How to Spot Fake Ray-Bans

Ray-Ban is one of those classic eyewear brands that everyone knows! They’re famous for offering stylish glasses and sunglasses.

The brand is a popular choice for eyewear buyers. And unfortunately, that popularity has made them a target for unreliable retailers. These retailers try to pass off fake Ray-Bans as real products.

So, how can you make sure that the glasses you’re buying are genuine? Let’s dive deep into this topic to help ensure you’re only buying real Ray-Bans!

Why Are Ray-Bans So Expensive?

Real Ray-Bans are pricey because they’re made using durable materials, including lightweight metals and quality acetate. They’re also meticulously manufactured, and the company has rigorous quality control standards. Plus, many of Ray-Ban’s lenses are polarized, which helps protect wearers from harmful UV rays. 

In addition, Ray-Ban has built up brand prestige over its many decades in business. Consumers know that Ray-Ban offers products that are built to last, and so they’re willing to pay more for the eyewear.

Ray-Bans have become a cultural icon, and so many celebrities have worn them over the decades. This includes James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Bob Dylan. Many top celebrities today still wear Ray-Bans, including Taylor Swift, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and more. This cultural caché allows Ray-Ban to sell its products for higher prices.

Fake Ray-Bans: Real Buyer Experiences

When you’re scrolling through discount websites or eBay, you may come across Ray-Bans at heavily discounted prices. A lot of the time, though, these prices are too good to be true.

Reddit’s Ray-Ban subreddit is full of nervous buyers asking if their Ray-Bans are real or fake. For instance, Redditor TheDudOfTheWorld9000 asked about the vintage aviators they got on eBay:

“Damn… Did i just bought a Fake?

I got me a really cool vintage Ray Ban Shooter on Ebay for very little money. Almost too good i thought…

And as i opened the package i began to feel a little uncomfortable…

Are these real ones?

The lenses are made from plastic. Clearely not genuine. But the rest? I dont know… The overall shape of is almost like new, so why would you change the lenses? And the logo on the case looks a little bit to unclear for me. The case in general is also very mint. Looks like barely even touched.”

Sadly, many of the Redditors thought TheDudOfTheWorld9000’s aviators were fake. One user responded:

“I have vintage Ray Bans aviators from the 1940s-50s.

Nothing about these photos remotely looks like my vintage aviators.”

Another Redditor named Amraton was thinking of buying Wayfarers, but they started getting suspicious when they saw the box the Ray-Bans came in. They took to Reddit and said:

“Authentic or high copy fake?

Saw this Ray-Ban polarized wayfarer sunglasses for 90 bucks in a marketplace and was considering buying it from what i knew most things checks out. Do you think it worth the price? * Also the seller says he bought them in 2018 Nuremberg Germany, then why the price tag is in pounds instead of euros*”

It’s understandable why Amraton was nervous about buying these; 90 dollars is a lot of money to spend on sunglasses that may not be real. Unfortunately, Redditors agreed that the Ray-Bans were likely fake. One user explained:

“The pantoscopic angle on Wayfarer Classics is pronounced, about 10 to 15 degrees, unlike the modest angle here. The box is fake, for the following reasons:

It’s shiny and smooth, unlike a genuine box, which is dull and mottled.

The QR code links to the Ray-Ban USA mobile site; it should display 24 alphanumeric characters used for internal product tracking at Ray-Ban.”

There are tons of posts like this throughout Reddit. It just goes to show how prevalent fake Ray-Bans are.

Learning you’ve fallen for fake sunglasses is a frustrating experience. When you’re spending your money, you want to get a high-quality product. It’s disheartening to realize that you’ve been ripped off.

How to Spot Fake Ray-Bans

When you’re trying to spot fake Ray-Bans, the little things matter. The brand includes lots of small details in its eyewear, and it can be hard for counterfeiters to get all the details right, even though they’re trying their hardest to trick you. If one of those details is off, it can be a red flag.

Here are some of the things you’ll want to look for to ensure your Ray-Bans are real:

Packaging and Accessories

Before you even look at the glasses themselves, the packaging can give you hints as to whether your glasses are real or not.

Ray-Bans typically come in a durable silver box with a large white shipping label with a barcode on it. If you don’t see this barcode, that’s an immediate red flag. 

However, even if you see a barcode, you’re not completely safe. Some forgers will put a fake barcode on the box. Make sure to check that the information on the barcode matches your glasses.

Also, make sure to look at the manufacturer. If it says Bausch & Lomb, that’s another red flag. While Bausch & Lomb were the original manufacturers of Ray-Bans, they sold the company to Luxottica back in 1999. Unless you’re buying vintage Ray-Bans, you should see the name ‘Luxottica’ on the packaging. 

Once you open the packaging, you should see a sunglasses case and accessories, including a small information booklet. Fake Ray-Bans may not have this, or if they include a booklet, it may have typos.

Your Ray-Bans will also come with a microfiber cloth with the distinctive logo etched on it. Forgers will often use a generic soft fabric for the cloth, which can actually be harmful for your lenses, as it can scratch them.

Glasses Case

After you’ve inspected the packaging, it’s time to check out the glasses case. Your Ray-Bans will come in a faux leather case. This case could be either black or brown, and it will have the Ray-Ban logo stamped on it. 

Genuine Ray-Ban cases are high-quality, while fake ones may have frayed stitching or glue sticking out at the edges. The clasp on a real Ray-Ban case will also have ‘RB’ stamped in the center. This is a detail forgers often miss. If they do include it, it will often be off-center.

Lenses

Now, let’s discuss the sunglasses themselves. One of the first things you’ll want to check out is the lenses. Ray-Ban manufactures its lenses with either high-quality glass or polycarbonate. If the lenses feel cheap, scratch easily, or are discolored or unclear, this is a sign they’re fakes. 

You’ll also want to check the logo on the lenses. Your sunglasses should have a prominent cursive Ray-Bans logo etched into the right lens. They should have a subtle ‘RB’ on the left lens. 

On fake Ray-Bans, the cursive logo on the right lens will often be blurry, in the wrong place, or partly scratched off. For the left lens, the RB logo should be subtle. You should only see it if you tilt the glasses toward a light. On fake Ray-Bans, since the etching is low-quality, this logo is often more prominent and easier to spot.

If you’ve bought polarized sunglasses, there should also be a ‘P’ etched onto the right lens, next to the cursive logo. If this is missing, it’s another tell-tale sign you have fake Ray-Bans.

Hinges

The hinges on your real Ray-Ban glasses will also be of good quality. Ray-Ban makes its hinges out of sturdy metal. They often secure them with an extra screw for more durability.

On fake Ray-Bans, the hinges will often be cheap, flimsy, and have loose screws. You may even see bits of glue or melted plastic.

With Ray-Ban Wayfarers, you can take this inspection a step further. These glasses have distinctive seven-prong hinges, with three on one side and four on the other. If you buy a pair of Wayfarers and don’t see these hinges, there’s a good chance you’re looking at fake glasses.

Nose Pads

Some Ray-Ban models have nose pads, such as their aviators. The nose pads on real Ray-Bans are plastic, and they have the Ray-Ban logo embossed in metal at the center. Fake Ray-Bans will often mess up the placement of the logo, and they’ll often use lower-quality nose pads and etchings.

Frame

The frames are another tell-tale sign of whether you have real or fake Ray-Bans. Real Ray-Bans are made from one piece of acetate. There should be no blemishes or seams in the glasses. You also shouldn’t see any glue or uneven edges.

To check for this, run your fingers across the rims and temples of your glasses. If you feel glue or jaggedness, that’s a sign of fake Ray-Bans.

Serial Number

Finally, the serial/model number is another easy way to spot fakes. The serial number of your sunglasses will be etched into the left temple arm. It will start with ‘RB.’ There will then be a series of numbers that indicate the model, the color, the lens size, and the temple length. At the end, it will either say 2N, 3N, or P, which refers to the lenses’ darkness.

Counterfeit Ray-Bans may have a ‘fake’ number etched into them. If you’re worried your glasses are fake, you can verify the serial number with Ray-Ban’s customer service.

On the right arm, you should see an ‘RB’ logo, and then either ‘Made in Italy’ or ‘Made in China.’ Next should be a single letter referring to the type of frame, a CE, and ‘Polarized’ if you have polarized lenses. Counterfeiters will often miss a few of these letters when they’re making these fake frames.

Why Does Authenticity Matter?

There are a few reasons why it’s so important to make sure your Ray-Bans are real. For one, fake Ray-Bans usually don’t offer 100% UV protection like real Ray-Bans. This can be dangerous. Your pupils could dilate behind the lens and end up letting in more harmful UV light.

Real Ray-Bans also come with a two-year warranty. So, if your sunglasses break or there’s a defect, repairs may be covered. Fakes don’t offer that guarantee.

And, of course, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Fake Ray-Bans will typically be cheaper than real ones, but you’re still spending your hard-earned money. In return, you want to get a product that you know will last.

Where to Get Deals on Ray-Bans

It’s still possible to get a good deal on real Ray-Bans. You just want to be careful which retailer you buy from.

EZContacts is always a safe choice. We offer a wide range of Ray-Bans on our site. We’re able to offer our Ray-Bans at a discount because we purchase our merchandise directly from the manufacturer in bulk. This allows us to pass savings onto you, while still ensuring authenticity.

There are also some places where you’ll probably not want to buy Ray-Bans. For example, let’s say you’re traveling abroad, and you come across a pair of ‘Ray-Bans’ in an outdoor market at a steeply discounted price. There’s a high chance these are fake.

If you’re buying directly from a seller on eBay, you’ll also want to be very careful. Ask the seller questions if you’re unsure about the quality of their Ray-Bans. Also, check their ratings and reviews to see if anyone has accused them of selling fakes. If anything seems fishy, it’s best to move on and not buy from that seller.

Top Ray-Ban Options

Now that you know what to look for on your Ray-Bans, the next question is, which ones should you buy?

If you want to give Ray-Bans a try, here are some good options to check out. These sunglasses are all highly reviewed by verified buyers on EZContacts.

Ray-Ban RB2132 NEW WAYFARER

The Wayfarer sunglasses are one of the most famous styles of Ray-Bans! When you wear them, you’ll feel like an Old Hollywood star strutting down the red carpet. These sunglasses are classics that will truly never go out of style.

Ray-Ban RB3025 AVIATOR LARGE METAL

The Ray-Ban aviators are another classic style that evokes a different era of Hollywood: the ’80s, when Tom Cruise was setting the world on fire in Top Gun. These sunglasses work well for both men and women, and they’re the perfect accompaniment for beach days and days out on the town. 

Verified buyer Adan shared a pair of his sunglasses with their case. You can see the shiny logo on the glasses case and the cursive logo on the lens.

Ray-Ban RB3016 CLUBMASTER

The CLUBMASTER sunglasses stand out with their distinctive browline and bright blue lenses. The gold frames add another bit of flair to the glasses. If you want something more lowkey, these sunglasses are also available with brown and black lenses.

Ray-Ban RB4171 ERIKA

The ERIKA sunglasses are a modern pair that come with super-light plastic frames, which allow them to rest comfortably on your face all day. They’re available in a range of colors, including dark sand, blue grey, and beige. They also have models with transparent frames if you want to get in on the clear frames trend!

Ray-Ban RB3447 ROUND METAL

These round metal frames will make you look groovy like John Lennon! You can go bold with bright blue lenses, or you could go for something more mellow and modern, like rose gold lenses. Whichever you choose, these sunglasses are sure to make a statement.

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TL;DR

• Ray-Bans are expensive for a few reasons. Ray-Ban makes its glasses out of durable materials and meticulously constructs them. They’ve also built up brand prestige over their many years in business.
• There are many stories on Reddit of people buying fake Ray-Bans. It’s easy to fall for fakes, and it can be a frustrating experience.
• When checking to see if your Ray-Bans are real, begin by looking at the packaging and barcode. Make sure that your Ray-Bans come with a booklet and microfiber cloth.
• Next, check the case. The logo should be shiny, and the case should be faux leather.
• Check the lenses to make sure the Ray-Ban logo is in the right place, and the lenses should feel high-quality.
• Ray-Ban makes its hinges out of sturdy metal. On Wayfarers, they should have a distinctive seven-prong hinge.
• If your sunglasses have a nose pad, the Ray-Ban logo should be in the middle. The frames on real Ray-Bans are made of one piece of acetate and have no blemishes or seams.
• Finally, check the serial number. If you’re worried your glasses are fake, you can verify the serial number with Ray-Ban’s customer service.
• Authenticity matters because real Ray-Bans have 100% UV ray protection and offer a two-year warranty.
• You can find real Ray-Bans at a discount at some retailers, like EZContacts.
• Interested in trying out some new Ray-Bans? Some good, classic options include Ray-Ban RB2132 NEW WAYFARER, Ray-Ban RB3025 AVIATOR LARGE METAL, Ray-Ban RB3016 CLUBMASTER, Ray-Ban RB4171 ERIKA, and Ray-Ban RB3447 ROUND METAL.

Shop for Ray-Bans here.