How to Spot Original Sunglasses: Ways to Tell a Fake Pair Apart

The answer to how you can tell original glasses lies not in a single sign but in several signs that confirm each other. If the CE mark, the codes on the temple, the workmanship, the box and the documents all point to the same product, that consistency is a strong indication of originality. These checks are not only about the brand: the real risk with fake glasses is a lens that does not protect your eyes from ultraviolet light.

How to tell original glasses: six basic checks

Original glasses are recognised through six checks that confirm each other: the CE mark and UV information, the codes on the temple, the workmanship, the box and case, the invoice and warranty card, and where you bought them. A single sign, such as the logo on the temple, is not proof on its own; the signs gain meaning when they confirm each other.

1. CE mark and UV information: the CE mark is on the inside of the temple, and UV protection information is on the label or on the lens.
2. Codes on the temple: the model code, colour code and size are clearly printed and match the label on the box.
3. Workmanship: the hinges, symmetry, how the lens sits in the frame, the printing and the surface are carefully finished.
4. Box, case and cloth: the items that come with the glasses belong to the same product and match each other.
5. Invoice and warranty card: the purchase is documented; who you bought from and when is in writing.
6. Where you bought them: you know who the seller is and can contact them after the sale.

This article does not include a list of secret brand-specific marks, because brands change their lettering, boxes and details over time. An out-of-date list could make an original pair look fake and a fake pair look original. The checks below are independent of the brand and can be applied to any pair of sunglasses.

What do the CE mark and UV information show?

The CE mark shows that the manufacturer declares the glasses meet European safety rules, and the UV information shows to what extent the lens blocks ultraviolet light. In Türkiye and the European Union, non-prescription sunglasses count as personal protective equipment and therefore carry the CE mark. The European and international standard for sunglasses is EN ISO 12312-1.

UV information is often given as UV400. The UV400 label means the lens does not let through ultraviolet light up to 400 nanometres, which covers almost all UVA and UVB; the details are explained in our article what does UV400 mean. Next to the CE mark, most glasses also show a number between 0 and 4. This number is the filter category, which shows how much visible light the lens lets through, and it is explained in a table in our article on sunglass filter categories.

How do you read the codes on the inside of the temple?

The inside of the temple usually shows three pieces of information: the model code, the colour code and the size. On most glasses these are accompanied by the brand name, the CE mark and the filter category; which information appears on which temple varies by brand.

The printing should be legible, neatly aligned and durable. Printing with crooked or faint letters, that rubs off easily or contains spelling mistakes raises suspicion. A code on the temple that differs from the code on the box is a stronger warning than a flaw in workmanship, because it shows that the glasses and the box do not belong to the same product.

If you would like to see how a model code and size are read for one brand, see our guide to Ray-Ban models.

What should you look for in the workmanship?

Look at five places for workmanship: the hinges, the symmetry, how the lens sits in the frame, the quality of the printing and the surface. On a carefully made new pair these points are neat; with careless production, faults usually show up here.

Look at the lens too. Hold the glasses at arm's length, look through the lens at a straight line such as the edge of a door and slowly move the glasses left and right. If the line clearly ripples or bends, the non-prescription lens may not be optically true.

None of these signs is a verdict on its own: an original pair can also loosen with use and need adjusting. On a new pair, however, several of these faults appearing together is something to take seriously.

What do the box, case, cloth and documents tell you?

The box, case, cloth and documents support originality when they point to the same product as the glasses. What matters is not that these items exist but that they are consistent with each other.

1. The model code, colour code and size on the label of the box should match those on the inside of the temple.
2. The brand name on the case and cleaning cloth should be printed in the same style and with the same care as on the glasses.
3. The information leaflet that comes with the product should include the manufacturer or importer details, the filter category and usage warnings.
4. The invoice documents who you bought the glasses from and on what date; it helps later if it shows the product name or model code.
5. If a warranty card was given, the seller details and date on it should match the invoice.

The invoice and warranty card are needed not only for originality but also so that you can contact the seller or the brand if a problem arises later. Without documents, this becomes harder.

Why does it matter where you buy your glasses?

Where you buy your glasses matters because the seller is the one who will stand behind the other checks. A seller whose identity is known, who issues invoices and whom you can reach after the sale can show where the product came from and will be the person to deal with if there is a problem.

Before you buy, you can consider these five questions:

1. Are the seller's trading name and address clearly stated?
2. Is an invoice issued for every sale?
3. Are the glasses supplied with their box, case and documents?
4. Are the return and exchange conditions set out in writing?
5. Can you get support after the sale with things like temple adjustment, screws and nose pads?

On holiday, for example when your glasses break or get lost in Belek or Kadriye, shopping is often done in a hurry. Even if you are in a hurry, checking these five questions and comparing the code on the temple with the box takes very little time.

What is the real risk with fake glasses?

The real risk with fake sunglasses is that the lens has no UV protection, or not the protection stated on the label. The darkness of a lens does not show its UV protection: a UV filter can be colourless, and a dark lens may have none at all.

In Antalya the sun is strong for most of the year; on the beach, on a boat or on the road, your glasses are in front of your eyes for hours. With use like this, documented protection from the lens matters more than the logo on the frame.

Can UV protection be measured?

Yes, the UV protection of a lens can be checked with a device that measures UV transmission. These devices, which optician's stores have, show how much ultraviolet light passes through the lens. UV protection cannot be judged by eye or by the colour or darkness of the lens.

It is important to know what the measurement shows. It shows whether the lens lets ultraviolet light through; it does not show which brand made the glasses. In other words, a lens that measures well is not proof of originality, and a lens without UV protection is not one to wear in the sun, whatever its brand.

With glasses sold as polarised, a second consistency check is possible: look at an LCD screen through the glasses and turn them 90 degrees; if the screen goes dark, the lens is polarised. If the label says polarised but the screen does not go dark at all, that is an inconsistency. Polarisation and UV protection are separate features; you can read about the difference in our article what are polarised sunglasses.

What should you do if you are suspicious?

If you are suspicious, first compare the documents and codes, then have the UV transmission of the lens checked and share the result with the seller. The steps can be ordered like this:

1. Bring together the invoice, the warranty card if one was given, the box and the case.
2. Compare the model code, colour code and size on the inside of the temple with the label on the box.
3. Check the five points in the workmanship table one by one.
4. Have the UV transmission of the lens checked with a measuring device.
5. If you see an inconsistency, contact the seller with your invoice.
6. If you get no answer, ask the customer service of the brand or the importer, quoting the model code.

Until the UV protection is confirmed, rely on a hat and shade in strong sun rather than wearing those glasses.