Luxury can take many forms for everyone—it can be an object, a desire, an experience, an emotion. Certainly when it comes to eyewear, “Luxuriating with eyewear is a unique experience,” as noted by Editor-in-Chief James Spina in our luxury eyewear feature. Indeed, because eyewear is the only accessory that serves a dual purpose of being a want AND a necessity: an essential medical device that also satisfies the desire for a supreme product with topnotch quality and style. With this in mind, it’s worthy to note how the luxury eyewear category has progressively evolved over the past decades. What was once a somewhat limited offering of frames lavished with precious metals and jewels at extreme price points out of reach for most has blossomed into a refreshed attitude toward luxury. Designers and brands are crafting frames focused on realistic pricing, eyewear heritage branding and contemporary styling while still maintaining the fine quality and exclusivity of a luxury product—creating new opportunities for optical retailers and their customers, who have responded with an enthusiastic embrace of the eyewear they need and want. Peruse our current issue for the latest luxury eyewear styles, as well as a look at the state of the luxury market with our Luxury Eyewear MarketPulse Survey conducted by Jobson Optical Research.

—Christine Yeh