Vintage & Y2K Designer Sunglasses

From 1980s goggles to Y2K shields

The earliest pieces include Dior CD ski goggles from the 1980s, supplied with interchangeable crocodile-embossed frames in turquoise, red and magenta. The 1990s bring sport and statement shapes: US-made Oakley M Frame and Sub Zero shields, a Valentino 3328, a Fendi wraparound with FF cut-out sides and the oval Versace MOD 413/B, a Medusa medallion on each temple.

A large share dates from the turn of the millennium, when many houses dropped the rim around the lens: Chanel 4045 shield masks, the Prada SPR 61V with its rainbow gradient lens, Dior Galactique and Hardior visors, Gucci GG 2652 half-rimless frames. The quieter end has metal aviators, tortoiseshell rectangles and Bottega Veneta aviators trimmed in woven leather. Many also sit in the Vintage collection.

Codes, origin and cases in a listing

Most titles name the model, for example Chanel 4045 or Prada SPR 09H, which ties the frame to a known design. In the photos, look at the print inside the temples, the hinges, the nose pads and the lenses; scratches or tarnished logos are also noted in the description, as is an original case or box when one comes with the pair. Most frames are marked Made in Italy, several Christian Dior pairs Austria and a few, such as the Chloé A83, Japan. Our team checks the same points in-house first.

FAQ

How do I read a size like 66-14-115?

The figures are millimeters: lens width, bridge width and temple length, here from the Dior Fly wraparound. Where a listing gives them, compare with a pair that fits you.

What makes a pair Y2K?

It covers eyewear from the years either side of 2000: rimless or half-rimless builds, one-piece shield lenses, wraparound sides and bright gradient tints, as on the Chanel, Prada and Gucci frames marked Y2K.

Which pairs are cut for women?

Most frames are unisex and are filed in For him as well as For her. A smaller group is designed for women, such as a crystal-set Versace cat-eye and the Dior Audacieuse cat-eye from the Raf Simons era.