How Can I Tell If My Oakley Sunglasses Are Real?

How to Spot Fake Oakleys

Oakley is one of the most sought-after names in the eyewear industry. But sometimes, recognizing a genuine pair can be tricky. Like many luxury and big-name brands, it’s not unusual for Oakley sunglasses models and eyeglasses frames to be copied and sold by counterfeiters.

Counterfeit Oakleys may look similar, but they don’t provide the same quality, performance, or fit that you experience with genuine products. Read on to learn how to spot fake Oakleys and verify that yours are the real deal.

Consider the Price Point

Imposter Oakley sunglasses and eyeglasses are often priced at a cost that seems too good to be true. (It is.) When purchasing Oakleys, you should make sure the cost makes sense for the premium product you’re considering.

Oakley eyewear is carefully constructed with high-quality materials to enhance longevity, durability, and customer satisfaction. From the drawing board to the final quality checks, every part of the process is considered when determining the total cost.

As a reference point, our Oakley frame offerings start at around $115 before lens customizations. If you shop directly through Oakley, you may be able to find lower prices on sale items and discontinued models.

But if you find prices that are dramatically lower through a retailer you’ve never heard of, you may want to do some more research before making any purchases.

Check the Packaging

When you buy an Oakley product, you’re buying some of the highest-quality eyewear on the market. And the packaging is crafted just as carefully as the items inside. Each Oakley product is packaged with the following:

• Barcode

• Frame style, name, and description

• Microfiber dust bag (Oakley Micro Bag), made with high-quality fabric and logo stitching

• Authenticity certificate

• Warranty card

If any items are missing or appear to be of a lesser quality than they should be, there’s a chance you may have received knockoff Oakleys.

Inspect the Lenses

All Oakley sunglasses and eyeglasses are fitted with high-quality lenses. Some lens options are great for everyday use and others work best during specific activities. This allows you to select the type that best suits your lifestyle, whether you’re a cyclist, hiker, snowboarder, or fashion enthusiast.

 If you’re trying to determine whether you have genuine Oakleys, check the lenses for the following:

• Quality – Expect high-quality work and materials that don’t look or feel low-budget.

• Lens Logo – There should not be a logo on the lenses (etched or painted).

• Stickers – The lenses should not have any stickers or adhesive residue (any “stickers” should be non-sticky static clings)

Other luxury brands, such as Ray-Ban, include a small version of their logo etched into one of the lenses of each pair of sunglasses or eyeglasses. This is used as a mark of authenticity for certain brands.

Oakley does not include its logo on lenses, so if you find a painted or etched “O” logo on a lens, you may not have genuine Oakley sunglasses or glasses.

Examine the Frame

How can I tell if my Oakley sunglasses are real — can I tell by looking at the frames? The quality of your Oakley frames is especially apparent in the look and feel of the frames, making them another key Oakley identifier.

Genuine Oakley glasses and sunglasses frames should include:

• Well-crafted materials

• Smooth finish on the frames

• No missing, loose, or fragile hardware

• Plastic that is pre-dyed rather than applied with paint

• “O” logo imprinted (not painted) onto the frame temples

While the Oakley “O” should never be present on your lenses, you should be able to spot it on the frames. This “O” logo should be identical to the official Oakley branding and consistent with the logos on the eyewear packaging you receive.

Look for the SKU

The stock keeping unit (SKU) is another important factor in Oakley identification. This number is displayed on one of the frame’s temples (usually on the left side). Sometimes it’s referred to as the model number. Some frames have additional numbers following the SKU that identify the temple length, bridge, lens widths, and color.

Oakley numbers on frames should appear as OOXXXX-XX or XX-XXX. Note that the double-letter “O” is not a double-zero (“00”). Should you see two zeros at the start of this number, the frames may not be genuine products. They could be knockoff “generic” Oakley sunglasses made to look like the real thing.

If, based on your findings, you think you might have fake Oakleys, check the SKU number online. Even if the SKU looks legitimate, the SKU may not match the frame style you have if your product is counterfeit.

Verify the Oakley Serial Number

Newer Oakley models don’t have a unique serial number. Instead, the company uses the SKU (or model number) for basic identification. (Remember, authentic SKU numbers follow the OOXXXX-XX or XX-XXX pattern.)

However, vintage, early-production, and some special edition Oakleys often do include a serial number on the temples. If this is the case, the number is usually located on the inner left temple near the hinge.

The serial number on real Oakley eyewear should begin with a number and end with a string of numbers. You can conduct an Oakley serial number check online to verify the number if needed.

Check the Hinges

Oakley sunglasses are built tough with outdoor sports and recreation in mind. The hinges may be small, but they play a big part in the overall performance and durability of the frames.

Many Oakley models feature one of the following types of hinges:

• The Hollowpoint hinge has an internal piston, automatic spring, and hole-like appearance for a sleek design.

• The Latch hinge has a kick-up element to easily clip your glasses onto your shirt for quick storage.

Some genuine Oakleys don’t have one of these hinge types. They should still offer the same quality, sturdiness, premium hardware, and quality construction that the brand is known for. There should be no loose parts.

Additional Tips for How to Tell if Sunglasses Are Genuine Oakley Brand

Once you’ve inspected and confirmed the quality of your eyewear, there are a few other technical details you can look for to ensure their authenticity.

Oakley Logo

For example, the typography used in the Oakley logo on the packaging, microfiber bag, case, and frames should be consistent. The Oakley Micro Bag itself should also be made with quality material, so if it doesn’t look and feel right, you may want to inspect your glasses further.

“Made in USA” Stamp

Depending on where your particular frames were manufactured, there may be an Oakley “Made in USA” stamp on one of the temples. If you don’t see this stamp, it doesn’t mean your Oakleys are counterfeit. You may just have a model that isn’t made in the U.S.

Fake Oakleys vs. Real

It’s important to try and exercise caution if you encounter secondhand or questionable vendors selling any type of luxury item, including Oakleys. Unfortunately, knockoff Oakley glasses and sunglasses have become increasingly common in the wild. Before buying anything, use the tools we’ve outlined above and take the time to check for signs of counterfeit work.

If you already have some shades or specs that you aren’t sure about, take them to a trusted optician for a detailed inspection.

You have the power as a consumer to choose where and when you buy your eyewear. One of the best ways to ensure you get genuine products is to purchase from Eyebuydirect or another authorized Oakley dealer.

As an authorized retailer for Oakley and several other premium brands, you can shop our entire catalog of eyeglasses and sunglasses with confidence.