- Take 30 seconds to register your free account to access deals, post topics, and view exclusive content! Register TodayJoin the largest Oakley Forum on the web!
đŚHow to Spot Fake Oakleys Guide
- Thread starter cacatman
- Start date
Updated
A General Guide As to How to Spot Fakes (thanks for the headsup @davidkaminski)
How to Spot Fake Oakleys From the Revant Website (just in case it gets deleted)....
Foakley, Fakley, Fokley, whatever you want to call them, they are not the real deal. Fake Oakleys fill the black markets, from shops in metro stations in Shanghai, to street stalls in MazatlĂĄn, to car trunks on Canal Streetâtheyâre all over the world. Chances are, when youâre buying off the street or can bargain on the price, you know what youâre getting into.
But what if youâre after the genuine article?
Some of these counterfeits are good and only getting better, and theyâre all over the internet. Before you drop your hard-earned money on a new pair of Oakleys or on replacement lenses that you're expecting to fit into your "Oakleys," here are some signs to be on the lookout for:
1. PRICE
If it seems too good to be true . . . you know how this ends.
An authentic pair of Oakleys is typically going to cost you at least $50.00, and thatâs if theyâre used, old, and probably a little worse for the wear. Anything brand new, straight out of the box is far more likely to be at least in the $80-$100+ range. Granted, this does depend on the model (and also whether the seller came by the sunglasses honestly). Itâs always good to check against the retail price and what other frames of the same condition are going for.
If you decide to go for it anyway, here are some other identifiers to be aware of:
2. MARKS ON LENSES
With limited editions such as the Tour de France, MLB, or Ferrari models, there are some Oakley lenses that will have something other than âPolarizedâ or âPrizmâ etched into the lens. You can also get some custom etching from Oakley. Some shield lenses, like lenses for the M Frames will have âOakleyâ etched into the top of the lens, above the nose bridge.
Legit Oakley polarized etching
Limited Edition legit Oakley breast cancer etching
But if the Oakley icon, either the rounded âOâ or the square one is printed on the lens, theyâre big, fat fakes.
Oakley doesnât put the icon on its standard non-prescription lenses, nor does it print on its lenses; any markings will be etched. If you see paint on the lens, run the other direction.
Please note, this applies to non-prescription lenses. Authentic Oakley prescription lenses may have the Oakley "O" etched into the lower corner of the lens. Ballistic and Industrial lenses will also have a small "O" etched into the lens.
Fake painted on Oakley O
3. BOGUS SKU
The SKU (pronounced âsk-yewâ) is an identification that is often alphanumeric. In older Oakleys, the SKU typically is a sequence of 2 numbers, a dash, and then 3 numbers. An example of a SKU for a pair of Half Jackets is 03-609.
More recent editions are longer, and start with a double âOââthe letter, not a zero. 4 numbers, a dash, and then 2 more numbers. An example of this is the Tron Legacy Gascans, which have the SKU OO9143-03.
There are some exceptions, as some Asian Fit models will follow the same format of the 5 number sequence (i.e., 03-609) and then include a âJâ at the end.
Real SKU: Don't forget to look for the "OO"
Bogus SKU
If you see a SKU with random letters, or a longer string of numbers than whatâs been identified above, they may be counterfeits. Itâs a good idea to plug your SKU into a search engine and see what pops up. Some forgers are putting real Oakley SKUs on their knock-offs, but those authentic SKUs rarely match up with the model theyâre printed on. For example, if you purchased a pair of Holbrooks, but the SKU on them comes up with results for Straight Jackets, youâve most likely got some fake Oakleys on your hands.
On used models, the SKU may have rubbed off, so if there isnât one, donât be too alarmedâunless the seller claims theyâre new, and then you might want to rethink that purchase, because new Oakleys should still have a SKU. On wire models, sometimes the SKU is located underneath an ear sock.
4. CHIPPED, FLAKING PAINT
Many of Oakleyâs plastic frames are formed with pre-dyed plastic, meaning the plastic pellets used to form the sunglasses are injected with dye, so the plastic is the same color throughout. If you were to snap your frames in half, the inner color of the plastic should be the same as the outer. This isnât true of all Oakleys, especially those featuring designs or metal frames. Those that are painted feature a high-quality finish that should withstand normal wear and tear for a while.
Forgeries often have the color painted on and lack a heavy duty top coat to seal it in. If you fold your stems in and look at the hinge area, youâll likely see a color discrepancy. Also, the paint often chips, scratches, or flakes easily.
5. LOGO PLACEMENT
A lot of counterfeiters slap âOakleyâ on the frames and call it goodânot paying attention to whether the model theyâre faking actually has the Oakley logo in the same place. This is especially common over the nose bridge. If the ones on Oakleyâs site donât have âOakleyâ over the nose bridge, and yours do, then what youâve got are phonies. Life style frames such as Holbrooks and Frogskins are popular knock-offs, and the fakes often feature a misplaced logo.
Fake Oakley Holbrooks
Real Oakley Holbrooks with Revant Elite Lenses
6. FRAME MATERIAL
There are some sunglass styles that come in multiple frame materials. For example, the Jupiter line has Jupiter Carbon, which are metal, and Jupiter Squared, which are plastic. The shape of each of these frames is identical, so if you have a metal Jupiter, it doesnât necessarily mean itâs fake. You can read more about identifying Oakley Jupiters here.
However, there are some styles that only come in one material. If you come across a pair of metal Oil Rigs, theyâre 100% fake Oakleys. If you come across a pair of plastic Juliets, theyâre also inauthentic.
7. RAISED SEAMS
Counterfeit Oakleys often have imperfect finishing, and the plastic frames may have raised lines from the molding process. On Genuine Oakleys, this seam is almost imperceptible. You can pick it out with your eye, but if you run your finger along it, you shouldnât be able to feel it.
8. STICKERS
More recent Oakleys with polarized lenses will come with a static cling stylized âP.â But theyâll never have a tacky, adhesive sticker that will leave residue when itâs pulled off.
Legit Static Cling Polarized Oakley Sticker
Fake Sticker
Fake Sticker
9. NEVER MADE BY OAKLEY
This might seem pretty basic, but not everyone knows the whole line-up of Oakley. They see a pair of sunglasses they like the look of, see it has the Oakley logo, and assume itâs real. Die-hard Oakley fans who like to frequent forums call one style in particular the âFandango.â Oakley has some pretty interesting sunglass styles, but if you feel like the style is just a little too out there, run an image search and see what comes up. If they donât pop up on any legitimate sites, theyâre fakes.
10. MADE IN USA
The âMade in USAâ stamp used to be the go-to indicator as to whether you were dealing with a real pair of Oakleys or some fakes.
This is no longer the case, because not all Oakley sunglasses are made in the USA.
Feel free to verify this on Oakleyâs FAQ.
Hopefully, these tips will help in your search to identify whether your sunglasses are Oakleys or Foakleys. And remember, if you have the real deal, a scratched lens doesn't mean you're out the $100-plus you spent on your sunglasses. Find out more about refreshing your Oakleys with new replacement lenses for Oakley sunglasses.
Do you have any advice or other indicators to look out for that will help others from being duped? Please share in the comments below! Thanks @SiRacer420 for the info to determine if e-wires are fake (maybe @flyer or ? @Rick58 can add as well).
Fake E-wires
Fake has a screw for nose rubbers
Fake have flat head screw
Most have "Titanium" print instead of actual etching
Should have a break here for lens to be fitted.
Updated
Fake e-wires (@SiRacer420) Updated @BoostBear info about fake jawbonesThis morning I recived my first fake Brooks...
A few days ago, i have studies the fake guide, but the case want that Oakley code is the real code, and olso the same code of the example guide. Fortunately this guy itâs really correct and bring me back all money.
dimebar1977
Oakley Expert
quality explanation people,if theres no market for fakes they wont be made.thanks for the thread,keep up the good workSimilar threads
