Quality Sunglasses: How to Recognize a Good Pair
Two pairs of sunglasses can look the same in a photo and still be very different up close. Here is what separates quality sunglasses from cheap ones: the lenses, the frame material, the hinges and the finish, and how to check each one yourself.
How do you recognize quality sunglasses?
Start with the lenses. Quality sunglasses are labeled UV400 or 100% UVA and UVB protection, and the lenses show straight lines without bending or blurring. Then look at the frame: acetate cut from a sheet, metal hinges set into the frame and smooth, polished edges are all signs of a well-made pair.
All Corlin lenses have UV400 protection, and our Italian acetate frames combine Mazzucchelli acetate, German OBE hinges and CR39 lenses.
The three things that matter most
If you only check three things, check these:
Corlin sunglasses built to last
Every frame below is cut from Mazzucchelli acetate from Italy, with German OBE hinges and CR39 lenses with UV400 protection.
Italian acetate frames
All sunglasses-
Louis Tortoise BrownSlim oval, 52 mm1 299 SEK
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Selma Tortoise BrownSlim oval1 499 SEK
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Carpi Tortoise Brown1960s oval, 22 mm bridge1 299 SEK
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Gelo Tortoise BrownCrossbar aviator, 55 mm1 299 SEK
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Jimi Tortoise BrownWayfarer1 499 SEK
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Aidan Black BlackNarrow oval, 52 mm1 499 SEK
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Ana Black BlackSlim oval, 29 mm deep1 499 SEK
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Sonney Black BlackAcetate aviator, 55 mm1 499 SEK
What our sunglasses are made of
Our Italian acetate frames are built from the same three parts:
Quality checklist
Use this checklist when you compare sunglasses, in a store or online:
| Check | Sign of quality | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| UV protection | UV400 or 100% UVA and UVB on the label | No information about UV protection |
| Lens clarity | Straight lines stay straight through the lens | Lines bend or blur when you move the glasses |
| Frame material | Acetate cut from sheets, with the pattern through the material | A printed or painted pattern on the surface |
| Hinges | Metal hinges set firmly into the frame | Plastic hinges, or hinges that wobble |
| Finish | Smooth, polished edges | Sharp seams or rough edges from molding |
| Fit | Temples that can be adjusted with heat | Frames that can't be adjusted at all |
| Markings | A CE mark and a lens category | No markings on the temple |
Our guide to UV400 sunglasses explains what the UV label means in more detail.
Why UV protection matters most
A dark lens makes your pupils open wider. If the lens doesn't block UV, more UV reaches your eyes than if you wore no sunglasses at all. That is why UV protection is the most important thing to check, and why lens color or darkness alone tells you nothing.
Look for UV400 or 100% UVA and UVB protection. Both mean the lens blocks UV light up to 400 nanometers. All Corlin lenses are UV400.
How to test the lenses yourself
Hold the sunglasses at arm's length and look through one lens at a straight line, like a door frame or the edge of a table. Move the glasses slowly up and down. With a good lens the line stays straight. If it bends or wobbles, the lens has optical distortion, which can tire your eyes over time.
Also check that both lenses have the same tint and that there are no bubbles or scratches in the material.
Acetate or cheap plastic?
Most cheap sunglasses are injection-molded: liquid plastic is pressed into a mold, and any pattern is printed on top. Acetate frames are cut from solid sheets, shaped and polished. The color and pattern run through the whole material, so they don't wear off at the edges.
Acetate also softens with heat, which means a quality frame can be adjusted to fit. Read more in our guide to acetate sunglasses.
Hinges and finish
The hinge is the part of a pair of sunglasses that moves the most. Quality frames use metal hinges set into the acetate, so the temples open and close the same way after years of use.
Run your finger along the edges of the frame. On a well-made pair they are smooth and rounded, with no sharp seams. Our Italian acetate frames use hinges from OBE in Germany.
Does price equal quality?
Not always. A high price can mean better materials, but it can also mean you are paying for a brand name. Look at what the sunglasses are made of: the lens material, the UV protection, the frame material and the hinges.
Corlin's acetate frames are built from Italian Mazzucchelli acetate, German OBE hinges and CR39 lenses, materials you also find in more expensive designer eyewear. Read more in our designer sunglasses guide.
Questions about quality sunglasses
How do I know if my sunglasses have UV protection?
Check the label, the temple or the product description for UV400 or protection against all UVA and UVB rays. If there is no information, you can't assume the lenses block UV, however dark they are.
Many opticians can also measure the UV protection of your lenses with a UV meter.
Are expensive sunglasses better?
Not necessarily. A higher price can reflect better materials, but it often includes the cost of a brand name. Compare the materials instead: UV400 lenses, an acetate or metal frame and metal hinges are the signs to look for.
A pair at a mid-range price can have the same materials as a much more expensive designer pair.
What is the best material for sunglasses frames?
Cellulose acetate is one of the most popular materials for quality frames. It is strong, light and comfortable, it can be adjusted with heat, and the color runs through the material.
Metal frames are another good choice if you prefer a thinner look.
Do darker lenses give more UV protection?
No. Darkness and UV protection are two different things. Lens darkness reduces glare and brightness, while UV protection comes from the lens material or a UV filter.
A light lens with UV400 protects your eyes better than a very dark lens without UV protection.
What are CR39 lenses?
CR39 is an optical plastic used in many eyeglass and sunglass lenses. It is light and gives clear vision with little distortion.
Our Italian acetate sunglasses have CR39 lenses with UV400 protection.
Are polarized sunglasses better quality?
Polarization reduces glare from flat surfaces like water and roads, but it doesn't say anything about UV protection or the quality of the frame.
A polarized lens still needs UV400 protection, and the frame and hinges matter just as much.
How do I make quality sunglasses last?
Keep them in the case when you're not wearing them, clean the lenses with a soft lens cloth and avoid leaving them in a hot car.
Read our sunglasses care guide for step-by-step tips.