Brand-name sunglasses can cost you anything from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. The most expensive Chopard sunglasses in the world are decorated with diamonds and gold and are worth the equivalent of a house!

The eyewear market is a big business, so it’s no surprise that cheap sunglasses replicas flood the market (trivial alert: Ray-Ban shades are the most replicated). In early 2019, an OECD report found that the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods currently accounts for 3.3% of global trade.

Although some fakes are easy to spot a mile away, imitations are becoming more and more complex. In industry terms, they are "confusingly similar." Therefore, if you buy a pair of real designer brands in the market, how do you tell if the sunglasses are fake?

Here are some simple ways to tell the difference between genuine and fake designer sunglasses.

1) Box

Look for the designer's logo or name on the retail box. You will usually also find manufacturer information and a barcode (or serial number). Check carefully the detailed information in the accompanying manual and on the sunglasses frame. The model, color, lens and frame size measurements, and the country of manufacture should all be displayed on the arms of the sunglasses.

2) Case

Check the manufacturer’s website to find out which case you should use for your sunglasses. Genuine Oakley sunglasses come in high-quality hard cases or soft bags, usually with logos. Real Prada sunglasses come with black microfiber cloth and the Prada logo perfectly centered. The font is clear, evenly spaced and straight.

3) Lens

Designer-toned lenses should be of high quality. Know what you are buying. For example, the classic Ray-Ban design is made of glass. If you buy Ray-Bans in the market, you can tap the lenses carefully to see if they are made of glass.

4) Frame

Another good way to determine how to tell if sunglasses are fake is to inspect the frame and check the weight. The fake Ray-Ban feels lighter than the real Ray-Ban. On the other hand, the fake stainless steel version feels heavier than the real one. Authentic frames made of high-quality materials should feel balanced and comfortable when worn. They should not have any scratches or defects. Luxottica recommends viewing the frames from the top to make sure they are symmetrical.

5) Brand building

Most premium brands usually have their company name or brand initials etched on the lenses. Try to scrape these off with your nails. If it falls off easily, it is fake. It has no logo at all, and it is also fake. Be careful with brand stickers, labels and even logos drawn with a brush. If you have purchased a specific brand of sunscreen, you should know what to look for. The Oakley logo is a raised "O" embedded in the frame, while one of the original Ray-Bans lenses is clearly engraved with "RB" and the other lens is engraved with white "Ray-Ban".

6) Hinge

Real designer sunglasses should open and close effortlessly. In other words, don't be too tight or too loose. The hinge should be strong and have high-quality molding. For example, fake Louis Vuitton sunglasses are produced with high-quality single fixing screws. Due to their poor quality, the hinges do not feel right when opening or closing.

7) Attention to details

If you pay a much higher price for designer sunglasses, you definitely want to make sure you know how to tell if the sunglasses are fake. From materials to finishes and weight, everything should be said about quality. If you have the opportunity to check and try before buying, please do your homework and trust your intuition to judge whether your potential purchase is true. If something is made cheaply, you can usually tell the difference.

Pricing

The price tag on sunglasses used to be a very effective way to distinguish the difference between genuine and fake versions. Indeed, imitations can be sold at substantial discounts or at very low prices. In these cases, if it's too good to be true, it usually is. But now, counterfeit sunglasses look very real and can even sell for higher than expected prices. Therefore, do not make any decisions based solely on the asking price.

These 8 steps are a general guide to help you distinguish the difference between genuine and fake designer sunglasses. But if in doubt, please buy directly from a reputable or legal dealer. Check online website reviews and make sure you receive a certificate of authenticity and warranty.

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