A method for dating Esoterica bags and tins was recently summarized by a member of another forum I am on. Apparently, this person contacted Germain for this information, but I have no way of verifying that.
I also understand that this only works (if in fact it does work) for relatively recent bags and tins, but I am not sure exactly when the applicable code system was introduced. I have looked at the codes on several of my bags and tins, and the answer produced by the dating strategy I am about to explain does seem to be consistent with when I know that I purchased those bags or tins. However, I would ask some of the people on this forum to do the same verification, so we can learn together whether this dating strategy holds water.
On Esoterica bags and tins there is a code on the bag or on the back of the tin. Pictures are below.
On this bag, the number is 357113. The claim is that the first number, 3, translates to 2013. The next three numbers - 571 - is some form of internal Germain batch code. The last two numbers apparently translate to the month and day, which if correct would mean that this tin (with the numbers 1 and 3) was ostensibly made on January 3rd.
The code suggests that this tin was produced on April 2, 2013.
To be honest, using the first number to decode the year seems like it may hold water, as I have looked at several tins and bags and the year decoding certainly alligns with when I purchased them. I am a bit doubtful about the month and day decoding though. In particular, in a random sampling of some of my bags and tins, I could find no bags or tins with three or four numbers rather than 2 numbers after the first four numbers in the code. Surely they must have made some product made in the months of October, November or December, or after the 9th day of a month, and that they would need to represent those months or days with two digit codes. Every bag and tin I could easily find only had 6 numbers, which does cause me to doubt this methodology.
In any event, would appreciate any thoughts.
I also understand that this only works (if in fact it does work) for relatively recent bags and tins, but I am not sure exactly when the applicable code system was introduced. I have looked at the codes on several of my bags and tins, and the answer produced by the dating strategy I am about to explain does seem to be consistent with when I know that I purchased those bags or tins. However, I would ask some of the people on this forum to do the same verification, so we can learn together whether this dating strategy holds water.
On Esoterica bags and tins there is a code on the bag or on the back of the tin. Pictures are below.
On this bag, the number is 357113. The claim is that the first number, 3, translates to 2013. The next three numbers - 571 - is some form of internal Germain batch code. The last two numbers apparently translate to the month and day, which if correct would mean that this tin (with the numbers 1 and 3) was ostensibly made on January 3rd.
The code suggests that this tin was produced on April 2, 2013.
To be honest, using the first number to decode the year seems like it may hold water, as I have looked at several tins and bags and the year decoding certainly alligns with when I purchased them. I am a bit doubtful about the month and day decoding though. In particular, in a random sampling of some of my bags and tins, I could find no bags or tins with three or four numbers rather than 2 numbers after the first four numbers in the code. Surely they must have made some product made in the months of October, November or December, or after the 9th day of a month, and that they would need to represent those months or days with two digit codes. Every bag and tin I could easily find only had 6 numbers, which does cause me to doubt this methodology.
In any event, would appreciate any thoughts.