How to detect fake:

Oakley Sunglasses

If you are in the market for Oakley sunglasses, you should learn how to tell the real from the fakes, or you could easily wind up with a pair of Oakley knock-offs. A cheap price may be a hint that the glasses are not authentic. As of 2009, genuine Oakley sunglasses ranged from $150 to over $300. Before purchasing your next pair of Oakley sunglasses, go through the steps below.

The first thing to do is look at the quality of the glasses (and the box, if they are new). If it does include a box, make sure everything is spelled right and that there are no printing quality issues.

Look for the words "Made in U.S.A." on the inside of one of the stems. These can be either painted, engraved or molded, depending on the frame style. Some newer metal framed Oakley's are made in China but all Plastic frames should be "Made in U.S.A."

Next, look at the "O" on the arm of the frame. Oakley frames have a raised separated piece, recessed into the frame. Fake frames use a method of screen printing that allows for a similar look but the paint on the fakes are usually scratched off or worn.

Next, feel the nose piece and rubber on the arms. The real Oakley frames have a soft, rubber like feel. The fake ones have a smooth, plastic feel to them. Real Oakleys do not have any seams. There are no raised lines or seams on the arms or around the lens frame. The X-metal styles are never made of plastic.

Another thing, if you're buying a new pair, look to see if the sunglasses have any stickers or advertisements on them saying anything like, "Authentic Oakley," or "100% Oakley". If they do, they are most likely fake. Real Oakley sunglasses does not put stickers on their frames.

Also, search for your model number on the internet and make sure the ones you find, with that model number, looks like yours. Sometimes the numbers of the counterfeits don't match up with the real ones.

Also, If your Oakley sunglasses claim to be polarized, check for polarization. Put the sunglasses up to a computer monitor and rotate them back and forth. If the glasses are polarized you will see them turn dark.