The Features and Technologies That Put Ray Ban Ahead of the Competition
Founded in 1936, Ray-Ban is an iconic eyewear brand that has been dominating the market for almost a hundred years now. Ray Ban sunglasses have graced some of the most famous faces around the world. Today, the company operates from within the eyewear conglomerate Luxottica that’s based on Milan, Italy. Luxottica owns a few more other famous eyewear brands, including Oliver Peoples, Persol, Arnette, Prada Eyewear, and a range of retailers, including Pearl Vision, Sunglass Hut and LensCrafters. Due to this robust backing, Ray Ban is able to provide customers with the widest range of stylish sunglasses that come in a wide range of models, and enough materials and colour options to leave you baffled. For the same reason, replacement parts, such as official Ray Ban replacement lenses are widely available.
If you’re looking for your next pair of Ray-Bans, there are a few terms you should get familiar with in order to pick the right model for yourself. Obviously, personal preference will also play a crucial role in your decision, but there’s much more to Ray-Bans than what the average consumer can see. Here are a few terms you should be familiar with when shopping for Ray Ban glasses and official Ray Ban replacement lenses.
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Acetate
Acetate is a synthetic material also known as cellulose acetate. It was first used for eyewear in the 1940s, and it’s basically a polymer derived from natural fibres like wood pulp and is transparent and glossy. Recently, the material has been replaced by more affordable nylon frames. Acetate is flexible, strong and hypoallergenic, and eyewear made from it feature the largest range of transparency, richest colours and finishes.
G-15
The G-15 lens found on Ray-Bans features a special green tint that was specifically developed for pilots in the military in the 1930s. These lens filter out a lot of the bright blue light that pilots are exposed to when flying above cloud lines. G-15 lenses allow only 15% of visible light to pass through them, making them ideal for wearing in bright, sunny days. While Ray-Ban lenses are available in a wide range of tints, gradients and mirror finishes that come with or without lens polarisation, the G-15 lens is still one of the most classic choices for any eyewear style.
Temples
The temples are responsible for keeping the front of the frames from falling off. In most models, they’re a long shaft that stretches from ear to ear and are connected to a temple tip which curves behind the ears, thus holding the glasses in place. Temples often come with a plastic coating that covers most of the temple.
Polarisation
Polarisation is a term that refers to the special film used on lenses to reduce glare (bright reflected light). Polarised lens only allows direct light to go through the lenses, blocking the rest of the light that’s reflected by horizontal surfaces, such as fields of snow, large stretches of pavement or bodies of water. Polarised lenses are especially useful for people who partake in activities like daytime fishing, hiking and mountaineering in snowy areas, or sunny highway driving. Keep in mind that polarised Ray-Ban lenses cost more than unpolarised ones.
The @ Collection Ray Bans
This collection of Ray-Bans are online exclusives that can’t be found in retail stores, and they include special-edition Aviators, Wayfarers, Clubmasters, etc. Some eyewear from this collection are just standard models that aren’t sold at retail stores, but there are some one-time season or limited-edition releases. If you see a pair from the @ collection that you really like, it’s best you act swiftly.
The Blaze Collection
The Blaze collection takes Ray Ban’s classic sunglass silhouettes and manufactures them with over-frame lenses. In other words, instead of the lenses sitting embedded inside the frames, they lay on top of them.
The Olympian Collection
The Olympian collection was introduced in the 1960s, and they’re distinct for their bold brow line which goes from temple to temple. Since the introduction of this collection, this distinct feature has made its way to other Ray-Ban eyewear as well.
The Legend Collection
Ray Ban eyewear that’s part of this collection has the Ray-Ban logo emblazoned in gold instead of the typical white.
Chromance Lens
Ray Ban chromance lenses were specifically made for outdoor athletics. Besides polar filters, fingerprint-resistant and hydrophobic coating, as well as anti-reflection, chromance lenses intensify colours in order to enhance clarity and details.
Evolve Lenses
Evolve lenses are Ray Ban’s version of the Transition lenses. These coloured lenses are photochromic, meaning they get lighter or darker depending on the brightness of the light, making them ideal for changing lighting conditions. That being said, you won’t have to put on or take off your sunglasses when you walk in and out of your car, or a building. Further, they’re 100% UVB and UVA protective.