Buying vintage sunglasses doesn't necessarily mean spending hundreds of pounds.
In fact, some of the most interesting original vintage frames can still be found for under £100, while increasing your budget opens the door to rare designer names including Chrisitan Dior, Fendi and Yves Saint Laurent.
So, what should you expect for your money?
We've picked some of our favourite vintage sunglasses at three different price points, from affordable Italian frames to collectable designer eyewear.
Best Vintage Sunglasses Under £100
Under £100 is a surprisingly good place to start if you want genuine vintage sunglasses without paying designer-label prices.
Look beyond the famous fashion houses and you'll find original Italian and European eyewear with great shapes, unusual acetate colours and the sort of detailing that can be difficult to find in modern mass-produced sunglasses.
Piave 145 Oversized Vintage Sunglasses - £59
For anyone who loves oversized sunglasses, the Piave 145 proves that genuine vintage doesn't need to be expensive.
Made in Italy in the 1980s and preserved as new old stock, this oversized acetate frame combines a brown and crystal fade with brown gradient lenses offering 100% UV protection. It's proportions have plenty of 1970s glamour despite the frame actually dating from the 1980s.
Best for: oversized retro style and anyone wanting maximum impact on a smaller budget.
Piave 1452 Vintage Sunglasses - £69
The Piave 1452 is a great example of how much character you can find in vintage eyewear without spending designer-frame money.
Made in Italy in the 1990s, this lightweight combination frame pairs a matte black metal front with subtle gold detailing and brown mottled acetate sides. Grey lenses provide 100% UV protection, while the aviator-inspired shape gives it an easy, wearable vintage look.
Best for: someone looking for a lightweight vintage aviators withs something a little more unusual than a conventional metal frame.
Desert 2100 034 Sunglasses - £89
The Desert 2100 034 is one of those vintage frames that proves an unfamiliar name can sometimes produce the most interesting find.
Made in Italy in the 1990s, this rare unisex design combines silver and gold detailing with distinctive decoration at the temples, including the Pharaoh motif associated with the brand. Grey lenses provide 100% UV protection, while the overall styling has a bold designer feel without the designer price tag .
Best for: someone looking for unusual 1990s vintage sunglasses with plenty of detail and a distinctive luxury-inspired look.
Best Vintage Sunglasses from £100 to £150
Move into the £100-£150 price range and the choice becomes particularly interesting.
At this level you can find everything from recognisable vintage names such as Carrera to handmade French and British eyewear, with unusual designs that demonstrate just how varied vintage sunglasses can be.
At this level you can find everything from recognisable vintage names such as Carrera to handmade French and British eyewear, with unusual designs that demonstrate just how varied vintage sunglasses can be.
Carrera 5414 80 - £129
If you're looking for vintage eyewear with serious visual impact, the Carrera 5414 90 is difficult to ignore.
Dating from the early 1990s, this new old stock purple visor frame features a single oversized panoramic lens rather than two separate lenses. Carrera branding appears across the front and sides, while the original purple C80 lens provides 100% UV protection.
It's a great example of the bold sports eyewear Carrera became known for – and certainly isn't limited to the ski slopes.
Best for: collectors, vintage sportswear fans and anyone looking for statement 1990s sunglasses.
Please note: this particular visor is not suitable for prescription lenses.
Sally by Selecta - £139
Sally by Selecta takes us in a completely different direction.
Handmade in France, this original vintage frame has a wonderfully oversized shape with unmistakable 1970s styling. Grey lenses provide 100% UV protection, while the generous proportions give plenty of coverage and make the frame a real statement piece.
It's exactly the kind of design that shows why you don't always need a famous designer logo to find exceptional vintage eyewear.
Best for: oversized 1970s style and anyone looking for something feminine, unusual and unmistakably vintage.
Pioneer 1 Vintage Sunglasses - £139
For something more classic, the Pioneer 1 is a beautifully made vintage take on the wayfarer shape.
Handmade in England, the frame is crafted from brown mottled acetate with silver rivet detailing across the front and sides. G15-to-lime graduated lenses provide 100% UV protection and give an otherwise timeless design a distinctive vintage finish.
Its strong acetate construction and wearable proportions make this one of the more versatile choices in our selection.
Best for: classic wayfarer styling, everyday vintage sunglasses and anyone who prefers a substantial acetate frame.
Best Vintage Sunglasses from £150 to £250
This is where eyewear becomes particularly interesting for designer collectors.
Between £150 and £250 you can find genuine new old stock pieces from major fashion houses, sometimes complete with original cases and details that are increasingly difficult to source.
Fendi 299R Limited Edition - £169
One of the more unusual frames in our current collection. The Fendi 299R is a new old stock limited-edition design with a black acetate wraparound front and diamate detailing across the sides in the Fendi pattern. The grey lenses provide 100% UV protection and this particular pair also retains its original case.
Best for: statement designer sunglasses and distinctive late-century styling.
Christian Dior 2493 - £199
Vintage Dior is one of the areas we specialise in, and the 2493 shows why these frames remain so desirable.
Manufactured in Germany in the 1980s, this new old stock oversized square frame is made from Optyl and finished in an unusual green and gold mottled colour-way. The grey graduated lenses provide 100% UV protection.
Best for: collectors looking for recognisable vinage designer eyewear with moving beyond £200.
Yves Saint Laurent 4008 - £219
For something more understated, the Yves Saint Laurent 4008 is an original Italian-made new old stock aviator.
Black and gold metalwork gives it a refined appearance, while the shallower aviator shape makes it easier to wear than some of the much larger designs associated with the era. Its grey lenses offer 100% UV protection.
Best for: classic men's designer sunglasses and smaller-to-medium fits.
Tiffany Lunettes T414 - £249
At the top of our £250 budget is a pair that shows how special vintage designer eyewear can become.
The Tiffany Lunettes T414 is a new old stock 23KT gold-plated frame with chain detaining across the bridge and diamanté decoration along the upper rims. Brown lenses provide 100% UV protection, while Tiffany Lunettes branding appears on the sides and temple tips.
Condition is another part of the appeal. This pair retains its original case, cleaning cloth and display box, as well as spare nose pads, screws and temple tips – an unusually complete find for vintage eyewear.
Best for: collectors looking for luxurious vintage sunglasses with jewellery-like detailing and exceptional original presentation.
How Much Should You Spend on Vintage Sunglasses?
There's no single right budget.
If you're primarily interested in the shape, colour and character of vintage eyewear, under £100 can offer exceptional value, particularly from lesser-known European manufacutrers.
At £100–£150 you generally find a wider choice of unusual shapes, handmade eyewear and recognisable vintage names.
If you're specifically looking for vintage designer sunglasses, a budget of around £150–£250 opens up considerably more choice from names such as Dior, Fendi, Tiffany Lunettes, YSL, Persol and more.
And beyond that, price is increasingly influenced by the designer, rarity, model, condition, age and collectability of the frame.
The important thing is not simply the name printed on the side.
What Should You Look for When Buying Vintage Sunglasses?
Condition is particularly important with vintage eyewear.
Check whether a frame is new old stock or previously worn, whether its hinges and construction remain sound, and whether the lenses still provide suitable UV protection.
Authenticity matters too, especially when buying vintage designer sunglasses. Details including model markings, manufacturing methods, logos, materials and country of manufacture can all help establish whether a frame is consistent with the period in which it was produced.
At Retro Spectacle, vintage eyewear isn't simply fashion to us. Our collection is selected with an optician's eye, and we look at the condition, construction and suitability of a frame as well as its style.
Many vintage frames can also be fitted with new prescription or non-prescription lenses, allowing an original frame to become a practical pair of everyday glasses or sunglasses.
At Retro Spectacle, vintage eyewear isn't simply fashion to us. Our collection is selected with an optician's eye, and we look at the condition, construction and suitability of a frame as well as its style.
Many vintage frames can also be fitted with new prescription or non-prescription lenses, allowing an original frame to become a practical pair of everyday glasses or sunglasses.
Can You Really Buy Good Vintage Sunglasses for Under £100
Absolutely.
One of the advantages of buying vintage is that value isn't determined solely by the logo on the side.
Lesser-known manufacturers produced some beautifully made eyewear, and these frames can represent one of the best ways to buy genuine vintage sunglasses at an accessible price.
Lesser-known manufacturers produced some beautifully made eyewear, and these frames can represent one of the best ways to buy genuine vintage sunglasses at an accessible price.
For collectors, designer names will always have their appeal. But if you're buying primarily because you love great eyewear, sometimes the most interesting pair in the room is the one nobody else recognises.