How to Identify Fake Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Examine and feel the seams on the plastic frames. Genuine Ray-Ban products are crafted from high-quality materials with intricate workmanship. The frames are cut from a single block of acetate and hand-polished, ensuring no rough edges, bumps, or visible seams. Any imperfections like these are signs of low-quality manufacturing and counterfeit products falsely labeled as Ray-Ban.

• Seams can appear anywhere, especially where plastic pieces are joined—like the top edge of the lenses or the side arms that rest on your ears.

Identify if the glasses are too light. Hold the Ray-Ban in your hand. Toss it up and down a few times. Gently flip it a few centimeters and catch it. If it’s genuine, you’ll notice the glasses feel solid and sturdy, not lightweight, fragile, or flimsy. If your glasses aren’t heavy enough to hold down a few sheets of paper in the wind, they’re likely counterfeit.

• To ensure proper weight, genuine Ray-Bans have a metal core inside the temple arms. If the frame is transparent (like the Ray-Ban Clubmaster Square), you’ll see the metal bar. If there’s nothing inside, your glasses are definitely fake.

Inspect the lenses. Hold your Ray-Bans up and look at the front, then gently tap the lenses with your fingertip. If the shape and sound suggest they’re made of real glass, that’s a good sign, as many Ray-Ban models use this material for their lenses. Lenses made of other materials aren’t necessarily fake unless the glasses look cheap, dull, and poorly made.

• If the lenses don’t feel like glass, don’t worry—some Ray-Ban models use other high-quality materials. While glass lenses are a sign of authenticity, non-glass lenses don’t automatically mean they’re counterfeit.

Check for poor-quality hinges. Open the glasses and observe from the back. The hinge, where the temple arm connects to the front frame, is made of high-quality metal. The arms are joined with screws, not glued or connected with cheap plastic—as mentioned earlier, these are signs of low-cost materials and rushed production.

• Most—though not all—Ray-Bans have metal hinges with seven screws. This is a notable feature, but other high-quality metal hinges are also used (e.g., on Ray-Ban Aviator and Clubmaster models).

Examine the quality of the engravings on the corners. Look at the glasses from the front. If you’ve worn Wayfarer or Clubmaster models before, you’ll notice a small silver diamond or oval-shaped stone on the corner of the lenses. These are finely crafted, sharp, and shiny. If they feel loose or the engraving looks poorly done, the glasses are likely fake.

Look for the ‘RB’ engraving on the lenses. Many Ray-Ban models feature the tiny, hard-to-see ‘RB’ initials in a proprietary font, etched subtly onto the lenses. It’s located near the edge and can be seen by shining a flashlight diagonally onto the lens. On counterfeit Ray-Bans, the ‘RB’ may appear blurred or poorly engraved, if it’s there at all.

• However, some pre-2000 models have ‘BL’ engraved, standing for ‘Bausch & Lomb,’ the company that owned Ray-Ban at the time. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold Ray-Ban to the Italian company Luxottica. The new owner’s name is now printed on the labels and packaging of current Ray-Bans (see below).

Check the quality of the nose pads. Every part of an authentic Ray-Ban is crafted from high-quality materials—even the tiny nose pads. Made from rubber, they are durable and comfortable to wear. Be suspicious if the pads appear flimsy, slippery, or unstable.

• Look for the engraved ‘RB’ logo on the metal piece inside the nose pad. This is one (though not the only) indicator of Ray-Ban’s quality.

Examine the raised logo on the temple. Place the glasses down and look at the side. The word ‘Ray-Ban’ is elegantly embossed on the temple arm in a handwritten style. Inspect it closely—it should be clear and meticulously attached. If the logo is glued or nailed on, appearing rough or unclear, it’s definitely fake.

• Note that some smaller-frame models, like the Aviator, may not feature this logo.

Look for the model number printed on the temple. Check the inside of the temple arm that rests on your ear. For Wayfarer or Clubmaster models, you’ll find white text. The left temple displays the serial and production numbers, while the right temple shows the Ray-Ban logo, ‘Made in Italy,’ and the uppercase letters ‘CE’ (indicating European certification). If the text is missing, faded, or poorly printed, the glasses are likely counterfeit.

• If you still have the original case, verify if the serial number on the glasses matches the one on the box. A mismatch confirms it’s a fake product.
• Again, Aviator frames are too small to include this text.

Check the serial number on the glasses case. If you’ve purchased a brand-new product, the glasses will come in a box with a large customs label. This label contains certification details—if missing, the product is fake. A genuine Ray-Ban case will have the following information:

• Model Number: Starts with ‘RB’ or ‘0RB,’ followed by four digits.
• Alternative Model Number: Begins with a letter, followed by four digits.
• Lens Type Code: A combination of letters and numbers (e.g., ‘2N’).
• Lens Width (in mm): A two-digit number.

Examine the quality of the glasses case. All genuine Ray-Ban glasses come with a case—if yours doesn’t (e.g., it’s in a plastic bag), be cautious, unless purchased secondhand (like from a pawn shop). The case should exhibit refined features such as:

• A sharp, shiny gold emblem in the top-left corner with the text: ‘100% UV Protection – Ray-Ban – Sunglasses by Luxottica.’
• The Ray-Ban logo centered on the emblem.
• A (real-feeling) leather-like material.
• A sturdy and secure lid.
• Clean stitching.

Check the user manual. Authentic Ray-Bans include a small booklet showcasing the product you purchased, complete with promotional images and additional details. This booklet is printed with high-quality ink and paper. Every detail is meticulously checked before release, so if you spot minor spelling, grammar, or printing errors—it’s a sign of a counterfeit product.

Inspect the quality of the cleaning cloth. Ray-Ban glasses always come with a small microfiber cloth to keep the product clean. If this accessory is missing or not in its own clean packaging, the glasses might be fake. A poor-quality cloth also suggests poor-quality glasses. A genuine Ray-Ban cloth won’t have the following flaws:

• Stains or signs of prior use.
• Thin, rough, or wrinkled material.
• Loose threads.
• Cheap-looking fabric.

Look for the lens quality certification sticker. Ray-Ban products are sold with a sticker on the lenses as a mark of quality. This sticker is black and gold (not plain yellow) with the Ray-Ban logo prominently displayed in the center of a black star. The border text reads: ‘100% UV Protection’ and ‘Sunglasses by Luxottica.’ Watch out for these red flags:

• Missing or misspelled text.
• The Ray-Ban logo isn’t centered in the star.
• Glue residue under the sticker (genuine stickers are electrostatically applied, not glued).

Only purchase from licensed dealers. Not all Ray-Ban sellers are certified. Sometimes counterfeit products are sold, or if you buy from a pawn shop, there’s no guarantee. To avoid wasting money, only buy from Ray-Ban-authorized suppliers.

• If you’re in the U.S., visit the Ray-Ban website and use the store locator to find a retailer near you.

Be cautious of ‘too-good-to-be-true’ deals. Like other luxury items, Ray-Bans sold at unusually low prices are often stolen goods. Due to their craftsmanship and design, Ray-Bans aren’t cheap. They’re handmade from high-quality materials, so remember: you get what you pay for. Be wary of sunglasses sold below market value, even if the seller claims it’s a promotional offer.

• For example, new Ray-Ban Wayfarers typically range from 1.4 million to 6.7 million VND.

If in doubt, buy directly from the manufacturer. If you’re unsure about a seller’s authenticity, why take the risk? To ensure you’re getting the real deal, visit ray-ban.com and place an order. The site allows you to browse their catalog easily, giving you peace of mind instead of dealing with potential scams from unauthorized sellers.

Understand why counterfeit products should be avoided. Fake Ray-Bans never match the quality of genuine ones. They’re poorly made, often fragile, and unattractive. Despite this, counterfeit products still attract buyers. Here are some reasons to avoid fake Ray-Bans:

• Counterfeits lack proper UV protection. In fact, wearing them can be more harmful than not wearing sunglasses at all.
• Fake products come with no warranty, so if they break (which happens far more often than with genuine Ray-Bans), you’re out of luck.
• Low-quality goods often come from factories that exploit workers. Buying counterfeits indirectly supports unfair labor practices worldwide.