Ray-Ban Aviators are amongst the most well-known sunglasses designs to ever be made. Not only has Ray-Ban seen huge success with this model, and been able to keep it relevant for a number of decades now, but other brands have tried to emulate the style and come forward with their own “Aviator” or “Pilot” style. Ray-Ban has been in the designer sunglasses game since 1936 when Bausch & Lomb created the American-Italian label. The history of Ray-Ban itself, and in particular with the Aviator model, is something out of a movie script.
In 1929, US Army Air Corps Colonel John Macready teamed up with the then medical equipment manufacturer located in Rochester New York, Bausch & Lomb. The goal of the partnership was to create aviation sunglasses that would help to minimise the intense blue and white hues that bothered pilots during flight. Macready was focused particularly on avoiding pilots’ glasses fogging up at high altitudes, which would have a huge impact on visibility. The very first prototype of the Ray-Ban Aviator was born in 1936 and was known as “Anti-Glare”. This first model had plastic frames and green-tinted lenses that provided the pilots with the necessary protection from the glare, without obstructing their vision in any way.
The household name, Ray-Ban, was conceived from the idea that the sunglasses were able to minimise the amount of UV rays that could pass through the lenses and reach the eyes of the wearer. After the success of their initial design, Ray-Ban Aviators were improved to even greater heights, with impact-resistant lenses being added in 1938, and a metal frame being incorporated the following year in unison with the company patenting their iconic model.
Can you put prescription lenses in Ray-Ban Aviators?
Understandably, prescription glasses wearers want to have the option of the stylish look that Ray-Ban Aviators provide, while still giving their eyes the corrective adjustments needed. Having been created out of necessity for pilots, the Aviator is now available, due to popular demand, as glasses, or as prescription sunglasses. Even though they began their ascent to sunglasses stardom as a model with a specific application, the Aviator frame style has become somewhat of a star in its own right. People love this look for their everyday glasses, and not just when flying through the air.
At SmartBuyGlasses you can add your prescription to our fantastic range of Ray-Ban Aviators and choose from a selection of high-quality lenses that best fit the purpose of your glasses. We have outstanding house brand lenses that will fit your every need. From silver to gold, to diamond lenses and more, you can handpick which you want to have in your new Ray-Ban Aviators. Choose from features such as scratch-resistant and anti-glare coatings, as well as aspheric and super-hydrophobic lenses to ensure you have the best match for you.
What are Ray-Ban Aviator frames made of?
One of Ray-Ban’s stand out features when comparing them with other brands on the market is their ability to excel in the realm of high-quality craftsmanship and sourcing only the very best materials to be put to use in the production process of their famous glasses and sunglasses frames. Staying true to their roots, Ray-Ban Aviators are available in metal, just as the perfected design of them stood in 1938. The stunning parallels between their primitive model and the one which you will find on the market today is a testament to the attention to detail and intelligence that went into the original idea.
There are multiple advantages to implementing a metal frame design into a Ray-Ban Aviators, for example, they allow you to achieve a much more minimalist look with thin frames. Whether you want to go for the more classy look of Ray-Ban Aviators in black or make more of an impression with cool patterns like tortoiseshell Aviators, the thin frame style achieved thanks to the material choice, offers a uniquely sleek look that is difficult to match in plastic or acetate. Metal frames also tend to hold their adjustments more than other alternatives, which could mean fewer trips to the opticians to have things corrected. Metal frames also have nose pads, which allow for more tweaking and can lead to a more comfortable fit than plastic frames that sit directly on the nose.
How should Ray-Ban Aviators fit?
Ray-Ban Aviators are one of the most versatile pairs of sunglasses around, and they go great with a range of different looks and styles. The one thing that can ruin your look completely, however, is not having the right fit! First of all, they should sit comfortably on your nose. If they are too small, the nose pads will apply too much pressure and leave indents on your skin. If they are too loose, you risk your Ray-Ban Aviators slipping off of your face and getting damaged. Aviators generally, at least partially, cover your eyebrows as they are designed to be larger on the face than some of Ray-Ban’s other models like the Clubmaster. If your eyebrows are not covered at all by your Aviators, they are likely too small. Our range of Ray-Ban Aviators are available in up to 3 size options, so be sure to check our size guide before making your purchase.
