International sunglass companies see a bright future in India. The import ban on these products was lifted last year, allowing in a range of brands to the Rs 70 crore premium market. Many local joint ventures and licensees are also making international brands more affordable in India notably Ray-Ban, Killer Loop, Lacoste and Benetton.
All these collections promise more than just good looks. In case youre wondering why you should pay four times the cost of local versions, the manufacturers claim that their lenses protect your eyes completely against ultra-violet (UV) and infra-red (IR) radiation. This is important because darkened lenses cause the wearers pupils to dilate, and long-term damage can be done to the retina if it is not protected against UV and IR rays. Also, its claimed that these brands are designed for stress and impact tolerance; good if you use them during sports or vehicle riding.
Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 gets you locally manufactured sunglasses Bausch and Lomb (B&L) makes Ray-Bans, and Benetton makes Colors. Salespeople claim that the materials used in both meet international standards. For instance, Colors uses CR 39 for the lenses just as they do in their Italian factories. This is a plastic developed specifically for lenses, which can be moulded without optical distortions. The lenses absorb 100 per cent of UV radiation, and Benetton claims that they are scratch-proof and have anti-fog properties too.
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B&L also uses 100 per cent radiation-protected materials for its Ray-Ban lenses models either have CR 39, polycarbonate plastic, or glass lenses. While CR 39 is the cheapest, polycarbonate plastic is lighter and shatter-proof (its often used for aircraft windshields). Glass lenses are heavier, but some wearers claim that they remain cooler in direct glare and are more elegant. B&L India also claims to use a corrosion-resistant manufacturing process for Ray-Bans needed for high perspiration levels.
The cheaper sunglasses tend to have plastic, nylon or acetate frames and no rubber coating on the end-pieces (also called ear stems) for grip. However, most opticians adjust the frame at no extra cost, through a heating process. So the grip will not differ much from the more expensive models, claims an optician at Mumbais Homi and Co.
Though most models in this range are unisex styles, Bausch and Lomb has just launched a new range for women called Rituals. Priced at around Rs 2,000, these have hand-made plastic and metal frames; you can choose between cat-eye style, oval or quadrangular for the lens shapes. The femininity is created by the R-Plaque design with rolling curves rising from the temple of the frames. The oval shaped lenses are the most popular probably because of the classic image they convey, says a Ray-Ban salesperson.
The advantage of sunglasses in this price bracket is that the models are widely available Benetton has launched its sunglasses in 22 cities, while B&L has Ray-Ban showrooms in about 75 cities and towns. The latter even has special schemes in select non-metros. One is the Test Drive a Ray-Ban offer: offering you a refund on your purchase if the glasses are returned in 48 hours. The other is the Whos that in a Ray-Ban? scheme: you get Polaroid photographs of yourself trying on different models.
Rs 2,500 to 5,000 gets you a wider range of imported models. The most widely available are Killer Loop and United Colors of Benetton, besides the more sophisticated Ray-Bans. Here you find more metal frames the premium ones with gold plating. Says a B&L salesperson, Ray-Bans Classic metal and Aviator models have a plating of Arista 24-carat gold, so they sell well.
If youre worried about the weight of metal frames, you could consider some of Killer Loops models (about Rs 3,500) made of Monel a light-weight aluminium alloy. Killer Loop is specially targeted at sportspeople, so most of their models also have a rubber grip on the ear stems. This helps absorb impact on the glasses when the wearer is in motion, says a salesperson at Ikon Optik. The rubber is a material called Megol, which is supposedly safe for sensitive skins and does not react on coming into contact with perspiration.
Some models in this price range also have reflective lenses. This cuts the glare more than simple tinted lenses, so such models are particularly suited to outdoor sports, says the Homi & Co optician. In fact, Killer Loop glasses come with a classification of which lenses are suited to cosmetic use, and which are suited to use in bright sunshine. For lenses specially suited to driving, Ray-Ban has a range called Chromax Driving for about Rs 3,500. These lenses enhance colour contrasts useful to view traffic signals or the lights of other vehicles in foggy weather or smog.
At the higher end of this price bracket, you can also consider Oakley sunglasses for about Rs 5,000. This company pioneered the wrap-around style of sunglasses where the frame curves snugly around the face and the ear stems taper from the front. Ever since Mark Waugh started wearing them on the cricket field, they have become popular in India, says Ashraf Patel of Ikon. The advantage of this design is that it cuts the penetration of sunlight around the eyes, and also cuts the airflow in this area; thats why it was popularised in the West by skiers and surfers.
For Rs 6,000 upwards, you get the designer names like Giorgio Armani, Charles Jourdain, Christian Dior, Paloma Picasso, and so on. In this range, you are basically paying for the exclusive designs of the international fashion houses, says Patel. There isnt much superiority in terms of technical features such as lens quality or impact tolerance. The difference is that such sunglasses carry the logo of the designer very visibly and may use precious metal (not just plating) for some frames. You may also find attractive cases for such models such as leather or sculpted metal; these make the sunglasses a good option as gifts as well.
With the wide selection, consumers can be more discerning about their sunglasses the days are waning when cheap imitations could keep consumers blundering in the dark.