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Separate real Ray-Bans and fraudulent copies with this straightforward guide
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- Flaws |
- Packaging |
- Reputable Sellers |
- Video |
- Tips
When you're on the market for a new pair of Ray-Bans, you won't settle for anything less than a high-quality, luxurious set of shades that the brand is so well-known for. But being the best brand in the game does come with downsides in the form of fraudsters and fake shades. Luckily, it’s easy to be a smart consumer. With this article, you’ll have no problem figuring out if you’ve got an authentic set of Ray-Bans on your hands.
Steps
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Frames: All genuine Ray-Bans have frames that are cut from single pieces of high-quality acetate. As a result, you shouldn't be able to detect any nicks, rough spots, or seams anywhere on the frame. These are after-products from cheap manufacturing processes and are dead giveaways that a pair of Ray-Bans aren't legit. [1] X Research source
- Seams can be anywhere on a fake pair of Ray-Bans, but they're especially likely to be on the upper edges of the glasses, just above the lenses.
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Weight: Turn the glasses over a few times. Gently toss them back and forth in your hands. Real Ray-Bans will have a little bit of heft to them, and they should feel solid and substantial. They shouldn't feel unusually light, thin, or fragile. If your glasses seem like they may not be heavy enough to keep a few pieces of loose paper from blowing away, there's a good chance they're fake. [2] X Research source
- Real Ray-Bans have metal support struts inside the arms that sit on your ears, which give the glasses weight.
- If you have a model with transparent arms (like the Clubmaster Squares) you should be able to see this metal. If you can’t, they’re fake. [3] X Research source
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Lenses: Look at your glasses from the front. Give the lenses a few gentle flicks with your fingernail. If they have the look, feel, and "clinking" sound of genuine glass, this is a good sign. If the glasses are a cheaper model, the plastic should be clear and free of blemishes. [4] X Research source
- To be clear, glass lenses are a sign that your glasses are almost certainly real, but plastic lenses may be legit if they appear to be high quality.
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Hinges: Open the glasses and look at them from the back. The hinges in the corners of the glasses should be metal and bolted to the glasses—not glued on or held in place with cheap plastic. Next, open and close the glasses near your ear. If the hinges make noise, your glasses are probably fake. [5] X Research source
- A lot of Ray-Ban models have a distinctive metal hinge that contains 7 interlocking metal teeth. Seeing this is a good sign, but its absence shouldn't be cause for concern, as other types of high-quality metal hinges are sometimes used (for instance, for Ray-Ban's Aviators and Clubmasters).
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Brand etching: As an authenticity check, Ray-Bans have a small (almost-imperceptible) “RB” etched in the trademark Ray-Ban font on the left lens. This will be small and near the edge of the frame. If this little etching is super opaque, poorly detailed, or appears to be a sticker, your glasses are probably fake. [6] X Research source
- Note that some vintage Ray-Bans have a “BL” etching. This stands for “Bausch & Lomb,” the company that originally owned Ray-Ban. They sold the brand in 1999, so you should only see “BL” on pre-1999 models.
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Nose pads: Every part of a genuine pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses is made from high-quality materials—even the little pads that sit on your nose when you wear the glasses. If your glasses are real, these pads should be made of a firm, comfortable rubbery material. If they’re newer glasses, they should also have an “RB” engraving on the metal piece in the middle. [7] X Research source
- Older Ray-Ban models don’t have an engraving on the metal piece inside of the nose pads.
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Logo: Take off your glasses and look at them from the side. There should be a cursive "Ray-Ban" logo on the temple portion of the glasses. The print should be cleanly and obviously embedded in the arm of the glasses. If the logo seems cheap, uneven, or it’s a sticker, your glasses are likely a knock off. [8] X Research source
- You won’t see a temple logo on the aviator models or the products that have very thin frames.
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Serial number: Look at the inside of the arms of the glasses for a serial number. Punch this serial number into a search engine and compare the details. One arm will have the serial and model number info, while the other arm will have the Ray-Ban logo, “Made in Italy,” and a stylized "CE" (which signifies that the glasses are certified to be sold in Europe).
- Depending on where you bought the Ray-Bans, the glasses may say “Made in China” with another stylized acronym. These are not fake glasses automatically; Ray-Ban manufactures glasses in Italy and China.
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Box serial numbers: If you bought your glasses new, they should have come in a box with a large white shipping label. This label should contain important identifying information for your glasses. If it doesn't, they're probably fake. [9] X Research source Official Ray-Ban boxes should be labeled with the following:
- Model number: Starts with "RB" or "0RB", followed by 4 numbers.
- Submodel number: Starts with a letter, followed by 4 numbers.
- Lens type code: 1 letter and 1 number combination (e.g. "2N").
- Lens width (in millimeters): 2-digit number.
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Carrying case: All Ray-Ban glasses come with their own carrying case. If yours didn't (for instance, if your glasses came in a plastic bag), this is cause for concern, unless you bought them after-market (for instance, from a pawnbroker). The glasses’ carrying case should have the following marks of good craftsmanship: [10] X Research source
- A sharp, shiny gold logo on the front left side. The logo should read “100% UV Protection - Ray-Ban - Sunglasses By Luxottica.” If this logo is dull or non-reflective, it’s a major sign the glasses are knock offs.
- A Ray-Ban logo on the snap.
- Material that is textured (and feels like) real leather.
- A hard, protective front portion.
- Clean stitching.
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Printing errors in booklet: Real Ray-Bans are usually packaged with a small booklet that discusses the product you've purchased, contains promotional images, and more. This booklet should be flawlessly printed on matte paper. In addition, real Ray-Ban booklets are thoroughly reviewed and edited before their publication. If the booklet contains any sort of error—spelling, grammar, print, etc.—it’s a sign the glasses aren’t legit. [11] X Research source
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Cleaning cloth: Ray-Bans come with a small felt cloth to clean the glasses. If this cloth is missing from your package, your glasses have either been tampered with or they’re fake. This cloth comes in a variety of colors, but it should always have the Ray-Ba logo on it. [12] X Research source Look for the following sorts of defects in the cloth:
- Stains or signs of previous use.
- Thin, coarse, or ratty texture.
- Loose stitching.
- Cheap-looking material.
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Lens sticker: Ray bans are sold with a distinctive cling-on sticker on the lens as a sign of quality. This sticker should be black and gold (not yellow) and have the Ray-Ban logo prominently featured in the middle of a black starburst shape. The text around the edge should read: “100% UV Protection” and “Sunglasses by Luxottica.” [13] X Research source The following defects can be cause for concern:
- Missing or poorly-spelled text.
- Off-center logo or starburst shape.
- Glue under the sticker (it should attach via static, not like a conventional sticker).
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Ray-Ban's official website: If you're ever unsure of a seller's veracity, why take a risk? To make sure you get real Ray-Bans, simply buy from Ray-Ban's official website . The Ray-Ban site allows you to easily browse the entire Ray-Ban catalog, making it obviously preferable to any sort of "shady" seller you might otherwise use. [14] X Research source
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Licensed retailers: When it comes to buying Ray-Bans, not all sellers are created equal. Some, unfortunately, make a practice of selling fakes. To avoid these shady sellers, purchase from stores that are officially-licensed by the Ray-Ban corporation. [15] X Research source
- You can find verified sellers via Ray-Ban’s online search tool .
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Sellers with high price points: As with many luxury goods, if your Ray-Bans seem like a steal, they’re probably fake. While Ray-Bans vary greatly in price depending on their make and model, they're never dirt cheap. Being hand-made from the finest materials available, Ray-Bans are a premium good sold at a premium price. Be very skeptical of Ray-Bans selling for less than $50. [16] X Research source
- As an example of the sort of costs you can expect for new Ray-Bans, know that, within the Wayfarer group of models, new glasses can retail from about $60 to as high as $300. [17] X Research source
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Tips
- The warranty should also be neat, cut well, and without errors in the text or layout.Thanks
- Usually, only the Wayfarers come with an additional booklet about Ray-Ban icons.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://eyerim.com/blog/how-to-spot-authentic-rayban-sunglasses/
- ↑ https://eyerim.com/blog/how-to-spot-authentic-rayban-sunglasses/
- ↑ https://www.ray-ban.com/usa/sunglasses/clubmaster
- ↑ https://www.replacementlenses.net/types-of-ray-ban-lenses/
- ↑ https://www.verified.org/articles/guides/real-vs-fake-ray-bans
- ↑ https://www.detectafake.com/viewProduct/?269600
- ↑ https://www.detectafake.com/viewProduct/?269600
- ↑ https://eyerim.com/blog/how-to-spot-authentic-rayban-sunglasses/
- ↑ https://www.smartbuyglasses.co.uk/blog/all-eyes-on/how-to-spot-fake-ray-ban-sunglasses-our-guide.html
- ↑ https://guides.brit.co/guides/identify-fake-ray-ban-wayfarers
- ↑ https://guides.brit.co/guides/identify-fake-ray-ban-wayfarers
- ↑ https://www.detectafake.com/viewProduct/?269600
- ↑ https://www.detectafake.com/viewProduct/?269600
- ↑ https://www.verified.org/articles/guides/real-vs-fake-ray-bans
- ↑ https://www.verified.org/articles/guides/real-vs-fake-ray-bans
- ↑ https://www.verified.org/articles/guides/real-vs-fake-ray-bans
- ↑ https://www.ray-ban.com/usa/sunglasses/wayfarer
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To tell if Ray-Ban sunglasses are fake, start by feeling for seams on the plastic. Since Ray-Ban sunglasses are cut from a single piece of acetate and hand-polished, you shouldn't be able to feel any seams. Next, make sure the lenses are made of real glass. Then, look for low-quality metal hinges and poor engravings, which are red flags that the glasses are fake. Check the box for the serial numbers and inspect the booklet for errors. Always buy your Ray-Bans from licensed retailers and be wary of any deals that seem too good to be true! If you want to learn how to check the packaging on your Ray Ban glasses, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Very easy and complete visual explanation demonstrated. Best article I've read so far giving a lot of info. Wasn't aware of the fake Ray Bans being so prevalent. Purchased a used pair of RB sunglasses and was surprised that they meet the criteria for being real." ..." more
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"Very easy and complete visual explanation demonstrated. Best article I've read so far giving a lot of info. Wasn't aware of the fake Ray Bans being so prevalent. Purchased a used pair of RB sunglasses and was surprised that they meet the criteria for being real."
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"Bought some as gifts. When they arrived, they just didn't feel right to me. The fact that they came from China was another red flag. They were inexpensive for Ray Bans, but extremely overpriced for fakes. Your web site confirmed my suspicion."
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"It was helpful to learn to look for the triangle on the etched lenses, the rb logo on the nose pads, and the rb logo on the case button. I was an optician for 33 years, and have some real Ray Bans that I want to sell."
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"This article helped verify the authenticity of my sunglasses, which was the main point that I needed help with. Very detailed information on what I should be paying attention to on my real or fake sunglasses!"
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"Definitely important to find the RB etching on left lenses, high quality hinges, and make sure to google the serial# on the arm! If it checks out, they're real."
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