Aviator - Tear drop shape pilots sunglasses

The name “Aviator” already explains the origin of this eyewear shape, because sunglasses in this design were actually originally developed for pilots and are therefore also known as pilot sunglasses or aviator glasses.

The mother of all aviator sunglasses is certainly the Ray-Ban Large Metal sunglasses, which were developed in the 1930s by Bausch&Lomb in the USA. Bausch&Lomb received an order from the US military to design sunglasses that would provide their pilots with optimal protection from the sun’s rays. The lens shape, which is often referred to in optician circles as the “teardrop shape”, is therefore designed in such a way that the eye is maximally covered by the sunglasses.

Aviator glasses become a fashion accessory

Today, the actual military pilot sunglasses have long since become a world-famous fashion accessory.

Almost all manufacturers now have aviator sunglasses in their collections. You can find extremely varied Aviator sunglasses from Alpina, Boeing, Carrera, Cartier, Cazal, Dior, Ferrari, Persol or Porsche in our old vintage glasses product range, too. These vintage designer aviator sunglasses were no longer just for pilots to use, but rather for looking cool.

From the 70s through to the 90s, Carrera produced rather sporty Aviator sunglasses made of light Optyl material, which also worked perfectly with a casual outfit.

Porsche thrilled the technology enthusiasts with large pilot sunglasses with interchangeable lenses. So you could, depending on the intensity of the sun, exchange the sunglass lenses on your own. In original condition, the vintage Porsche pilot sunglasses were delivered with two pairs of lenses: a pair of dark lenses for intense sunlight and a pair of sunglass lenses with a lighter gradient for dusk.

In the 1980s, Cazal also launched aviator sunglasses with replaceable sunglass lenses on the market, although the change mechanism was different from that of Porsche. In addition, the Cazal pilot sunglasses were more colourful and multi-faceted than the Porsche models.

Cartier delighted his clientele with a kind of luxury aviator sunglass design. The Cartier pilot model “Vendome” was available in three different sizes and with three different patterns and became the most successful Cartier sunglasses model ever. Christopher Walken certainly played a major role as James Bond’s opponent in 1985, when he wore a pair of Cartier Vendomes in the movie “A View to Kill”.

In addition to their grandiose functionality, it is precisely such characters that have made Aviator sunglasses a sought-after fashion accessory.

The list of movies in which a cool or heroic leading actor wears pilot glasses is a long one. There is Top Gun, Cobra, Fear and Loathing Las Vegas and Scarface to name just a few.

Very few designers have done without this eyewear style in their creations. One of example is Jean Paul Gaultier.

Aviator

Aviator - The tear drop shape

This shape of glasses seen in various movies (e.g. “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise) is legendary and connected inseparably with the brand “Ray Ban”. The first Ray Ban “Aviator” designed 1934, was created particularly for combat pilots. Most eminent in its shape of lenses is the model “Outdoorsman”.
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