A Guide to Buying Vintage Eyeglass Frames and Sunglasses Online

Decades Vintage Company has been selling vintage eyewear for more than 30 years. We understand that it can be difficult to choose a pair of eyeglass frames from a picture on the web. We want you to make an informed choice so to give you the benefit of our experience we've put together this handy guide and compiled a list of answers to frequently asked questions in the hopes we can make your purchase easier.

The majority of our eyeglass frames and sunglasses are vintage, unworn stock from the 1950s through 1980s - not reproductions. So you’re actually getting a brand new pair of vintage eyeglasses. Stored away for years these stylish frames are available to you for the first time in decades - pun intended. All of our eyeglass frames are Optical Quality meaning they can take your prescription or you can turn them into sunglasses at any optical shop. Clear plastic may be also be inserted if you're just wanting a fun vintage look. Decades does not do any lensing. Buying vintage sunglasses is a bit different than buying vintage frames so scroll down to the Sunglasses Guide for more information.

Buying Vintage Eyeglass Frames

Finding The Proper Fit:

Fit can be tricky when buying eyewear online. The best way to start is to measure a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses that fit you well and compare those measurements to the ones in our listings.

Measurements: Our width measurements are always taken at the widest part of the frame from left to right. The measurement of the temple arm is taken over the bend to the end of the temple arm. You should also check your current frames for hidden numbers such as 46 - 20. The first number refers to the size of the lens opening and the second number refers to the size of the bridge measured in millimeters. Unfortunately some frames may not have these numbers impressed. A third number may also be visible on the inside of the temple arm such as 5 1/4 or 140. This is the length of the temple arm measured in inches or millimeters over the ear bend to the end of the temple arm.

Warping: We do our best to straighten our frames and sunglasses before they are shipped. But not all faces or head shapes are the same. Just like a new frame your optician will make adjustments specific to you as part of the service. If one of your ears is higher than another for example. Maybe you have a wider or thinner head. Even if your frames warp in a hot car the frames are made from a type of plastic that can be heat molded. The same is true if you are buying sunglasses. The adjustments can usually be made for free by an optical shop and reshaped to your face. Most optical shops don't charge for this service but consider buying some lens cleaner and a lens cleaning cloth to help compensate them for their time.

Style Tip: Typically rounder faces look better with angular frames and vice versa.

If you are inclined:

This old graphic designers trick can be helpful but it's a bit of work. Print the page of the frames you are considering. Enlarge or reduce the image on a copier or on your printer until the width of the image is the same as the width measurement of the frame you like. Cut around the image of the frame with an exacto knife and use this image to decide which frame looks best on you.

Buying Vintage Sunglasses

Manufacturing: Made for sale at convenience stores and drug stores MOST vintage sunglasses are not made in a way that allows you to put new prescription lenses in them as the manufacturers used less expensive materials and processes to keep the costs down. There are exceptions to this rule and we will note that in the listing using the words Optical Quality if this is the case.

Lenses: Many of our vintage sunglasses have glass lenses in them which makes the lenses more scratch resistant than their contemporary counterparts with plastic lenses but will make them a little heavier.

Polarization: Polarization is a technology that reduces the glare from bright light as it travels through a lens. This technology had been available for camera lenses for quite some time when in the 1960s Polaroid introduced a line of cheap plastic sunglasses called Cool-Rays. This made afordable polarized sunglasses available to the masses. Polarization should not be confused with UV or Optical Coatings.

UV Protection: In general ultraviolet protection was not a part of the manufacturing process until the late 1970s. Though it's more likely that sunglasses made after 1980 have UV coatings there's no way to know for sure as the coating itself is invisible. However if you can see the multicolor reflection of optical coatings it's likely that those coatings include UV protection.

Optical Coatings: If you can see a blue, purple or greenish reflection on the lenses like that of a camera lens it is a tell tale sign they have optical coatings which reduce flair and are a sign of a higher quality manufacturing process.

Glare vs. Flair: Glare refers to the difficullty seeing through bright light which is caused by the light itself or it's reflection off a shiny surface. Flare refers to the reflection of light off of the lens itself.

Satisfaction Guarantee: If for any reason you are unhappy with a frame or sunglass you buy from us you can return them within 14 days for a refund of the purchase price. Shipping charges are non-refundable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are your eyeglass frames reproductions?

A: No. Our eyeglass frames are actual vintage, unworn stock from the 1950s through the 1980s - not reproductions. So you’re actually getting a brand new pair of vintage eyeglass frames or sunglasses.

Q: Can I put my prescription in these?

A: Yes. These were made to put prescription lenses in.

Q: I have an unusually thick prescription. Will my prescription work with these?

A: Usually.

Q: Can I put the lenses I have in my glasses now into any of these frames:

A: It's possible but not probable. Your lenses would need to be larger than the opening of the new frames and you would need to have your old lenses ground down to fit the new frame.

Q: I asked my optometrist about these and he said he couldn't put lenses in these. Why?

A: Some optometrists are sceptical about this because of misinformation. Many of the younger employees of the big box eyewear companies have been trained to say they can't put lenses in them due to liability issues should they break a frame. Others will do it if you sign a release form saying that they are not liable if the frame breaks when the put the lenses in.

Q: Do they break a lot?

A: Almost never. Over the years we have sold hundreds of pairs of vintage eyeglass frames and only 3 pair have broken.

Q: I have my aunt's pair of vintage frames can I put lenses in those?

A: Possibly, this is another reason optometrists can be sceptical about vintage eyewear. Used pairs can be quite brittle due to use or improper storage. Since our eyewear is unused and stored correctly this isn't a problem.

Q: My optometrist won't put lenses in mine. What should I do?

A: Stay away from the big box stores and try your locally owned optometrist.

Q: Can I return them if I don't like them?

A: Absolutely. You can return them within 14 days of receiving them for ANY reason, however shipping charges are non-refundable.