Official Fakes/Possible Fakes Inquiry Thread (ARE THESE FAKE? POST FAKES HERE)

[Tomcat14]

Hi everyone,

I'm a longtime wearer of Mainlinks, and I recently purchased a pair from eBay that I'm looking to receive feedback on. The seller had 100% positive feedback and numerous Oakleys for sale in the store. Seller lists these as "Custom No SKU#" Mainlink Shallow Water Prizms.

When I got them, I distinctly noted several differences from multiple 100% legit pairs I own:
1) USA Made red tag at inside right temple
2) No SKU/serial markings of any kind
3) Blue O on outer right temple

Just about everything else seems right about them:
1) Weight is within a gram of legit pair(s)
2) Prizm is etched onto the outside of the lens, identical to genuine
3) Open/close action is firm and matches other pairs
4) Feel of frame materials is identical
5) Shape and proportions are identical
6) Optics quality is high and Prizm coating appears correct in multiple lights to photos of genuine lenses online
7) Bag they came in is identical to genuine

Let me know if additional pictures would be helpful, including comparison photos to known genuine pairs. Thanks so much for your help!

View attachment 978456

View attachment 978457

View attachment 978458

View attachment 978459

View attachment 978460

Probably a custom pair if the seller also says so.

 

[TNGoldbeard]

Hi everyone,

I'm a longtime wearer of Mainlinks, and I recently purchased a pair from eBay that I'm looking to receive feedback on. The seller had 100% positive feedback and numerous Oakleys for sale in the store. Seller lists these as "Custom No SKU#" Mainlink Shallow Water Prizms.

When I got them, I distinctly noted several differences from multiple 100% legit pairs I own:
1) USA Made red tag at inside right temple
2) No SKU/serial markings of any kind
3) Blue O on outer right temple

Just about everything else seems right about them:
1) Weight is within a gram of legit pair(s)
2) Prizm is etched onto the outside of the lens, identical to genuine
3) Open/close action is firm and matches other pairs
4) Feel of frame materials is identical
5) Shape and proportions are identical
6) Optics quality is high and Prizm coating appears correct in multiple lights to photos of genuine lenses online
7) Bag they came in is identical to genuine

Let me know if additional pictures would be helpful, including comparison photos to known genuine pairs. Thanks so much for your help!

View attachment 978456

View attachment 978457

View attachment 978458

View attachment 978459

View attachment 978460

Custom pairs from Oakley don't have Skus or anything at all. I guess early Mainlink customs had a USA MADE. Now they say Oakley Custom or something.

 

[tenthousanddays]

Custom pairs from Oakley don't have Skus or anything at all. I guess early Mainlink customs had a USA MADE. Now they say Oakley Custom or something.

Thanks. The way I read your message is that these are likely genuine given a main concern was no SKU (and also explains blue O at outside temple). Is that fair?

 

[TheStig]

Custom pairs from Oakley don't have Skus or anything at all. I guess early Mainlink customs had a USA MADE. Now they say Oakley Custom or something.

Are you sure this is a legit pair?
Every Mainlink I was able to find had that ugly "USA Made" near the tip of the arm and not at the hinge.
Also the Icons look off.

 

[TNGoldbeard]

Are you sure this is a legit pair?
Every Mainlink I was able to find had that ugly "USA Made" near the tip of the arm and not at the hinge.
Also the Icons look off.

View attachment 978640

Mine are at the tip too, I just didn't know if early ones were different. If they are fakes then they are good fakes, but hard to say with just those pics.

 

[TNGoldbeard]

Thanks. The way I read your message is that these are likely genuine given a main concern was no SKU (and also explains blue O at outside temple). Is that fair?

I'm not confident, just addressing some concerns.

 

[TheStig]

Mine are at the tip too, I just didn't know if early ones were different. If they are fakes then they are good fakes, but hard to say with just those pics.

Even that Red USA Made looks off.

 

[TNGoldbeard]

Thanks. The way I read your message is that these are likely genuine given a main concern was no SKU (and also explains blue O at outside temple). Is that fair?

Can you take a side shot with stems open? Also show the nose pieces more from the side.

 

[TheStig]

Ah ok found one with different USA Made location.

 

[TNGoldbeard]

Ah ok found one with different USA Made location.
View attachment 978643

Good to know, I'm thinking just an earlier version since they had quite a run.

I'm going with real, but with 85% confidence. lol