Since passing my driving test in the summer and after stealing my boyfriends pair whilst in Benidorm, I decided it was about time to invest in a pair of my very own Ray Bans (you can see me wearing the same pair of RB 2140 black wayfarers in my post about Benidorm here).
I fell in love with them straight away, and they were certainly worth paying the extra than picking up a cheap pair on the high street. They sit on my face perfectly, and when I ordered my own I could choose the width of the bridge and you don’t usually get that option when choosing sunglasses. I have quite a large bridge so for me it was important that they sat on my nose properly without a gap.
Choosing the right size
To determine the correct size of your Ray-Ban sunglasses, you will need the width of the bridge, which determines how the glasses rest on your nose. The diameter of the lens is an option of choice and is an indication to how the glasses will appear on your face. You can find measurement information stamped on the inside arm of your Ray Ban glasses. The first two digitals represent the lens diameter and the second set of digits represent the bridge width.
Spotting a fake
There are lots of good sites for tips of avoiding designer fakes, read more here. Do yourself a favour. Buy a real pair, look after them, use the case and protect your eyes with proper sunglasses. Expect to pay £70 or more. The fakes at £25 will break within a month, or worse do your eyes damage.
As everyone knows, when it’s really bright out you squint and your pupils constrict to tiny dots — as small as half a millimeter in diameter — to limit the amount of light getting in. When you put on sunglasses, the effect is the same as being in darkened room, the pupil dilates to let in more light; meaning wearing cheap or fake sunglasses can do more harm than good.
First, take a look at the box that your Ray-Bans came in. A recycling logo should be clearly visible. All Ray-Bans should carry a semi-permanent sticker. This sticker should outline details of: the serial number, manufacturer, distributor, lens and frame type and the sunglasses’ model number. On the case, there should be a gold, engraved logo which reads “Luxottica”. If this logo is painted, transferred or missing, you could have a knock-off pair of Ray-Bans on your hands. You can see an example of my Ray Bans from GN Discount Eyewear at the bottom of the page.
Hold up your Ray-Bans. Check the engraved logo (an interlocking “RB”) under the nose-piece. When holding the glasses the right way up, this engraving should be upside down. Check the right eye lens for the brand logo engraving. If it can be found above the hinge, the glasses should be legitimate. Consider the quality of the authenticity card that came with the glasses. It should be made from a high-standard material. The text on the card should be completely free of any spelling and grammar errors. The ink, itself, should be impossible to smudge. Try testing the ink with a wet finger.
With this being said, there is no foolproof formula for judging whether or not a fashion item is the Real McCoy. The techniques of organised criminals are becoming more advanced, as technology continues to develop. As such, it’s vital for people who buy sunglasses online to have their wits about them.
