When Were the First Sunglasses Invented? An Inside Look at Their Thousand-Year History
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World Sunglasses Day is celebrated on Sunday 27 June. But, do you know who invented them for the first time? If you are curious, read on! Many of you will think that the birth of sunglasses goes back to a few decades ago. Actually, we need to take a bigger leap back in time to go back to the first creations.
Inuit first sunglasses
Many scientists believe that the first to have conceived an object similar to todays glasses were the Inuit, more commonly known as the Eskimos. The frames designed were usually made with animal bones and had no lenses, but only small cracks.
Romans emerald sunglasses
Instead, it was the Romans who used the lenses for the first time as they are used today. In fact, the emperor Nero used to look at gladiator challenges through emeralds. It seems that the green color of the stone eased the sight. Besides, if cut in a certain way, it was believed to corrected small defects of myopia.
China quartz lens
At the same time of Nero, in China, stones began to be used, more specifically smoked quartz slabs, as blackout glasses. In fact, in addition to being used by the wealthiest families, they were used by court judges to hide their gaze before judgments, so as not to let their emotions shine through.
Ancient Venice sunglasses
Back in Italy, we move to Venice. In the 18th century, because of the light that reflected in the lagoon water, nobility began to wear glasses with green lenses. The peculiarity of the so-called “Gondola Glass”, was to protect perfectly from UV rays, despite these would be discovered only a hundred years later.
James Ayscough colored lenses
In 1752, the English artisan James Ayscough began to make visual experiments with colored lenses. He believed that certain colored lenses could solve visual problems. Although this theory was completely unfounded, it was in this way that the first colored sunglasses were born.
Diseases and vision problem
At the beginning of the twentieth century, syphilis began to spread throughout Europe. One of the effects of this disease was the strong sensitivity to light. It was for this reason that doctors began to prescribe glasses with colored lenses, mainly in amber and brown, to patients.
Sunglasses and pilots
In the 1920s, American Lieutenant John A. Macready, after a hot air balloon flight, experienced some damage to his eyesight. For this reason, he asked Bausch & Lomb to develop special glasses to protect the pilots.
In fact, after important technological developments, even military pilots, being able to push higher and higher with their planes, found serious problems because of the strong sunlight.
Sunglasses in our everyday life
In 1929, Sam Foster started the first eyewear company, no longer just for the military.
It was at this moment that the sunglasses entered the everyday life with an outstretched foot. The real breakthrough came in 1980 when the company Ray Ban released the iconic Aviator model on the market, became famous with Tom Cruise in the movie Top Gun.
From classic models to those with the most eccentric frames, sunglasses are without a doubt the accessory that can not miss in our lives! Visit our website LookerOnlineand find out many novelties!
Would you like to keep updated with all the latest fashion trends and news from the eyewear world? Make sure you visit LookerOnline’s blog and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for ideas and inspiration on your style!
Few people can rock a pair of sunglasses quite like Robert Downey Jr. The actor, known for his impeccable sense of style both on and off-screen, has become somewhat of a fashion icon over the years. From classic aviators to trendy modern designs, Robert Downey Jr has sported an impressive array of sunglasses throughout his career, both in his personal life and in his movies.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the sunglasses that he has worn over the years. So sit back, grab your own favorite pair of shades, and join us as we explore the world of RDJ’s sunglasses.
Black Friday has long become the craziest shopping day of the year. People around the world flock to department stores and stand in line for hours to get themselves the best and cheapest deals. Here’s a brief (well-researched!) history, and some advice.
The number of people playing padel has increased exponentially. Given the wide diffusion of this sport, even the big companies have started to create accessories for practicing this discipline. And this is exactly what the Italian brand Rudy Project has done, creating for you a collection of glasses designed just for the padel. Discover new Rudy Project Propulse!
Are you a baseball enthusiast seeking to enhance your performance? Discover the game-changing benefits of Oakley baseball shades, offering optimal vision and a winning edge for every play.
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When Were the First Sunglasses Invented? An Inside Look at Their Thousand-Year History
World Sunglasses Day is celebrated on Sunday 27 June. But, do you know who invented them for the first time? If you are curious, read on!
Many of you will think that the birth of sunglasses goes back to a few decades ago. Actually, we need to take a bigger leap back in time to go back to the first creations.
Inuit first sunglasses
Many scientists believe that the first to have conceived an object similar to todays glasses were the Inuit, more commonly known as the Eskimos.
The frames designed were usually made with animal bones and had no lenses, but only small cracks.
Romans emerald sunglasses
Instead, it was the Romans who used the lenses for the first time as they are used today.
In fact, the emperor Nero used to look at gladiator challenges through emeralds.
It seems that the green color of the stone eased the sight. Besides, if cut in a certain way, it was believed to corrected small defects of myopia.
China quartz lens
At the same time of Nero, in China, stones began to be used, more specifically smoked quartz slabs, as blackout glasses. In fact, in addition to being used by the wealthiest families, they were used by court judges to hide their gaze before judgments, so as not to let their emotions shine through.
Ancient Venice sunglasses
Back in Italy, we move to Venice. In the 18th century, because of the light that reflected in the lagoon water, nobility began to wear glasses with green lenses.
The peculiarity of the so-called “Gondola Glass”, was to protect perfectly from UV rays, despite these would be discovered only a hundred years later.
James Ayscough colored lenses
In 1752, the English artisan James Ayscough began to make visual experiments with colored lenses.
He believed that certain colored lenses could solve visual problems.
Although this theory was completely unfounded, it was in this way that the first colored sunglasses were born.
Diseases and vision problem
At the beginning of the twentieth century, syphilis began to spread throughout Europe. One of the effects of this disease was the strong sensitivity to light. It was for this reason that doctors began to prescribe glasses with colored lenses, mainly in amber and brown, to patients.
Sunglasses and pilots
In the 1920s, American Lieutenant John A. Macready, after a hot air balloon flight, experienced some damage to his eyesight. For this reason, he asked Bausch & Lomb to develop special glasses to protect the pilots.
In fact, after important technological developments, even military pilots, being able to push higher and higher with their planes, found serious problems because of the strong sunlight.
Sunglasses in our everyday life
In 1929, Sam Foster started the first eyewear company, no longer just for the military.
It was at this moment that the sunglasses entered the everyday life with an outstretched foot. The real breakthrough came in 1980 when the company Ray Ban released the iconic Aviator model on the market, became famous with Tom Cruise in the movie Top Gun.
From classic models to those with the most eccentric frames, sunglasses are without a doubt the accessory that can not miss in our lives! Visit our website LookerOnline and find out many novelties!
Would you like to keep updated with all the latest fashion trends and news from the eyewear world? Make sure you visit LookerOnline’s blog and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for ideas and inspiration on your style!
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Robert Downey Jr.’s Sunglasses: A Look at His Iconic Eyewear
Few people can rock a pair of sunglasses quite like Robert Downey Jr. The actor, known for his impeccable sense of style both on and off-screen, has become somewhat of a fashion icon over the years. From classic aviators to trendy modern designs, Robert Downey Jr has sported an impressive array of sunglasses throughout his career, both in his personal life and in his movies.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the sunglasses that he has worn over the years. So sit back, grab your own favorite pair of shades, and join us as we explore the world of RDJ’s sunglasses.
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