ALL THAT GLITTERS is not gold, but sometimes it is. The luxury eyewear market is growing, as more designers look to expand their brands, and celebrities are regularly photographed in both sun and optical. Some consumers are willing and able to invest in statement pieces for daily use — like handbags and eyewear — that will last. We’ve rounded up an aspirational array of high-end eyewear featuring premium materials like gold, platinum and buffalo horn. Share these with your customers looking to treat themselves to some face jewelry, or those who just like to window shop.
Leisure Society by Shane Baum
Celebrating the culture of Cote d’Azur, model St. Jean (PICTURED ABOVE) is made with titanium plated in 24K gold. The front is then combined with matching titanium temples and complemented with hand-painted enamel details and laser-etched patterns. Each is individually numbered and handmade in Japan. (So, be sure to take them off before diving into the Mediterranean!)
(949) 645-8783 | leisure-society.com
$1,110
Ørgreen
Diamonds are a girl with glasses’ best friend. Model Suzie Blue 3, part of the exclusive Grand Danois collection, is titanium plated with 18K and 24K gold and two 0.16-carat white diamonds in each endpiece.
(510) 984-0082 | orgreenoptics.com
$5,687.50
Matsuda
Crafted by hand in the artisanal eyewear workshops of Japan, model 9010 is the newest addition to the Precious collection. Subtly elegant, these are made of Japanese acetate with solid sterling silver temples plated in gold.
(800) 598-0750 | matsudaeyewear.com
$1,000
Sama
Heat things up (but not too much) wearing model Combustion, a titanium rimless frame featuring genuine platinum plating and car-inspired knurled temples. Also available in 24K gold plating.
(877) 788-7262 | samaeyewear.net
$1,050
Francis Klein
Limited-edition model Lotus N34M – SL N15 is in full bloom. These bejeweled frames are handmade in France and garnished with an embellishment, also handmade, of Swarovski stones.
+33 1 44 07 14 32 | francisklein.fr
$1,000
Selima Optique
Hip and handmade in Selima’s atelier in France, bestselling model Menrad in natural buffalo horn is lightweight and comfortable. All of Selima’s styles can be custom-made in horn by customer request.
(212) 677-7690 | selimaoptique.com
$1,600
Cutler and Gross
Entirely handmade in a time-consuming three-step process, channel King Midas (or John Lennon) in gold-plated model 1105. Available in five additional shapes.
+44 (0) 208 451 0331 | cutlerandgross.com
$995
This article originally appeared in the September 2016 edition of INVISION.