A Guide to Buying Sunglasses, Rayban Authenticity Checklist

One of the most popular designer sunglasses sold over the internet today is Rayban. It seems that if you want sunglasses, Rayban is the brand that you should look for.


Since 1937, the company has been known to produce high performance sunglasses, Raybans that don’t just carry fashionable designs but also ones that will last for a very long time.

Made with high quality plastics and metals, Rayban have also been issued to pilots for decades because they’re tough enough to withstand wind and protect the eyes from very strong UV Rays.

The Rayban Aviator was popularized by known personalities in history and Hollywood including General Douglas MacArthur and Tom Cruise. An oversized replica of the Rayban Wayfarer, on the other hand, which revolutionized the use of plastic in sunglasses, was worn by Audrey Hepburn in the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.

Unfortunately, due to the popularity of the sunglasses, Rayban is also one of the most counterfeited brands sold over the internet. While the counterfeits may come quite close to the original models in terms of appearance, they’re very far behind in terms of quality. Below are tips that can help you avoid purchasing the fake ones that are being auctioned online.

1. Look very carefully at the price tag of the sunglasses, Rayban supposedly manufactured. The retail price of an original pair of sunglasses, Rayban would distribute would is between $80 and $400. Anything that’s way below that is definitely a fake. Even if the distributors who are auctioning their goods online buy the glasses in bulk, it’s impossible for them to afford selling the sunglasses at half the price if these are, in fact, originals.

2. If you’re purchasing a new model, these should be made in Italy and not the USA. While Bausch & Lomb founded Rayban in the USA in 1937, the company is now owned by Luxottica, Italy. If you’re purchasing a New Wayfarer online and the tag says “Made in the USA”, return the product. You’ve just bought a counterfeit Rayban. This is illegal, and the seller should be reported immediately for trying to sell counterfeits as original goods.

3. Look at the markings because most counterfeit products have their markings all wrong. For example, the new Rayban Aviator line should have the patent of Rayban Italy under the bar that joins the two lenses of the glasses. These markings should also be present on the left arm of the sunglasses. Make sure that it’s made in Italy and not USA. Most counterfeit products from China or Malaysia have markings that still say made in the USA.

4. The products shouldn’t have “B&L” etched anywhere on them. The former owners of the brand will no longer sign these products because they no longer own Rayban. Some counterfeit products say they they’re made in Italy, but their manufacturers make the mistake of marking their goods with “B&L”. This etching it practically screaming out loud that the product is a fake.

5. Check on the profile of the seller and the feedbacks on him/her. Be wary of “new” dealers with short trading histories in online auctions. There’s a possibility that this is an old dealer who was caught selling counterfeit products in the past, and s/he only made a new account to sell whatever is left of his/her counterfeit products. While there’s also a possibility that this is really a new seller, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so do your homework before you lay the cash on the table.