Eyeglasses don’t just help people see better. Since their invention in the 13th century in Italy, they have been fashion statements as well as statements of utility. Back then, they were made of wood and leather or even animal horn, with lenses that were made from blown glass. Today, they’re made of metal or plastic.
However, when you get into the eyeglasses that are the really fashionable statements, the designer highs of luxury brands like Cartier and Chanel, you can find some really exotic pieces out there. These are not your average eyeglasses. They’re the ones made from precious alloys, gold, stones, and more. Some are even back to being made of wood, now for chic reasons rather than practical ones.
Continue reading to learn about the 8 most expensive glasses, including information on the companies that made them and the specs (pun intended) that each of them has. Note that we’re excluding sunglasses from this list and saving them for another time.
- Balmain Optical Glasses with Logo
- Comanche Ash
- The LV Pilot Anti-Blue Light Glasses
- Cartier CT0048O
- Square Eyeglasses
- Butterfly Eyeglasses
- 1990 Malmaison Bubinga Wood Glasses
- Cartier CT01710
Brand: Balmain
Material: Acetate and metal
photo source: Vitkac
The Balmain Optical Glasses with Logo are sold by Vitkac. Their thick, all-black frames are bold and stylish – these glasses aren’t for people looking for invisible frames. The frames have logo plaques toned with gold and they come in a Balmain-branded silver leather case.
If you want to get these brand-new glasses trending for the Spring and Summer fashion season 2022, you’ll have to shell out $609.
Did you know?
The luxury fashion house known as Pierre Balmain S.A., usually shortened to Balmain, was founded in Paris in 1945. They’re now owned by Mayhoola Investments and continue making their luxury haute couture, including perfume, jewelry, and ready-to-wear clothing. Their glasses and watches continue to make bold company statements every year.
Brand: Jacques Marie Mage
Material: Acetate and beta titanium
photo source: Designer Eyes
These glasses known as the Comanche eyeglasses with the Ash color palette were designed by Jacques Marie Mage out of Los Angeles but handcrafted by their subsidiary in Japan. They’re named after the Comanche Native American tribe and have comfortable adjustable nose pads, a unisex frame shape, and a titanium hinge. Blue light lenses can be added for another $125, which would bump them up the list a little.
Unlike many glasses on this list, which prioritize the subtle frameless look, these glasses have thick upper rims that accentuate them on your face. These glasses will cost you $695.
Did you know?
Jacques Marie Mage, often stylized as JMM, uses expensive materials to bring their boldly geometric designs to the forefront of modern eyewear. They’ve been around for about two decades, making them one of the brands to watch in luxury eyeglasses, even if they’re one of the new kids on the fashion block.
Brand: Louis Vuitton
Material: Metal
photo source: Louis Vuitton
The LV Pilot Anti-Blue Light Glasses were made by the luxury fashion designer Louis Vuitton. They made them to give contemporary, fashionable folks the clean-lined, chic designs they crave wrapped up in a hugely expensive package. Johnny Coca designed these glasses to be iconic, feminine, and slender, with thin rims and elegant designs engraved with monograms of the house of LV, which of course stands for Louis Vuitton.
These glasses are in a pilot shape with gold rims and lenses tinted to block blue light, which is an energy emitted by modern electronic screens that can be harmful to your eyes in the long term. Straight from the Louis Vuitton website, these glasses cost $705.
Did you know?
Louis Vuitton wins the award for the oldest fashion company represented on this list of glasses, even beating out Cartier. LV was founded 168 years ago in 1854 by Vuitton himself in Paris, France. Their specialties include clothes, shoes, jewelry, watches, sunglasses, and even books. Their boutiques sell $14 billion worth of luxury fashion goods around the world, making them one of the most valuable fashion brands in the world.
Brand: Cartier
Material: Aluminum and gold
photo source: CoolFrames
These glasses by Cartier are high rectangles with a rimless profile. The décor (called “C Décor”) and the hinges are finished in gold. Customers report loving the comfort fit of the glasses’ flexible hinges, which makes them fit smoothly around the temples.
These Cartier glasses come with not only the C Décor signature but a manufacturer’s warranty. They’ll cost you $1,145 to own.
Did you know?
Cartier is 175 years old and they’re going to keep popping up on this list. Louis-Francois Cartier founded it as a jewelry manufacturer and watchmaker. They now design that and more, including high-end leather goods and of course, these designer eyeglasses. One of the things that sets them apart is that they’ve had a history of royal contracts, including jewelry for King Edward VII and other monarchs in Russia, Spain, Serbia, and more. Not many modern fashion designers can say that.
Brand: Chanel
Material: Metal, resin, glass, gold
photo source: Chanel
The Square Eyeglasses by Chanel are made from metal and resin. The chain is made from glass pearls and reinforced with gold. These lenses measure 52mm by 48mm and the frames are 124mm in width. These glasses from Italy, straight from the luxury fashion and beauty brand Chanel, will set you back $1,170, making them some of the most expensive glasses you can buy.
Since 1910, Chanel has been making bold women’s fashion choices in dresses, trousers, jewelry, and perfumes. The company is French, they’re headquartered in London, and the glasses were designed in Italy.
Did you know?
Coco Chanel is undoubtedly the most recognizable name in women’s fashion. Famous users of Chanel-branded products include Marilyn Monroe, Nicole Kidman, Kristen Stewart, and Margot Robbie.
Brand: Chanel
Material: Metal and calfskin
photo source: Chanel
The Butterfly Eyeglasses were made by Chanel, the company more well-known for their luxury perfume brand. These glasses are made of metal with calfskin supports and sport a vintage-style chain, with wide wire frames. The whole pair of glasses is black.
The glasses contain 54mm lenses, which are pretty large for eyeglasses. They have a universal fit, though they are clearly made with women in mind. Owning the Butterfly Eyeglasses costs $1,600.
Did you know?
Chanel fashion was designed as a counterargument for the curvaceous 19th century fashions known as the Belle Époque. The Chanel trends were flat-chested, quilted, functional. These include knee-length skirts, cardigans, and the famous Chanel suits.
Brand: Cartier
Material: Wood and gold
photo source: Grailed
Another Cartier offering proves that the French jewelry designer knows its way around expensive eyeglasses. These are unique on this list as they are a vintage edition pair of glasses that can still be bought from retailers. They’re the Malmaison Bubinga Wood Glasses by Cartier, circa 1990.
The sides and front of the frames are covered in white and yellow gold, though the front and temples are accented with Bubinga Wood, giving these glasses their iconic look. The 22-karat gold accents give these designer eyeglasses their $6,000 price tag.
Did you know?
These glasses are new, though they have been stored in company storage since being made in 1990, giving them some normal wear and tear. When these Malmaison Bubinga Wood Glasses ship, they come in the classic Cartier silk-padded red box that used to be their icon. It’s covered in Cartier leather and the original gold accents.
Brand: Cartier
Material: Gold
photo source: CoolFrames
The most expensive glasses are the Cartier CT01710. These eyeglasses have solid gold frames with rimless lenses that take inspiration from Cartier’s older stylistic lines. The materials that went into these stunning glasses include 18-karat white and yellow gold as well as rose god accents. The glasses are French, sassy, and so expensive that they’re eligible for an insurance policy.
The Cartier CT01710 eyeglasses cost $11,145, making them the most expensive eyeglasses you can buy.
Did you know?
Cartier is one of the oldest fashion companies out there still, with roots going back to 1847 France. Cartier Eyewear is not their only division by a long shot, but it’s a respectable take on the classic Cartier name, exemplified by these glasses, which include so much gold they could almost be considered jewelry, which is Cartier’s main specialty.
The Takeaway
After the most decadent modern fashion brands got ahold of eyeglasses, they would never be the same. These are more than just glasses you need to see better. In fact, most of the prices on here don’t even include the price of prescription lenses! These are just pure fashion statements, the kind that have put eyeglasses in vogue in most every age group.
If you’re hoping to spice up your look with the most expensive eyeglasses that money can buy, these ones by the folks at Cartier, Chanel, and more are the ones you should be after. Just don’t forget to bring your pocketbook.
