How to Check a Ray-Ban Serial Number (and Spot Fakes)

To find out exactly which Ray-Ban model you have, just look at the inside of one of the temples: there you’ll see a series of letters and numbers indicating the model, the frame color, the lens color and the measurements. It is the first step to ordering any replacement part without getting it wrong. Here is how to read each part.

Ray-Ban has no online serial number checker: how to check yours yourself

There is no official website where you can type in a Ray-Ban serial number and find out whether your glasses are genuine. The code inside the temple is a model reference, not a unique serial number: every pair of the same model, color and size carries the same code, and counterfeiters copy real ones. So a code that looks right proves little on its own. This is what you can check yourself:

1. The code matches the glasses. Look up the model (for example RB2140) on Ray-Ban’s website and check that the shape is the same and that the model is made in the lens size printed on your temple.
2. The lens markings. On Ray-Ban sunglasses, “RB” is etched on the left lens near the hinge and the Ray-Ban logo is on the right lens. Both should be crisp, not smudged or uneven.
3. The print and the finish. The text inside the temple should be straight, sharp and evenly spaced, and the hinges should feel solid and open smoothly.

For more signs, from the lenses to the hinges, see how to tell if your Ray-Bans are original.

Where to find the serial number

The reference is printed on the inside of the temple, the side that rests against your head. On some models it is split between the two temples: the model and colors on one, and the measurements on the other. With use, the numbers can wear off a little; use good light and, if necessary, a magnifying glass or your phone’s camera.

A typical example would be “RB3025 001 58□14”. Let’s see what each part means.

How to read the reference step by step

1. The model: RBXXXX. The first thing you’ll see is “RB” followed by four digits. That is your Ray-Ban model. In the example, “RB3025” is the Aviator.
2. The frame color. Right after the model comes a 3- or 4-digit code. This is the frame color, that is, the color of the front of the glasses. Very important: it refers to the front, not the temples. If the front is black and the temples are red, the color of that model is black, not red.
3. The lens color. It comes after the frame code and can appear in three ways: separated by a slash (“FRAME CODE/XX”), joined to the frame code (“FRAME CODEXX”) or not at all. In the first two cases, XX is the lens color code. If only the frame code appears, your lens is G15 (green) or B15 (brown).
4. The lens and bridge size. This is very easy to find because it is separated by a square: XX□YY. The number XX is the lens size, the width of the lens in millimeters. YY is the width of the bridge, also in millimeters.
5. The temple length. These are the last three numbers of the reference. They indicate the length of the temple in millimeters.

In the images at the beginning of the article, each of these parts is marked, and in the video we talk you through it.

Why it matters so much

The same Ray-Ban model is made in several lens sizes and many colors. A 55 mm lens won’t fit a 58 mm frame, and a temple in a different color or length won’t look the same. With the full reference, you’ll get it right first time with original Ray-Ban lenses, original Ray-Ban temples or any small part.

Common mistakes

• Taking the temple color as the frame color. The code always refers to the front.
• Confusing the lens size with the bridge. The lens size is the number before the square; the bridge is the one after it.
• Ignoring the lens code. If there is a code after the slash, it is key to choosing the right color.
• Looking at only one temple. On some models, part of the information is on the other one.
• Guessing the model from the shape. Some models look very similar but have different measurements.

Frequently asked questions

What if the numbers have worn off?

Check the other temple, the case or the original paperwork if you still have it. If you can’t find them, send us photos of the front and the temples and we’ll help you identify the model.

What if it says “RX” instead of “RB”?

This usually means it is an eyeglass frame, designed for prescription lenses. It is read the same way: model, color and measurements.

Are there compatible lenses if I can’t find the originals?

Yes, for many models we have compatible Ray-Ban lenses.

Find your replacement part

With the reference in hand, look up your model in our Ray-Ban replacement lenses. We have been a certified EssilorLuxottica distributor since 2018, our parts come with a 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects and standard shipping is free on qualifying orders. You’ll find screws, nose pads and temple tips in other Ray-Ban spare parts. And if you’re not sure, write to us with a photo and we’ll help you by email.