Levis top button stamped numbers, is there a list?

[breakfasteatre]

I searched the forum but only found mention of the numbers.

I know the numbers mean something, where it was produced, maybe even the date of production but i dont actually know what each specific number means.

has a list been compiled? is there many variations?

- elitist

[Shorty Long]

the numbers refer to the plant where the jeans were made. the ones i know...

'555' - the Valencia St. Factory in SF (closed)

'554' - their plant in TX (closed)

I'm assumint that any other 3 digit number starting with 5 would also be a factory here in the US. Of course, Levi shut down all of its plants here a couple years ago.

'R' - refers to contractors, usually in the US, that make the jeans for Levi

while letters before numbers, such as "I43", refer to other countries...in this case, Italy.

[damnIam]

I have also heard the single numbers are usually single stitched whereas the triple numbers are double stitched. I have been told and it seems to be true, that the single stitched levis have a more desirable color, darker and higher contrasts and are older. It would seem all single stitched Levis are big E whereas there are many double stitched ones that are just redline selvage with a small e. Not sure if this is always the case though.

[horriblyjollyjinx]

And J22, for example, means they're made in Japan.

dontcaretoomuchforcrap CANT SKATE!!

[Shorty Long]

the numbers/letters i was talking about refer to LVC jeans...i don't how they work with other lines from Levi...authentic vintage Levi's usually have a single #, or sometimes nothing.

LVC jeans produced by Levi, while having three digits, are made with single stitching, higher-quality materials, etc

[frideswide]

Many of the European LVC line have no number on the back of the top button at all. Don't have any good information about who the contractor is/are for this line (I know the Spanish plant closed).