Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Look for glasses flaws
• Method 2 of 3: Check for proper packaging
• Method 3 of 3: Judge the seller
• Tips
• Necessities

When it comes to sunglasses, nothing beats classic Ray-Bans. Whatever look you go for, Ray-Bans make you complete. Just make sure you don't get robbed - be a smart consumer. Know the difference between a real Ray-Ban and a cheap fake.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Look for glasses flaws

1. Look for seams on the plastic. All Ray-Ban products are made of high-quality material, by means of the most detailed production processes. Ray-Ban sunglasses plastic is made from a single piece of acetate and polished by hand. Because of this you would not have any rough spots, nicks and especially none seams. If you do see that, they are clearly replicas.
   • Seams can be anywhere on fake Ray-Bans, but they are mostly in places like the top rim of the glasses above the lenses and on top of the temples that rest on your ears.
2. Check if the sunglasses are remarkably light. Hold your Ray-Bans. Turn them over a few times. Throw them up just a little bit. They must weigh something and they must feel sturdy. They should not feel conspicuously light, thin, or fragile. If they are really very light, then they probably aren't real.
   • Real Ray-Bans have metal supports inside the legs that rest on your ears. They provide some extra weight. If you have a model with clear legs (for example the Clubmaster Squares), you should see this metal. If you don't see that, your glasses are fake.
3. Check for fake glasses. Take a good look at the glasses. Tap it gently with your fingernail. If they look, feel and sound like real glass, that's a good sign - many Ray-Bans use real glass. If your lenses aren't real glass, that doesn't necessarily mean your glasses are fake, unless they just look blatantly hazy and cheap.
   • If your lenses don't seem to be made of glass, don't panic - some Ray-Ban models have different materials, but still have a high-quality material. To be clear, completely clear lenses are a sign that your glasses are probably real. A material other than glass does not immediately mean that your glasses are fake.
4. Look for low quality hinges. Open the glasses and look at them from the back. The hinges in the corners of the glasses should be made of a high quality metal. They really should be screwed to the goggles and not glued, or held in position with cheap plastic - as mentioned before, this could mean the goggles are fake.
   • Many Ray-Bans - but not all - have a distinctive metal hinge that contains seven locking "teeth." If you see this, it is a good sign. If you do not see that, it does not always mean that your glasses are fake, as certain Ray-Ban types have different hinges (such as Ray-Bans Aviators and Clubmasters).
5. Look for low-quality engravings in the corners of the glasses. View your glasses from the front. Most Wayfarer and Clubmaster models have a small, silver, horizontal "diamond" or oval-shaped thing in the corners of the glasses. These should be sharp and shiny. You shouldn't be able to scrape off a layer and it should look like you couldn't just pull them off the glasses. If the engravings really don't look like this, chances are your glasses aren't real.
6. Check if the RB mark on one of the glasses looks bad. Most Ray-Ban models have a small, unobtrusive "RB" logo on the front of one of the lenses. It is small and located at the edge of the glass and is easier to see if you shine a light on it. If your glasses are fake, you will see this or not at all, or it will look fake and untidy.
   • However, please note that some models prior to 2000 display a "BL" logo. This stands for "Bausch & Lomb", the original owner of Ray-Ban. In 1999 Bausch & Lomb sold the company to the Italian company Luxottica. This new ownership is reflected in the label and packaging of modern Ray-Bans (see below).
7. Check the quality of the bridge of the nose. Again, all parts of Ray-Ban sunglasses are made of high-quality materials - even the small bridge that rests on your nose. It should be made of a sturdy, comfortable rubbery material. It should not feel fragile, smooth, or easily removable.
   • You can also look for small "RB" logos on the metal centerpiece on the nose bridge. This can be seen on some but not all Ray-Bans and may be a sign of quality.
8. Check the logo on the outside of the leg. View your glasses from the side. There must be an italicized "Ray-Ban" logo. Take a good look at this - it should be clean and professionally confirmed. If the logo looks badly made or if it looks like it has been glued on with glue, for example, then your glasses probably aren't real.
   • Obviously, there is no logo on Ray-Ban models with very thin temples, such as Aviators.
9. Look at the model number on the inside of the temples. If you have Wayfarer or Clubmaster Ray-Bans you should see white text on the inside of the temples. On the left leg you see the series and factory number. On the right leg you see the Ray-Ban logo, "Made in Italy" and a stylized "CE" logo (which shows that the glasses are certified to be sold in Europe). If this text is missing or if it is smudged or badly printed, your glasses are almost certainly fake.
   • If you still have the original packaging for your Ray-Bans, check that the serial number on the label on the box matches the one on the glasses themselves. If they don't match, something isn't right!
   • Again, Aviators' legs are so thin that there is no text on the inside of the legs.

Method 2 of 3: Check for proper packaging

1. Check the box label for serial numbers. If you bought your glasses new, they should have been sold in a box with a large white shipping label. This label contains important identification information - if this label is absent, your glasses are probably fake. Official Ray-Bans boxes must include the following information:
   • Model Number: Starts with "RB" if "0RB", followed by four numbers.
   • Sub-model number: Starts with a letter, followed by four numbers.
   • Lens type code: Combination of one letter and one number (eg "2N").
   • Lens thickness (in mm): A two digit number.
2. Inspect the spectacle holder to see if it is of high quality construction. All Ray-Bans have their own spectacle holder - if yours didn't (and you got it in a plastic bag, for example) then it could indicate a replica unless you got the glasses from an aftermarket. The spectacle holder must exhibit the following characteristics of good workmanship:
   • A sharp, shiny gold logo on the front left. The logo must show "100% UV Protection - Ray Ban - Sunglasses by Luxottica".
   • A Ray-Ban logo on the button.
   • Textured material of real leather (and it feels that way).
   • A hard and protective front part.
   • Precise sewing.
3. Check the booklet for errors. Genuine Ray-Bans are often packaged with a small booklet describing the product purchased and showing some images. This booklet should be flawlessly printed on a good quality, slightly glossy paper. The booklets have been fully checked and edited before being checked. If it contains spelling, grammar, or factual errors, that's not a good sign.
4. Make sure the lens cloth is of high quality. At Ray-Bans you almost always get a small lens cloth. If you didn't get these, your glasses may not be real. The same applies if the cloth is badly made. Check for the following defects:
   • Spots or other signs of previous use
   • Thin, rough or slightly eaten texture
   • Loose seams
   • Cheap looking material
5. Check if the sticker on the glass is of good quality. Ray-Bans are sold with a sticker on the glass as a sign of good quality. This sticker is black with gold (not yellow) and has a Ray-Ban logo in the center. The text around the edge says: "100% UV Protection" and "Sunglasses by Luxottica". The following defects can be a cause for concern:
   • Missing or misspelled text
   • Logo that is not exactly in the middle
   • Glue under the sticker (it is not glued like a normal sticker)

Method 3 of 3: Judge the seller

1. Buy only from licensed retailers. Unfortunately, not everyone sells genuine Ray-Bans, but consumers' ignorance is often exploited by selling cheap replicas. To make sure you don't get scammed, you should only buy from sellers who are licensed to sell Ray-Bans.
   • Via the store locator on the official Ray-Ban website you can find stores that have the right to sell Ray-Bans.
2. If it's too good to be true, it is. As with many luxury goods, Ray-Bans are also counterfeit and sold extremely cheaply. Although different models vary greatly in price, Ray-Bans will never be cheap. Ray-Bans are high-quality products, handmade from the best materials available. That is reflected in the price. Be skeptical of remarkably low prices, even if the seller says it's an offer.
   • To clarify pricing, Wayfarer models range from about $ 60 to $ 300.
3. When in doubt, simply buy directly from a Ray-Ban store. If you're not sure if a seller is trustworthy, don't risk getting scammed. Buy your Ray-Bans on the official Ray-Ban website, ray-ban.com/Netherlands. You will be able to find any model on this website. This option is always better than a suspicious seller.
4. Know why it is a bad idea to wear fake Ray-Bans. The quality of replicas is much less than the quality of real Ray-Bans. Replicas are often badly made, break easily and simply look much worse. In addition, there are some important, less obvious differences:
   • Replicas do not protect your eyes well against UV radiation. Wearing sunglasses without UV protection can be even worse for your eyes than no sunglasses at all.
   • You hardly ever get guarantees on replicas. If they break, which can happen quickly compared to real Ray-Bans, you will not receive any compensation.
   • Replicas can be made in factories that exploit their employees. By buying fake products, you (unknowingly) support an illegal trade and perhaps also extremely bad working conditions.

Tips

• Check the Ray-Ban print on the left and right of the glasses.
• The warranty certificate must not contain errors in text and layout and must be flawlessly made.
• Usually you only get a booklet with detailed Ray-Ban icons with the Wayfarer model.
• Consider the price you paid for your Ray-Bans. The price often says a lot, so if you bought your Ray-Bans at a reasonable price, that's a good sign.

Necessities

• Good light for inspection
• Glasses, if you need them to see better up close
• A list of model numbers, taken from the Ray-Ban website