How do you tell the difference between real Oakleys and fake ones? {Updated with Pics}

[Yzzim]

I bought a pair of Oakleys from the FS/FT forum and thought they looked great. My girlfriend and I went to Vegas a week ago and came upon an Oakley dealer. My girlfriend decided to ask the dealer whether they were real Oakleys or not. She showed them to him and he immediately said they were fake. He said he could spot fake ones a mile away and these were it.

I kinda thought he was just making it up just so I'd buy a pair of "real" ones so I asked him if I could check out some "ral" Oakleys. He handed me the same exact model as the pair I had and there was quite a difference. The plastic looked to be very smooth, the "O" on the side was more circular then the "O" on my glasses. The color looked totally different and the weight and feel of them was much more solid.

So my question is, how do you tell a difference? Is there any definite way? Mine are Oakley Minutes, btw, if that matters. I can take pics later tonight if that would help.

Update: Pics are being uploaded here

 

[filmmaker]

The weight and sometimes there are serial numbers on the real ones.

 

[XCLAN]

ouch i have about 10 pairs of fake Oakleys paid maybe 5$ each for them
how much did you pay? sorry to hear

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: XCLAN
ouch i have about 10 pairs of fake Oakleys paid maybe 5$ each for them
how much did you pay? sorry to hear

I only paid like $18.50 for them...with shipping included.

I knew it sounded too good to be true, but the guy assured me that they were genuine and he just wanted to get rid of them.

 

[brunswickite]

i would never buy used Oakleys, from the internet.. too much chance of getting shafted

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: XCLAN
ouch i have about 10 pairs of fake Oakleys paid maybe 5$ each for them
how much did you pay? sorry to hear

I only paid like $18.50 for them...with shipping included.

I knew it sounded too good to be true, but the guy assured me that they were genuine and he just wanted to get rid of them.

Post his name so I never trade with him.

 

[nater]

I've worn fake Oakleys and real ones, and I've always been able to tell the difference by looking through the lenses. If there was any obvious difference ther, you might as well just buy the cheap ones.

 

[EyeMWing]

The ones you could buy pre-September-11 along the mall in Washington, DC (At least until the secret service chased them all away around noon each day) have a tiny f next to Oakley - they're fOakleys! Just after Sept 11, they chased all those guys away permanently, and to the best of my knowledge, they aren't back yet.

 

[fonzinator]

Every counterfeiter will make a little mistake (intentional or not) here or there in the production of a knock-off. Obviously, the materials used will not be low quality compared with the real deal. However, if you don't know the models really well, and don't have the real thing to compare with, you may be easily fooled. The best way to spot a fake is the price...if it's too good to be true, it is!!

I have come across one knock-off in my lifetime that could fool almost anyone. It's a copy of a Rolex Datejust and is the best knock-off I've ever seen. Every detail is a perfect match, even has the sweeping second-hand (usually the first sign of a fake Rolex). The watch is even automatic and works perfectly! However, if you look at the edges of the bezel, you can see faint machine marks on the metal. You would never see this on a real Rolex, thus giving it away as a counterfeit.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

The easiest way I have found to spot the fake Oakley's is the molding marks on plastic frames. Run your finger along the top of the arms and along the frame. Real Oakleys will not have a mold mark, the fake ones nearly always do.

 

[BigSmooth]

If you wore them every day and couldn't tell the difference until they were side-by-side, the chances are that most people you come across won't be able to tell the difference either.
It sucks that you thought you were buying real ones, though, because the lens quality on the fakes is probably going to be much worse.

 

[chrisms]

I bought some foakleys off a guy on the street in New York. The most notable difference is that Oakleys don't alter your view at all, while foakleys do. It is usually easy to tell anyways because they are made out of cheap plastic.

 

[hopeless879]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: XCLAN
ouch i have about 10 pairs of fake Oakleys paid maybe 5$ each for them
how much did you pay? sorry to hear

I only paid like $18.50 for them...with shipping included.

I knew it sounded too good to be true, but the guy assured me that they were genuine and he just wanted to get rid of them.

You got scammed man. Post the traders name so other people don't get scammed.

 

[austin316]

I might be able to answer your question, since I have a pair of real Minutes and had a knockoff pair too. The two biggest differences I noticed are the rubber ear pieces. On the fake ones, the ends of them would sometimes strip alittle, or not be cut exactly straight, whereas the real ones looked like they were cut with a precision laser. The other difference I noticed is the on the inside of the noisepiece, my real ones say Oakley or Minutes in raised letters (can't remember which one) whereas my fake ones don't have anything printed there.

 

[austin316]

and yeah, for $18 I bet you got scammed. got mine from sunglass hut (gold iridium ones) for about $125. I think they sell for about $90 now.

 

[fonzinator]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
If you wore them every day and couldn't tell the difference until they were side-by-side, the chances are that most people you come across won't be able to tell the difference either.
It sucks that you thought you were buying real ones, though, because the lens quality on the fakes is probably going to be much worse.

I would be willing to guess that knock-off sunglasses probably use the cheapest lenses they can get their hands on - merely tinted plastic. The lenses probably don't block any UV rays. With the tint taking down the intensity of the sunlight, your pupils will dialate more - allowing MORE damaging UV rays into your eyes! Your fake Oakleys may look cool, but you're most likely REALLY damaging your eyes. I'd stay away.

 

[royaldank]

Originally posted by: austin316
I might be able to answer your question, since I have a pair of real Minutes and had a knockoff pair too. The two biggest differences I noticed are the rubber ear pieces. On the fake ones, the ends of them would sometimes strip alittle, or not be cut exactly straight, whereas the real ones looked like they were cut with a precision laser. The other difference I noticed is the on the inside of the noisepiece, my real ones say Oakley or Minutes in raised letters (can't remember which one) whereas my fake ones don't have anything printed there.

I would hope the biggest difference is the lens. That is what you are paying for on those glasses.

 

[austin316]

you won't damage your eyes with foakleys. uv protection in lenses costs like 10 cents. however, from my experience, the lens aren't as clear.

 

[Kaervak]

I had a pair of fakes before I bought the real deal. The fakes ones were flimsy as hell. The metal frames were cheap feeling and the earsocks were hard rubber instead of the soft rubber like on the authentics. Some you can tell are fakes right away, others are a little harder to spot especially with the plastic frame ones. The metal frame Oakleys are usually easy to spot.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Originally posted by: Millennium

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: XCLAN
ouch i have about 10 pairs of fake Oakleys paid maybe 5$ each for them
how much did you pay? sorry to hear

I only paid like $18.50 for them...with shipping included.

I knew it sounded too good to be true, but the guy assured me that they were genuine and he just wanted to get rid of them.

Post his name so I never trade with him.

If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Any trader worth his salt wouldn't go promising genuine if he couldn't back it up.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: Yzzim
I bought a pair of Oakleys from the FS/FT forum and thought they looked great. My girlfriend and I went to Vegas a week ago and came upon an Oakley dealer. My girlfriend decided to ask the dealer whether they were real Oakleys or not. She showed them to him and he immediately said they were fake. He said he could spot fake ones a mile away and these were it.

Was this on an AT F/S forum? Then I'd say notify the mods and/or post the seller's name if he promised them to be genuine Oakleys. The AT forums are pretty well regulated, and you wouldn't want anyone else to get ripped off, do you?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: austin316
you won't damage your eyes with foakleys. uv protection in lenses costs like 10 cents. however, from my experience, the lens aren't as clear.

yeah, i have a problem with wearing cheapies after wearing glasses for a long time. they're just too blurry

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: AbsolutDealage
The easiest way I have found to spot the fake Oakley's is the molding marks on plastic frames. Run your finger along the top of the arms and along the frame. Real Oakleys will not have a mold mark, the fake ones nearly always do.

yeah, there's definitely molding marks along the frame.

The inside of the nose piece says "Minute". Behind that there's a big "O" with a nail through it, the "O", the nail, and the "Minute" are all raised.

The rubber pieces on the ear strips are a soft rubber.

I'll see if I can take pictues in a sec

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: Yzzim
I bought a pair of Oakleys from the FS/FT forum and thought they looked great. My girlfriend and I went to Vegas a week ago and came upon an Oakley dealer. My girlfriend decided to ask the dealer whether they were real Oakleys or not. She showed them to him and he immediately said they were fake. He said he could spot fake ones a mile away and these were it.

Was this on an AT F/S forum? Then I'd say notify the mods and/or post the seller's name if he promised them to be genuine Oakleys. The AT forums are pretty well regulated, and you wouldn't want anyone else to get ripped off, do you?

Yes, this was on the AT FS/FT forum.

I messaged the guy about the problem and he assured me that they are genuine Oakleys. I asked him about the quality of the plastic and everything but haven't heard anything bake yet.

 

[Mannkind]

Unless the glasses came with the box, warrenty card, literature, and anything else special (such as x-metal coin if you bought x-metal glasses) etc, its a waste to even consider getting them.

And then if you risk it, then the easy way to tell is the quality. They are minutes? I have a pair of oakley polarized black minutes, and a pair of ice polarized juliets... when I'll get home, I'll take some pics and describe the parts you described... see if they match up.

There is a chance however, that you DO have real oakleys, and perhaps because the dealer thought you had interest in actual oakleys, that he'd be able to sell you a pair by telling you they were fake (due to the fact that you ASKED... meaning you didn't buy them from authorized seller... )

It is a long shot, but a posibility.

I'll post here again in about 30 minutes with some pics and descriptions

Oakley Sunglasses are amazing, worth EVERY penny I've spent on them (Polarized Minutes=155, Polarized Juliets=330)