

In most glasses, they are the long shaft that stretches to the ear and is connected to a temple tip that curves behind the ear (holding the glasses in place). Temples: These keep the front of the frames (which hold the lenses) from falling off your face. While Ray-Ban offers a wide range of tints, mirror finishes and gradients with or without lens polarization, the G-15 lens is considered the most classic choice for any style you could want. These lenses only allow 15% of visible light to pass through them, hence the “15,” so they’re best for bright sunny days. G-15: Ray-Ban’s G-15 lens feature a special green tint that was developed for military pilots in the ’30s, filtering out a lot of the bright blue light a pilot’s eyes would be exposed to when flying above the cloud line.

In recent years, the material has been replaced by less-expensive nylon frames. It is made from a polymer derived from wood pulp or other natural fibers and is both glossy and transparent. But if you just want some classic shades and the spins are starting to set in, you’re in luck - this buying guide is meant to help you pick the right shades for your style and eye-protection needs.Īcetate: This synthetic material - also known as cellulose acetate - was first used for eyewear in the late ‘40s. Thanks to such a robust backing, Ray-Ban is able to offer a wider variety of stylish sunglasses than ever before, including dozens of models for men and women and enough color and material options to make you dizzy. Luxottica also owns several other famous brands like Persol, Oliver Peoples, Arnette and Prada Eyewear, as well as the retailers LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut and Pearl Vision, among others.

Today, Ray-Ban operates from within the international eyewear conglomerate Luxottica in Milan, Italy. The company’s sunglasses have graced some of the most famous faces of the past 100 years, from mirrored aviators on General Douglas Macarthur (incidentally, the first mirrored sunglasses ever put into production) to black Wayfarers on the Blues Brothers to the brand’s classic Aviators on practically everyone in the movie Top Gun. Welcome to Brand Breakdown, a series of comprehensive yet easy-to-digest guides to your favorite companies, with insights and information you won’t find on the average About page.įounded in 1936 by the Bausch and Lomb Company in Rochester, New York, Ray-Ban is an iconic eyewear brand, integral to classic Americana and retro style.
