When were sunglasses invented?
The history of sunglasses is as long and storied as the history of humanity itself. The earliest known sunglasses were used in ancient Rome during the 12th century, but they were limited to royalty and other high-ranking members of society. It wasn’t until hundreds of years later that commoners wore tinted glasses for eye protection and vision correction purposes.
From there, the popularity of sunglasses grew like wildfire—and so did their designs!
Learn in This Article
- Who First Invented Sunglasses: A Brief Historical Overview
- Ancient Rome and Nero’s Emeralds
- 12th Century China and Smoky Quartz Lenses
- 18th Century England: James Ayscough’s Invention
- 1929: Sam Foster Sunglasses and Mass-Production
- American Military Aviators: Bausch & Lomb and Ray-Bans
- First Fashion-Oriented Sunglasses: Emilio Pucci and Salvatore Ferragamo
- 1936: Edwin H. Land’s Polarized Sunglasses
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
Who First Invented Sunglasses: A Brief Historical Overview
If you’ve ever worn sunglasses (duh), you know that these cool shades protect your eyes from the sun. But who invented the sunglasses?
Sunglasses have been around for centuries, and their history is as fascinating as the design of the glasses themselves.
While we can track down the existence of today’s popular accessories all the way to prehistory and Inuit, we can hardly call their invention sunglasses as they are today. The glasses were nothing but a piece of ivory with slits and served a simple purpose—maximizing the visibility in snow storms.
The rest is literally history, and it starts—where else?—in Rome.
Ancient Rome and Nero’s Emeralds
According to the records of Pliny the Elder—seen skeptically by historians, it should be noted—Roman Emperor Nero looked at the arena through a concave emerald during gladiatorial fights. In this way, he eliminated the glare of the sun and his nearsightedness. If true, these would probably be in competition for the most expensive sunglasses of all time.
Nero was not the first ruler to use sunglasses to improve his vision, though; in fact, the use of eyewear to protect the eyes from the sun is claimed to be much older than that.
We’ve been taught that, in ancient Rome, it was common for wealthy people to wear concave glasses—made of either glass or crystal—to protect their eyes from the harsh sunlight. The glasses were also believed to improve vision.
12th Century China and Smoky Quartz Lenses
The earliest known sunglasses that remind of the modern version were used in China during the 12th century.
The 12th-century sunglasses were made from smoky quartz.
Sunglasses served more of a functional purpose than a style purpose—they were actually used by the judges, helping them conceal their facial expressions or emotions during trials.
18th Century England: James Ayscough’s Invention
In 1752, James Ayscough, often dubbed the inventor of sunglasses, developed a pair of spectacles with double-hinged side pieces to correct vision problems. These glasses significantly improved the traditional eyeglasses of the time, which had round lenses and no adjustable sides. Ayscough’s new design allowed for greater customization, as each person could adjust the glasses to fit their unique facial features.
As mentioned, their primary purpose was to protect from light—interestingly, they were often prescribed to people with syphilis due to their sensitivity to light.
It’s believed that these spectacles are the first true precursors to sunglasses as we know and wear them today.
1929: Sam Foster Sunglasses and Mass-Production
Sam Foster is considered the father of sunglasses since he was the first person to mass-produce them and was the founder of the first sunglasses brand.
So is this when sunglasses were invented in America? Yep, pretty much.
He began selling shades in 1929, and they quickly became popular due to their ability to protect people’s eyes from the sun’s harmful UV radiation. In addition to this, this stylish piece of eyewear also helped to reduce glare and improve vision.
They were increasingly popular with actors and actresses then, and, over the years, sunglasses have become a staple in many people’s wardrobes. They are now considered a fashion accessory and necessity.
American Military Aviators: Bausch & Lomb
Have you ever heard of Ray-Bans?
Around the same time Sam Foster began his mass production, Bausch & Lomb decided to get in on the promising market.
The company now has a long history of producing American military aviator sunglasses, a style also widely known as Ray-Bans.
For over 100 years, they have been crafting quality sunglasses for pilots and other aviation professionals. The company’s products are designed to provide superior optical performance and protection from the sun and other elements.
First Fashion-Oriented Sunglasses: Emilio Pucci and Salvatore Ferragamo
Emilio Pucci is credited with designing the first fashion-oriented sunglasses. They were part of a summer collection he debuted in 1929 alongside Salvatore Ferragamo.
The sunglasses were made from bamboo and tinted glass, and featured colorful, floral designs. They were an instant hit with the general public—especially women— and quickly became a must-have summertime accessory.
1936: Edwin H. Land’s Polarized Sunglasses
Edwin H. Land was an American scientist and inventor credited with the invention of polarized sunglasses in 1936. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1909 and graduated from Harvard University.
After working for several companies, he founded the Polaroid Corporation in 1932 (renamed in 1937), which would later become world-famous for its instant cameras that could produce pictures within seconds of exposure by pressing a button rather than waiting several hours.
He remained the chairman and CEO of Polaroid until his retirement in 1980. Land died in 1991 at the age of 82.
When Were Sunglasses Invented: Key Takeaways
So there you have it—sunglasses were invented and reinvented quite a few times over the last few centuries. Sunglasses have been around for quite some time and have undergone many updates over the years.
Who knows? Maybe someday we’ll see a pair of sunglasses that can record videos or send text messages—the times we live in are surely wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of eyewear in the 20s was between $20 and $390, adjusted for today’s monetary value.
Sunglasses gained their stylish reputation around 1929 when Sam Foster started mass-producing and selling them on Jersey Shore.
Polarized sunglasses were first manufactured by Polaroid Corporation’s founder Edward H. Land in 1936.