A pair of Ray Ban Original Wayfarers costs $191 on Ray Ban’s US site. Quay says most of its sunglasses run $75 to $125. So the real question in the Quay vs Ray Ban debate isn’t which logo you’d rather wear. It’s what that extra $66 to $116 actually buys you.
Here’s my verdict before you scroll. If you want one pair you’ll still be wearing in five years, buy the Ray Ban. If you treat sunglasses like a seasonal accessory and want a new shape every few months, Quay is the better deal and you can stop feeling guilty about it. In the one independent lab test I could find that included both brands, sun protection wasn’t what separated them, which surprised me. Prices and policies below are current as of late October 2026.
Quay vs Ray Ban at a Glance
| Quay | Ray Ban | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $75 to $125 | Original Wayfarer Classic: $191 |
| Frames | Acetate, injection plastics, stainless steel | Acetate on the Wayfarer, metal on the Aviator |
| Lenses | Polycarbonate, nylon or CR39 | Glass on many classics, polycarbonate or nylon on newer models |
| Independent UV test (CHOICE, 2025) | Good Time: protection fine, marked down for labelling only | Aviator Classic and Original Wayfarer: both passed |
| Polarized | Some styles, flagged on each product page | Many styles, marked with a P on the right lens |
| Warranty (US) | One year, manufacturing defects | Two years, manufacturing defects |
| Where it’s made | Designed in California, frames made in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia | Italy and China, depending on the model |
| Style | Trend led, drops and collaborations | Classic shapes from 1937 and 1952 |
Quay’s column comes from Quay’s own FAQ and warranty pages. Ray Ban’s price, P marking and warranty come from Ray Ban’s own sites. Where Ray Ban makes its frames comes from FramesDirect, a Luxottica retailer, since it varies by model.
Is Quay High End or Cheap?
Neither, and that’s the most useful answer I can give you. Quay is a fashion priced brand that sits in the gap between bargain bin shades and designer frames. At $75 to $125, you’re paying more than you would for fast fashion and a lot less than you would for a luxury label.
The spec sheet backs up the price better than I expected. According to Quay’s own FAQ, its frames blend acetate, injection plastics and stainless steel with custom hinges, and its lenses are polycarbonate, nylon or CR39, tested to ISO, ANSI and AS/NZS standards. Quay also says every lens blocks 100% of UVA and UVB.
I wore a Quay aviator through one summer of commutes and beach days, and the frame held up fine. What let me down was my own assumption. I grabbed the pair without reading the product page, drove straight into low sun on the highway, and found out the hard way that they weren’t polarized. Quay is upfront that some styles are and some aren’t, and it flags which on every product page. That one’s on me.
Then there’s the manufacturing question, the one that always comes up. Quay was born on the Australian festival circuit and designed in California, but its frames are made across China, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, and the brand says so plainly on its FAQ page. I don’t hold that against it. A lot of fashion eyewear is made in Asia, and as you’ll see in the fake spotting section below, Ray Ban makes part of its range in China too.
If you like the look but want to spend even less, I rounded up sunglasses like Quay that cost way less.
Are Ray Bans Worth the Price?
Yes, if you pick a classic shape, buy from an authorized seller and plan to wear them for years. No, if you’re paying $191 for a logo on a style you’ll be bored of by spring.
The Original Wayfarer Classic is $191 on Ray Ban’s US site, and Ray Ban’s US warranty covers standard eyewear for two years against defects in materials or manufacturing. That’s a year longer than Quay’s. The warranty doesn’t cover scratched lenses, accidents or normal wear, and you need proof of purchase from an authorized dealer, which matters more than most people realize.
Do the per summer math, because it’s less lopsided than the price tags suggest. A $191 pair that lasts four summers costs about $48 a summer. A $100 Quay that lasts two summers costs $50. That’s close to a tie. So the real swing factor isn’t the sticker price. It’s whether you’ll still love the shape in year three, and that’s where Ray Ban’s classics earn their money. The Wayfarer and the Aviator have been around for decades and nobody’s calling them dated.
Polarized versions usually cost more, so compare the exact listings before you decide.
Frames, Lenses and Warranty: Where the Quality Gap Really Is
Here’s the contrarian take I’ll defend: stop comparing these two brands on UV protection. It’s a tie.
In late 2025, the Australian consumer group CHOICE sent 19 pairs of sunglasses to a specialist lab and tested them against the Australian and New Zealand standard. The list included Quay’s Good Time and Ray Ban’s Aviator Classic and Original Wayfarer. Almost every pair met its claimed category. The ones that fell short mostly failed on labelling rather than sun protection, and the Quay Good Time was one of the pairs marked down for labelling. Both Ray Ban models passed. CHOICE’s own takeaway was that you don’t have to spend a fortune to protect your eyes.
So what do you pay extra for? Three things.
Materials. Ray Ban’s Original Wayfarer is acetate and the Aviator is metal. Many of the classics use glass lenses, which are crisp and hard to scratch but heavier. Newer Ray Ban models often use polycarbonate or nylon lenses, so read the spec line on the exact pair you’re buying. Quay stays lighter with polycarbonate, nylon and CR39. On my face, glass starts to feel heavier than polycarbonate by the end of a long day, though I’d still take the clarity.
Warranty. Two years at Ray Ban against one at Quay. Both are limited to manufacturing defects, and neither covers scratches or accidents.
Who’s allowed to sell you the pair. Both warranties only apply when you buy from the brand or an authorized seller. Quay says it can reject claims on pairs bought from unauthorized sellers, including marketplace storefronts. My rule is simple: if I can’t work out how I’d make a warranty claim, I don’t buy the pair.
Polarized Lenses: What They Do and Whether They’re Worth Paying For
Polarization is a glare filter, nothing more. Ray Ban says its polarized lenses cut reflections, boost contrast and reduce eye strain, which in practice means they tame the harsh glare bouncing off water, wet roads and car hoods. Ray Ban marks every polarized lens with a P next to the logo on the right lens. Quay offers polarized lenses on some styles and flags them on the product page.
What polarization isn’t is UV protection. Quay’s FAQ is clear that UV protection is built into the lens itself, polarized or not, and tint has nothing to do with it. CHOICE makes the same point from the shopper’s side: a dark lens doesn’t guarantee UV protection, so look for a UV400 label or a rated lens category instead of judging by shade.
Is it worth paying for? If you drive every day, spend time on the water or hit the snow, yes. The first time you drive into low sun with polarized lenses on, you’ll wonder how you managed without them. If you mostly walk around a city, I’d skip it and put that money toward the frame. CHOICE notes polarized pairs usually cost more.
One catch: polarized lenses can make some phone and dashboard screens look dim or patchy when you tilt your head. Before you buy, look at your phone through the lenses and rotate it sideways. It takes ten seconds and saves you a return.
Quay vs Ray Ban Style: Trend Pieces or Classics?
This is where the two brands stop competing and start serving different people.
Quay’s whole personality is the moment. It was born on the Australian festival circuit, and today it runs on drops and collaborations. Its own site currently has collections called Going Viral and Quay x Nader Sisters. That’s the celebrity and trend angle in a sentence: Quay wins by being on the right face this season, and it prices accordingly.
Ray Ban plays the opposite game. The Aviator dates to 1937 and the Wayfarer to 1952, and both have outlasted every trend since. A black Wayfarer works with a white tee, a blazer or a swimsuit, which is exactly why people keep buying it.
They overlap on retro shapes. If throwback is your lane, my 70s surf fashion guide covers the wider look that Quay’s retro silhouettes slot into.
My take: buying a Ray Ban to be trendy is a mistake, and buying a Quay in the hope it becomes your forever pair is the opposite mistake. Pick the one that matches how you actually shop.
How to Spot Fake Quay and Fake Ray Ban Sunglasses
Both brands get faked, and I’m not going to point you toward fakes. If budget is the issue, a legitimate cheaper pair beats a counterfeit every time. Ray Ban’s own site says its parent company Luxottica got more than 297,000 counterfeit marketplace listings taken down in 2020 alone, so this isn’t a rare problem.
Start with the seller. Both warranties only cover authorized sellers, and Quay publishes an authorized retailers list and a store locator. If you can’t trace a seller back to the brand or an authorized dealer, assume there’s no warranty and a real chance the pair isn’t genuine.
For Ray Ban, check the codes. The model code sits on the left temple. It starts with RB, followed by four digits and sometimes one or two extra characters, with no space, and it should match what the listing claims. If the listing says polarized, look for the P next to the logo on the right lens. Then do the hinge check I walk through in my guide to dupes for Ray Ban sunglasses.
For Quay, check the measurements. Every Quay product page lists lens width, bridge width, arm length, frame width and lens height. Compare those numbers against the pair in your hands, and treat a price far below even Quay’s own sale prices as a warning.
Don’t use “Made in China” as a test. This one trips people up. Quay makes frames in China, and Ray Ban makes part of its range in China as well as Italy. Country of origin tells you nothing about whether a pair is real. The seller, the codes and the hinge do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quay high end or cheap?
Neither. Quay is a mid priced fashion brand, with most pairs at $75 to $125 according to Quay itself, which puts it well above bargain bin sunglasses and far below designer labels. It isn’t luxury, but it isn’t disposable either: Quay says its lenses are tested to ISO, ANSI and AS/NZS standards and block 100% of UVA and UVB.
Is Quay or Ray Ban better?
Ray Ban is better for one pair you’ll wear for years, thanks to a two year warranty, shapes that don’t date and glass lenses on many classics. Quay is better if you want something trend led for $75 to $125. On sun protection, an independent lab test found no gap that should decide it for you.
Are Ray Bans worth the price?
Yes, if you pick a classic shape, buy from an authorized seller and plan to wear them for years. The Original Wayfarer Classic is $191 on Ray Ban’s US site with a two year warranty against manufacturing defects. It isn’t worth it if you’re paying for a logo on a style you’ll tire of, or if the price looks too good to be true.
Are Quay sunglasses polarized?
Some are and some aren’t. Quay flags polarized styles on each product page, so check before you buy. Polarization is separate from UV protection, which Quay says is built into every lens.
Are Ray Bans made in China fake?
No. Ray Ban frames are made in Italy and China depending on the model, so a Made in China label on a pair from an authorized seller doesn’t mean it’s counterfeit. Check the seller, the model code on the left temple and the hinge instead.
So, Which Pair Should You Buy?
Here’s where I landed. If you’re buying one pair, get the Ray Ban Wayfarer or Aviator from an authorized seller and wear it until the shape gives you a reason to retire it. It costs more up front, but the shape doesn’t date and the warranty runs a year longer. If you’d rather have a rotation of louder pairs for $75 to $125, Quay is the smarter spend, as long as you check whether the pair is polarized before you pay.
Wherever you end up, buy from the brand or an authorized seller. A working warranty and a genuine pair are worth more than whatever you’d save on a lookalike.
If you enjoy a good head to head, the same logic runs through my Dr Martens 1460 vs 1461 breakdown. And remember: the expensive pair you leave in a drawer costs more than the cheap pair you wear every day.
