What's for sale?
This is a pair of original American, "Signet" Ray-Bans from the 1980s with high-quality, Bausch & Lomb glass lenses.
The lenses are coded "G-15", which is the excellent, non-polarized, grey-green lens that was introduced in 1953. They block 85% of visible light and 100% of UV light. They are colour-neutral, transmitting all colours equally and leaving colour perception unaltered.
The gold-coloured, metal frames have a double brow bar, subtle wing tips and a decorative impression of parallel lines. This unisex design was available as Signet 1 and Signet 2, which was a larger design.
Included is the original, Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban case with hardened front.
This pair was made in the 1980s, which is significant as Bausch & Lomb sold Ray-Ban in 1999. Modern Ray-Bans are no longer made in America or with these lenses.
Who made them and when?
They are American Ray-Bans made by Bausch & Lomb in the 1980s. The lenses are engraved "BL" and the frames carry the codes:
The bridge reads:
- B&L RAY-BAN
- B&L RAY-BAN 52[]19
What condition are they in?
Please remember when viewing the photographs that some have been taken at a greater magnification than normal vision.
- Second-hand
- In very good condition
- The lenses are in very good condition
- There's a little wear to the plastic ends of the arms
What are the measurements?
- Each lens is a maximum 52mm wide and 43mm high
- The frames are a maximum 140mm wide and 45mm high
- The bridge is 19mm
- The temple arm length is 135mm
- They weigh 41 grams
How are glasses measured?
- Some frames have their sizes printed on the arms
- Look for a pair of numbers separated by a square and a three-digit number on its own (e.g. "52[]19 ... 140")
- The first two numbers are the lens and bridge widths. The three-digit number is the temple arm length
- Lens widths are from 40 to 62mm, bridges 14 to 22mm and arms 120 to 150mm
- The bridge is measured where the gap between the lenses is narrowest (not the frames)
- The arm is measured from the hinge along its full length, including around the bend
- It's easiest to compare online measurements with similarly-shaped glasses that you already have
- The key measurement is the frame width. Rest a ruler on the bridge of your nose, level with your eyes and measure the width between your temples in millimeters (we'll call this A). Take the frame width of the glasses and subtract 6mm (we'll call this B). If A and B are within 2mm of each other, the glasses are more likely to fit.
If you have any questions, just send an email to help@3bcshop.com.
