How To Buy Rare & Authentic Vintage Sunglasses
At the Vintage Sunglasses Shop, we want you to learn about the superior quality and style of authentic vintage sunglasses c 1940s - 1990s. We also want to help you pick the right sunglasses for you and your lifestyle; this means not just choosing appealing styles but also selecting the right optics to protect your eyes and learning how we protect you against the very real risk of buying fakes.
Learn About Rare & Authentic Vintage Sunglasses 
Major Brands & Designers
At Vintage Sunglasses Shop, we take pride in really knowing vintage sunglasses. We study the construction, test the lenses, and look for nuances in how major designer styles changed over certain periods of years. We do this both because we need to vet all of the vintage designer sunglasses we sell for period authenticity and because we are passionate about the quality and style of vintage sunglasses. Read about the history of famous brands and some of their most important innovations: Ray-Ban, Revo, Giorgio Armani, Carrera, Vuarnet, Oakley, Versace, Serengeti, Persol, Cazal, Bolle, Oliver Peoples, Gargoyles, and more.
At Vintage Sunglasses Shop, we take pride in really knowing vintage sunglasses. We study the construction, test the lenses, and look for nuances in how major designer styles changed over certain periods of years. We do this both because we need to vet all of the vintage designer sunglasses we sell for period authenticity and because we are passionate about the quality and style of vintage sunglasses. Read about the history of famous brands and some of their most important innovations: Ray-Ban, Revo, Giorgio Armani, Carrera, Vuarnet, Oakley, Versace, Serengeti, Persol, Cazal, Bolle, Oliver Peoples, Gargoyles, and more.
The History of Sunglasses
The Chinese began using colored lenses in eyewear in the 1300s, where Chinese judges sometimes wore smoke colored quartz crystal lenses to hide their eye expressions in court. A judge's evaluation of evidence as credible or not was to remain secret until a trial's conclusion. In the 1400s the Chinese also introduced the concept of smoke tinting to darken eyeglasses. Like earlier quartz lenses, darkened lenses did not correct vision nor were they initially intended to reduce solar glare.
The Chinese began using colored lenses in eyewear in the 1300s, where Chinese judges sometimes wore smoke colored quartz crystal lenses to hide their eye expressions in court. A judge's evaluation of evidence as credible or not was to remain secret until a trial's conclusion. In the 1400s the Chinese also introduced the concept of smoke tinting to darken eyeglasses. Like earlier quartz lenses, darkened lenses did not correct vision nor were they initially intended to reduce solar glare.
Sunglasses Styles By Decade
The golden age of sunglasses for both styling and optical quality innovation occurred during the middle to later years of the 20th century, from the early 1960s through the 1990s. During each decade, sunglasses styles evolved to represent the feelings of the times and the market was dominated by smaller and more nimble companies as well as major new market entrants during each decade.
The golden age of sunglasses for both styling and optical quality innovation occurred during the middle to later years of the 20th century, from the early 1960s through the 1990s. During each decade, sunglasses styles evolved to represent the feelings of the times and the market was dominated by smaller and more nimble companies as well as major new market entrants during each decade.
Don't Be Fooled By Fakes
You can buy authentic vintage sunglasses at auction - if you're either very knowledgeable or very lucky. Because of prices and demand, vintage sunglasses are widely counterfeited just like antiques, and a simple Google search for Ray-Ban will turn up plenty of Chinese and Asian suppliers of fakes. Some sell these counterfeits knowingly to cheat people, and others buy fakes unknowingly and then resell them at auction, not realizing they are contributing to the problem.
You can buy authentic vintage sunglasses at auction - if you're either very knowledgeable or very lucky. Because of prices and demand, vintage sunglasses are widely counterfeited just like antiques, and a simple Google search for Ray-Ban will turn up plenty of Chinese and Asian suppliers of fakes. Some sell these counterfeits knowingly to cheat people, and others buy fakes unknowingly and then resell them at auction, not realizing they are contributing to the problem.
Choosing The Right Lens Color and Tints
Vintage sunglasses can be found in a wide variety of colors and lens tints, and selecting the right lens colors based upon your lifestyle and environment is important to maximize performance and your enjoyment wearing great vintage designer sunglasses. While not meant to be definitive nor absolute, the staff of the Vintage Sunglasses Shop has compiled a few color hints to help you decide on the best lens colors for you. Sunglasses are perhaps most associated with consistently colored lenses in many different hues.
Vintage sunglasses can be found in a wide variety of colors and lens tints, and selecting the right lens colors based upon your lifestyle and environment is important to maximize performance and your enjoyment wearing great vintage designer sunglasses. While not meant to be definitive nor absolute, the staff of the Vintage Sunglasses Shop has compiled a few color hints to help you decide on the best lens colors for you. Sunglasses are perhaps most associated with consistently colored lenses in many different hues.
Choosing The Right Sunglasses For Your Face Shape
Selecting the right size and shape of vintage sunglasses to complement the shape of your face is important to get the best possible look, sure to attract attention and compliments. Learn how to determine what kind of face shape you have with some easy to do measurements along with our recommendations of some specific brands and styles of vintage designer sunglasses best suited for your unique characteristics.
Selecting the right size and shape of vintage sunglasses to complement the shape of your face is important to get the best possible look, sure to attract attention and compliments. Learn how to determine what kind of face shape you have with some easy to do measurements along with our recommendations of some specific brands and styles of vintage designer sunglasses best suited for your unique characteristics.
UV and Blue Light Eye Protection
Not all sunglasses block 100% of harmful ultraviolet (UV) or High Energy Visible (HEV) rays, and cheap sunglasses are essentially worthless - little more than colored plastic or glass. The same is true of the out-of control proliferation of fake, reproduction designer sunglasses. Rare vintage sunglasses have been specially targeted for fakes due to the often high prices they bring in the marketplace relative to new sunglasses.
Not all sunglasses block 100% of harmful ultraviolet (UV) or High Energy Visible (HEV) rays, and cheap sunglasses are essentially worthless - little more than colored plastic or glass. The same is true of the out-of control proliferation of fake, reproduction designer sunglasses. Rare vintage sunglasses have been specially targeted for fakes due to the often high prices they bring in the marketplace relative to new sunglasses.
Polarized Versus Mirrored Sunglasses
Polarized lenses help reduce glare, which can be a real problem in water sports and many other outdoor activities. Polarized sunglasses have been popular for years with boaters and fishermen who need to reduce reflected glare from the water surrounding them. Ambient light, or the light we use to see, is comprised of light waves that vibrate in an infinite number of directions, but these light waves will reflect off of flat or shiny surfaces.
Polarized lenses help reduce glare, which can be a real problem in water sports and many other outdoor activities. Polarized sunglasses have been popular for years with boaters and fishermen who need to reduce reflected glare from the water surrounding them. Ambient light, or the light we use to see, is comprised of light waves that vibrate in an infinite number of directions, but these light waves will reflect off of flat or shiny surfaces.
About The Vintage Sunglasses Shop
The Vintage Sunglasses Shop is the world's largest retailer of rare and authentic vintage sunglasses. Don't be fooled by fakes and misrepresentations - read about our vetting process and our condition & authenticity guarantee.
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