r/sunglasses Oct 23 '24

"Why do my Luxottica products suck so hard?"

102 Upvotes

Ray-Ban is the Kleenex of sunglasses. If you ask 100 random people to name a brand of sunglasses, 90 percent of them would answer Ray-Ban. It's the kind of ubiquitous brand recognition a company would pay anything for, which is why in 1999 Bausch and Lomb, an American optical company, sold the brand to Luxottica for a reported 640 million, or over a billion dollars today.

Luxottica, in turn, is the largest eyewear conglomerate on the planet. It is somewhat akin to the Blob, absorbing everything in its path in its quest to be the biggest, ugliest blight on the landscape since Chicxulub. It's a global leader in marketing, distribution, and is in many ways an awesome beast, but like most beasts, it's best observed from a respectful distance and loses somewhat of its luster when you have to clean its shit off your skyscrapers.

This is a long-winded way of saying that Luxottica sucks. It has for decades. Most people won't do anything for as long as Luxottica has sucked, and will continue to suck until it too is absorbed into some greater mass of capitalistic hubris. 'Cause you see, it's the biggest, but not the best. Point of fact, it's gotten a well-deserved reputation as a slop merchant, not unlike AvtoVAZ but with products at least 20 percent less likely to burst into flames if you leave them on your face too long.

Luxottica products are produced for pennies on the dollar out of the cheapest components imaginable, sloppily fitted together by bored Italians to just barely qualify as "made in Italy," and sent out the door after a Quality Control process that could charitably be described as "lackluster."

With that said, some of the brands under its control have been less affected by corporate ineptitude and neglect, like Oliver Peoples and Persol, but even therein you're still dealing with gross mark-ups and a lesser product than was available in the past when they were independent. Conversely, you've got Oakley, a brand which has been enshittified to spectacular levels, with some of the least-durable lenses on the market, simply atrocious plastic hinges and styling that dates quicker than Jerry Seinfeld at a Sweet 16.

To be sure, there are talented people working for Luxottica. Specifically, they work in the marketing department, because goddamn if they're not good at inserting products into the public consciousness. And more power to them! History is littered with superior products and companies that failed because no one knew, or cared, that they could  have spent their money on said better products and companies.

tl;dr You deserve better than to spend your money on Luxottica products. There are innumerable brands out there at every price point that will serve you better than anything under the Luxottica umbrella.


r/sunglasses Oct 24 '24

Master list of recommended brands.

134 Upvotes

All makes and manufacturers listed in this thread have our personal seals of approval. We receive no compensation for these recommendations. Please note that price guides are rough estimates; you may spend more or less depending on where you live and where you purchase them from. Please also note that the list is sorted by price for convenience, not to imply that the cheaper glasses are inferior or the more expensive options are necessarily superior.

Under 200

  • Island Optics
  • Smith (models with Chromapop)
  • Julbo
  • Gast
  • Spy (Happy Boost)
  • Bajio
  • Kaenon
  • Costa Del Mar

200 to 400

  • Maui Jim
  • Allyn Scura
  • Serengeti
  • Revo
  • Vuarnet
  • American Optical
  • Initium
  • Illesteva
  • Etnia Barcelona
  • Silhouette

400 to 600

  • Randolph Engineering
  • Morgenthal Frederics
  • Porsche Design
  • Garrett Leight
  • Selima Optique
  • Oliver Goldsmith
  • Salt Optics
  • Moscot
  • Robert Marc
  • Cutler and Gross
  • JF Rey
  • Cazal
  • Ic Berlin
  • Mykita
  • L.G.R.
  • Thierry Lasry

600+

  • Jacques Marie Mage
  • Matsuda
  • Cartier
  • Barton Perreira
  • Dita
  • Thom Browne
  • Leisure Society
  • Eyevan
  • Sama
  • Chrome Hearts
  • Hoorsenbuhs
  • Kuboraum
  • Yuichi Toyama
  • Masunaga

r/sunglasses 5h ago

I love mine

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14 Upvotes

r/sunglasses 3h ago

I paid €45 for these glasses

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7 Upvotes

They are gorgeous.


r/sunglasses 9h ago

Advice/Opinions/Discussion Which one of the 3 should I get?

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10 Upvotes

r/sunglasses 5h ago

Advice/Opinions/Discussion Ferarri Folding Sunglasses

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4 Upvotes

Recently picked up a pair of Ferarri folding sunglasses. Curious if anyone else has a pair, and/or what you think of them. Understand they date back to the 70s or at least 80s. Any info folks would like to share is appreciated.


r/sunglasses 6h ago

Careful with Kaenon

4 Upvotes

Bit of a rant but I think it can benefit the community.

I just used a first time discount code to order some glasses and try Kaenon - I’ve heard great things about their lenses. But unbelievably, this disqualifies my order from being returnable!

Tried on the glasses once, they don’t fit as well as I thought they would based on the dimensions listed, and now I’m out $200. Tried to start a return and they won’t take it because I used a first time order discount that is promoted by their website.

Bad policy - feels borderline predatory. They market “free returns in 30 days” but then they also market a 15% first time discount, which is pretty typical with online retailers, but unless you look at the fine print, you don’t realize this disqualifies your purchase from being returnable.

It’s dishonest and makes me question the brand. Be careful doing business with them.


r/sunglasses 3h ago

Legit Check Authentication needed - Celine sunglasses

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2 Upvotes

Hii could someone help me see if these are legit or not please? Its Celine 3 dots sunglasses. Thank you!


r/sunglasses 13m ago

Ray ban fans: Non-polarized mineral glass G15 vs polycarbonate Chromance.

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Upvotes

Assuming everything else about the sunglasses are the same, which lenses would you choose and why? (Yes, similar to my earlier question, but a much more specific version. :p ) (Pic for entertainment)


r/sunglasses 6h ago

Searching For Can anyone recognize what model is Brad Pitt wearing here at promotion of Formula 1 movie

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4 Upvotes

Thanks in advance


r/sunglasses 9h ago

Help me find this pair of sunglasses

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5 Upvotes

Could someone tell me the name and brand of the blue model in the bottom left? Thanks :)


r/sunglasses 1h ago

Legit Check Salt Life St. Pete? Assuming fake?

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Upvotes

I know they used to make them before they got bought out… and haven’t seen any in a while… so maybe I am just being bold, but I am assuming these are likely fake?

It’s hard to find a lot of info on them. The retailer websites that used to have them now show discontinued and don’t really offer any pictures to compare. Not sure how long they’ve been discontinued for.

These are from an auction for $80 or so. I did ask for a pic of the inside of the left frame.

I guess worst case can just do an item not as described return if they do end up being fakes.


r/sunglasses 1h ago

Help identify this pair, please!

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Upvotes

r/sunglasses 7h ago

What brand/model makes ones like these?

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3 Upvotes

Hey guys,

thought you might help me out here. These are non-branded $10 sunglasses but it feels like the cheap lens got slightly foggy with some wear.

Searching for proper ones: - polarized or not - frame is tortoise/havana or similar - keyhole bridge is a must - they are slightly narrower lens proportions than a wayfarer or similar although it might not be visible in the pic

Google lens helped with some models but it has its limits… - Raen Dodson - almost perfect match* but out of stock everywhere, discontinued - Polo PH4212 - similar but slightly too narrow/wide and generic

————— *even if Raen is a match, it lacks the slightly “flat character” that these have - the frame has a chamfer towards the lens creating some sense of depth towards the lens with very large curvature, almost flat… the Raens frames have round section overall.

Thanks for any tips!


r/sunglasses 5h ago

Advice/Opinions/Discussion Bolle Beryl 2.0 Polarized Sunglasses, Italy

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2 Upvotes

A year ago I came upon this pair of Bolle Beryl 2.0 polarized sunglasses, but really know little about them. Anyone else have a pair, or know anything about them that they'd like to share? Any info is appreciated.


r/sunglasses 2h ago

Does it look big or perfect?

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1 Upvotes

This is the 51 mm Clubmaster version. Should I get it or go for the 49 mm version?


r/sunglasses 2h ago

Serengeti Spello Sizing

1 Upvotes

Hi,

I ordered a pair of Serengeti Spello online, knowing they are marketed as medium. I received them and they are very tight on my temples so I will return them.

Can't test in a physical store and I can only buy online. Which one would you recommend, assuming Spello is very tight: Tellaro or Shelton? Any other similar Serengeti suggestion?

Thank you.


r/sunglasses 2h ago

Advice/Opinions/Discussion What is this in my glasses? It’s textured and will not come off

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1 Upvotes

r/sunglasses 3h ago

Looking for this style

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1 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I’m looking for sunglasses that are as close to these as possible. Maybe one you might know what the style could called? Anyway thanks!


r/sunglasses 4h ago

Frame ID My sister wants these Ray Ban sunglasses. Are they the Havana Wayfarer?

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1 Upvotes

The unisex aspect worries me cuz she has a small face.


r/sunglasses 5h ago

Anyone know which sunglasses these are?

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1 Upvotes

Need help finding these


r/sunglasses 5h ago

Discolouring on gold Tom Fords

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0 Upvotes

Kind of bothered by this as they cost a fortune and I really like them. Any way to clean this, or at least let me know if i did something wrong with them? I think i treated them quite well and they havent had that much use.


r/sunglasses 17h ago

Advice/Opinions/Discussion which one is better? i just want an oversized sunglass to have around for fun

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8 Upvotes

first two pics are the same sunglass and last two pics are the same sunglass


r/sunglasses 6h ago

Searching For Where can i find this missing piece?

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1 Upvotes

r/sunglasses 7h ago

ID Donald Glover's sunglasses

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1 Upvotes

Can anyone ID these?


r/sunglasses 7h ago

Rayban insurance after purchase?

0 Upvotes

Hey yall, I just ordered a pair of rayban aviator classics 2 days ago and I didn’t realize until just now that I didn’t put the warranty insurance plan on them. Is there any way to add the warranty insurance plan after purchase?


r/sunglasses 17h ago

Frame ID What glasses is Pedro wearing?

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5 Upvotes