or a B and that indicates what factory in the USA the bag came from. That is what was told to me by a Dooney & Bourke representative.

Authentic Dooney & Bourke All Weather Leather Surrey Handbag Made in USA

So if you look on the Authenticating Factors of Vintage All Weather Leather Dooney & Bourke page, you will see an example A5 179535. The A5 indicates the factory in the US where the bag was made and the other six digits are its unique registration number.

Authentic Dooney & Bourke Air Force Blue Horseshoe Handbag Made in USA

When the red white and blue tag on an authentic bag only says Dooney & Bourke, it indicates the bag was not made in the US. The serial number will start with the letter assigned to the country where the bag was made.

C indicates Costa Rica
H J K and L indicate China
I indicates Italy
M indicates Mexico.
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39 thoughts on “ Dooney & Bourke Registration Tags ”

David wrote this and posted it on the jewelry blog, so I am reposting it here
I just read you question about the J in your number. I too have a J and was getting a little concerned because I wasn’t finding ones like everyone else. But I’m a digger for info and finally found where it was made. Though J you would think Japan but Dooney has never used Japan…the J is for China along with the other letter. Took me a while but I did find it. Still trying to figure out the style mine is so the search continues for me but hope this helped. Like Like

Phyllis Landon on December 18, 2014 at 3:45 am said:

Thanks,David. I just bought a Dooney with the “J” in front of the registration numbers. The purse also has the words “Dooney Bourke” embossed in script on
the front of the purse. The purse itself is maybe a T-Morro color with white stitching. The color of stitching worries me about the authenticity because I’ve heard that all Dooneys are stitched with yellow. I, like you, are trying to hunt down the style. It’s not vintage so it should be fairly easy. I hope! Like Like

Marge on May 29, 2014 at 1:04 pm said:

SO DOES IT MEAN THAT C H I M & J ARE ALL FAKES? OR ARE DOONEY BOURKE BAGS BEING MADE IN THESE COUNTRIES. Like Like

Karen Dixon on October 17, 2014 at 1:32 pm said:

Bags that have red white and blue tags with these letters before the serial numbers are not being manufactured in these countries just assembled there. They should also have a leather tag either underneath or next to the red white and blue one that says assembled in…………! Like Like

Yes, we explain that here on this blog and on our website http://www.horsekeeping.com/Dooney/Dooney-Bourke-char.htm Paula Like Liked by 1 person

Sharon Dries on January 28, 2015 at 6:41 pm said:
So does this mean that the Dooney & Bourke bag I just purchased and received today from QVC is a fake and not made in the USA? Like Like
Sharon Dries on January 28, 2015 at 6:42 pm said:
Sorry I forgot to say in my post that the Bad ID number starts with a “J”. Like Like
t on August 29, 2017 at 2:05 pm said:
Thats odd. i just verified my Florentine Vacchetta leather bag that starts with a J Like Like
Sue MacSorley on January 31, 2015 at 1:50 am said:

How do I repair a loose turn lock on a vintage Dooney bag, please? It’s not nice and tight. It’s loose and unreliable in keeping the bag closed. Any info anyone has would surely be appreciated. Like Like

Dona on May 16, 2015 at 11:49 pm said:

I received a Dooney n Bourke as a gift in the 80’s small handbag with poker chips and playing cards on the bag. Has the red, white, blue label with serial# A0164653. I’m curious about the number and how it references to the purse. I know it was made in usa, but does the number refer to the year and style too? I’ve had no success in obtaining any information or value on the purse Like Like

Regina Sayles on June 9, 2015 at 10:09 am said:

I’m waiting on a response to your question as well. I read on the blog that the serial number represents the factory location, year made and style however I have not found a clear explanation of “how” to read these numbers beyond the first two which represents the factory location in the US. What about the other 6 digits? Like Like

Diana Laurie on May 21, 2015 at 10:30 pm said:

I couldn’t say for sure but I doubt Macy’s would sell counterfeit bags. Most of Dooney & Bourke bags since 2000 give or take a year or so have been and are made overseas, outside of the US, such as China and other places. The original bags that are Made in USA are the ones we love and sell and what our website and this blog is all about. http://www.horsekeeping.com/Dooney/Dooney-Bourke.htm Paula Like Like

Joanne Rothwell on August 29, 2018 at 1:10 am said:

Good Answer to Diana questions regarding original Dooney or not. I have several D & B purses that are made in USA and several that assemblable in other countries. D & B can verify the serial numbers if the customer would like them to do so. It would be nice if the D & B would bring back the full assemblable aspect to the company to the states but they still do some of the assemblies in Norwalk, CT. Like Like

Tina bleich on July 19, 2015 at 12:42 pm said:

Plz help need to know if these are authentic
A0 596994
B0 672136
A8069108
K8144618
J8919548
13573.
Thank you Like Like

We don’t provide that service. Perhaps you could contact the manufacturer at http://www.dooney.com Like Like

Karen on June 21, 2016 at 6:05 pm said:
What is the value of the first bag shown? I have one like that. Like Like

You can go to our website and view all of the Essex bags in various conditions to get an idea of retail price
http://www.horsekeeping.com/Dooney/EX/Dooney-Bourke-EX.htm
The first bag in this article is an Essex in all British Tan.
Since I can’t see your bag to determine its condition or size, you will have to do the valuation.
Here is one in each size currently in our store
Small http://www.horsekeeping.com/Dooney/EX/897-EX-R26-sm-bt.htm
Medium http://www.horsekeeping.com/Dooney/EX/1043-R25-med-bt.htm
Paula Like Like

Tammy jones on August 25, 2016 at 1:41 am said:

I have a Dooney purse everything shows authenic and I’ve been told by several people it is but the tag is red whit and blue and it states made in China but on back of the tag the number starts with a k what’s that mean. Like Like

See my previous reply.
We do not deal with bags made in China, so can not help you. Perhaps you can find a similar bag on eBay to determine value. Paula Like Like