Sunglasses are a really useful fashion accessory. Not only can they keep your eyes cool, but when matched with the right clothes and facial structures, they can also make you look cool. Sunglasses are an absolute necessity when you are heading out to the beach on a summer’s day. They protect your eyes from harmful Ultra Violet rays and keep them relaxed even when the sun’s rays are scorching the earth away. Sunglasses are also very useful while driving/riding in the sun. They protect your eyes from the glare of the road, while also keeping them protected from the dust and debris flying everywhere. These days, sunglasses have gone on from being just a protective tool, to some of the most expensive fashion accessories in the world, with some of the most expensive sunglasses in the world costing more than a supercar like the Ferrari FF.
Here are the 10 most expensive sunglasses in the world (as of 2019):
10. Cartier Paris 18k Gold Sunglasses – $25,000
You know that the world of sunglasses has some really expensive options when the pair of sunglasses to start the most expensive sunglasses in the world list, costs $25,000. Yes, that’s almost as expensive as a medium range family sedan. Cartier has embellished the 1980s style retro black frames with gold and a total of 188 collet diamonds (totalling 7.5 carats). You can wear it when you drive to your private movie theatre to watch Top Gun: Maverick in 2020.
9. Lugano Diamonds Sunglasses – $27,000
Lugano Diamonds is a well established and highly revered name in the jewellery industry. The firm is renowned for using its resources to obtain the prettiest, rarest and the most expensive gemstones for its creations. Lugano Diamonds’ craftsmanship is also unparalleled. A combination of both those factors lands these gold framed sunglasses with pink lenses on the most expensive sunglasses in the world list. The leopard print frame (another 1980s throwback) is encrusted with 2.85 carats of pink diamonds and 3.59 carats of yellow and black diamonds.
8. Gold & Wood 119 Diamond Glasses – $30,000
These incredibly understated but gorgeous glasses are made with noble materials and valuable timber. The elegance of these sunglasses is out of this world. If you are wondering why these sunglasses are on the most expensive sunglasses in the world list, it’s because Gold & Wood frames utilize 12 different types of precious wood and go on to embed the wood veneers with silk. Modern materials like carbon fibre are also used. The frames are topped with 119 beautiful diamonds.
7. Gold & Wood 253 Diamond Glasses – $55,000
The Paris-based designer Gold & Wood has produced yet another masterpiece with this entry into the most expensive sunglasses in the world list. This pair of sunglasses is also known as the Prestige, which features a diamond studded bridge along with diamond studded hinges (with 253 diamonds in total), horn temple stems and solid platinum accents. Classy, understated, chic and gorgeous, like a Frenchwoman walking down Rue de Rivoli.
6. Bulgari Flora Sunglasses – $59,000
This famous Italian luxury goods maker is a part of Milan’s Luxottica conglomerate. Its designs are unmistakable and suit everyone’s face (as long as they can afford it). A Bulgari product definitely belongs on the most expensive sunglasses in the world list. It even comes with cool gradient lenses.
5. Luxuriator Canary Diamond Glasses – $65,000
This entrant on the most expensive sunglasses in the world list comes from Los Angeles based designer Franco Inc. who created the Luxuriator Collection in 2004. These sunglasses can be chosen with a single bridge chassis (Luxuriator Uno) or a double bridge chassis (Luxuriator Duo). These gorgeous handcrafted sunglasses feature VSGF diamonds set inside gun metal gold, rose, yellow or white frames. The temples are made with solid buffalo horn and exotic leather. Enamelled and hand-engraved versions are also available.
4. Cartier Panthere Glasses – $159,000
As you might have noticed, there was a gigantic leap in the pricing between #5 and #4 on the most expensive sunglasses in the world list. And for very good reasons. The French brand Cartier after all, is a favourite among the world’s royalty like Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Maharaja of Patiala and royal households of places such as Monaco, Egypt, Albania, Orleans, Belgium Romania, Serbia, Greece, Siam, Portugal and Spain. These spectacular sunglasses feature two diamond encrusted panthers on the temples.
3. Shiels Emerald Sunglasses – $200,000
According to the Managing Director of this Australian luxury goods manufacturer, it took the firm five years to source the incredible emerald lenses. Upon sourcing, it took three more months to cut and polish them. Something like that is bound to end up near the top of the most expensive sunglasses in the world list. As per the company, the inspiration for these green sunglasses was the Roman emperor Nero who was famous for viewing gladiatorial combat through green gemstones.
2. Dolce and Gabbana DG2027B Sunglasses – $383,000
Founded in 1985 by Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, this Italian luxury fashion house is well known for making some of the best luxury fashion accessories on the market. Their sunglasses are legendary for combining old world Mediterranean charm with modernity. Its notable patrons include Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Angelina Jolie, Demi Moore and Kim Kardashian. When money is not an issue, Dolce and Gabbana products are just about as good as it gets.
1. Chopard Sunglasses – $400,000
Legendary Swiss Jewellery house Chopard commissioned famous sunglasses manufacturer De Rigo Vision to create these opulent sunglasses which were showcased to the world for the first time in Dubai in 2012. Unlike the usual paving method of encrusting diamonds, De Rigo Vision used a special technique to ensure that the diamonds are set more closely together, resulting in a carpet of precious stones which emit a beautiful light. Celebrities like Elton John, Tom Jones and Gwyneth Paltrow are patrons of Chopard and you can join that exclusive club if you’ve got $400,000 in cash lying around.