Guide: Spotting Fakes
Three quick checks before you buy: verify the label for manufacturer name and address, scratch the anti-counterfeit code and confirm it is the first query, and check the original brand authorization plaque. Five minutes of checking can save you from most common scams.
Check the label: manufacturer name and address
Every frame and lens package must carry a label with the manufacturer's name, address and production date. If the label is missing, handwritten, or only says "OEM" with no company name — don't buy it. This is a legal requirement in China.
Look at the printing on the inside of the temple arms. Lens packaging should have a sticker showing the brand, model, index, prescription and production date. Take photos of everything for your records.
Check the anti-counterfeit code
Branded lenses (Zeiss, Essilor, Hoya, Nikon, etc.) have a scratch-off anti-counterfeit code on the packaging. Scratch it and scan with WeChat — the result must say "first query." If it shows "queried X times," the code has been reused and the lenses are very likely fake.
If the code is already scratched or damaged when you receive the package, refuse it. "Code-erased" lenses come from unauthorized channels with no brand warranty. Sellers scratch codes off to prevent brands from tracing unauthorized distribution.
Check the authorization plaque
Authorized dealers usually display a framed brand authorization plaque on the wall. Make sure it's an original, not a photocopy. You can call the brand's 400 hotline to verify the store name and authorization number. If a store cannot show a plaque or refuses verification — buy at your own risk.
Zeiss: 400-820-0901 | Essilor: 400-820-6868 | Hoya: 400-820-8866 | Nikon: 400-820-0608. Ask the store for the authorization number, then call to verify. Use a translation app to help — some brands may have English-speaking staff.