Start with what you can identify
A clear model identification does not automatically establish the size, colorway, or edition. If a detail cannot be confirmed, it should stay unknown. Exact and likely matches describe the evidence for the identity being claimed.
Explore beyond the original
Sometimes the exact frame is hard to find, or you want a different material or proportion. Similar styles can open up other brands while keeping the original identification intact.
A useful comparison explains both the resemblance and the difference: a related silhouette, for example, with a different bridge or construction. Similar appearance does not promise the same fit or quality. This guide explains the labels; curated cross-brand recommendations are a next step.
Keep three questions separate
What is the model? What evidence supports its specifications? What can be established about an individual item for sale? Identification labels answer the first question. Archive evidence statuses and item-specific checks answer different questions.
A future shopping recommendation should distinguish an exact version, another version of the same model, and a different frame. It should also say when availability was checked. None of these labels is an authenticity certificate.
Exact match
Evidence supports the specific identity being named. We state whether that means the model alone or the model, size, and colorway.
Likely match
A promising identification with something important still to confirm. We explain what is missing.
Similar style
A different frame with a related look. Shape, proportions, or details may be similar; it is not the original frame.
Alternative
Another option for a particular need, such as material or documented dimensions. We explain the trade-off rather than claiming it is equivalent.
Further reading
Spot a detail that needs attention? Let us know.