Are Expensive Sunglasses Worth It?

For many people, a high price tag signifies that a product is well made. Anyone who purchases a quality designer leather handbag can expect it to last for at least 30 years if it’s well-cared for.

Or take the brand Patagonia, which earned the nickname PataGucci for its high-priced outdoor gear that rivals luxury fashion. Patagonia’s prices are so high because of their fantastic warranty, which covers things like fixes for small amounts of wear and tear.

These high-cost items may be worth it, but it’s not necessarily the same for eyewear. Expensive sunglasses are typically not worth the high price tag because you can still purchase comparable, quality sunglasses that cost hundreds of dollars less than similar designer ones.

Let’s dig into all the reasons why expensive sunglasses don’t live up to their high price tag.

Are More Expensive Sunglasses Better Than Cheaper Ones?

More expensive sunglasses are not always better than cheaper ones because designers include lofty markup costs simply for the brand name or logo. Expensive sunglasses often come with a 1000% markup!

If a pair of sunglasses cost $40 for a company to make, that means designers are selling them at an inflated $440/pair. And the truth of the matter is that most sunglasses only cost around $25 to produce.

So while a $100 pair of designer sunglasses might be better than a $10 dollar pair from the gas station, they won’t be better than reputable sunglasses brands with more affordable products like Warby Parker or WMP Eyewear.

The Truth About The Eyewear Industry

For a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, it only costs about ten dollars to make the frames and five dollars for the lenses. So why do they cost over $150? Because they’re owned by Luxottica, a company that has a global monopoly on the sunglasses market.

Luxottica owns popular sunglass brands like Oakley and Ray-Bans, and even makes sunglasses for big names like Prada, Versace, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, and more. The company owns 80% of the global sunglasses market, so they control the price tags.

What’s even crazier is that back in 1999, you could purchase Ray-Ban sunglasses for twenty bucks at gas stations. The price shot up dramatically once the company was purchased by Luxottica.

Expensive vs Cheaper Sunglasses

When comparing expensive vs cheaper sunglasses, both offer quality materials and benefits even though the price tags differ. Cheaper sunglasses can offer UV protection, polarized lenses, and even the same quality frame material as expensive sunglasses.

UV Protection, Polarized Lenses

One of the most important reasons to wear sunglasses is to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, which can cause cataract formation and worsen eyesight over time. When shopping for sunglasses, look for lenses that offer 100% UVA/UVB protection.

Polarized lenses regulate the amount of light that passes through the lens, making it easier for you to see in bright conditions. This reduces eye strain and glare, making it less likely for cataracts to form and compromise your vision.

You can find lenses with coatings that offer maximum polarized and UVA/UVB protection in both expensive and cheap sunglasses.

For example, the Mason style from WMP Eyewear offers both polarization and UVA/UVB protection but costs only $35. A similar pair of frames, the Oliver Peoples Casian Sunglasses, doesn't offer polarization even for a whopping $440.

Frame Material

Another critical feature in the makeup of sunglasses is the frame material. One of the most popular plastic frame materials is cellulose acetate (also called zyl) because it’s strong and doesn’t weigh too much. It’s flexible so it can be molded to your face and colors hold to it well, so it can feature any design imaginable.

Popular metals for sunglasses include stainless steel or a metal alloy, which is a mix of metals. Stainless steel particularly works well because it’s hypoallergenic and more affordable than metals like titanium (another good choice for sunglasses).

Guess what? Both expensive and inexpensive sunglasses are made from these materials. While not all cheap sunglasses are made of quality materials, the expensive ones may not be either.

The best way to actually purchase quality sunglasses is to buy them from a manufacturer that states what the frames are made of in the product description on their website, so you know exactly what you’re getting. 

Do Expensive Sunglasses Last Longer?

Expensive sunglasses don’t last longer than cheaper ones. If you throw your sunglasses directly into your purse or toss them onto the table without a care in the world, then they aren’t going to last long, no matter the material.

Instead, store your sunglasses in a proper case. Never put them lens-down on a surface, and clean them regularly to avoid lenses becoming scratched from build-up.

Best Sunglass Brands

The best sunglass brands are ones that are small and independently owned. These companies rely on positive reviews and experiences to keep their brand alive so they're more likely to pay extra attention to their product quality. Plus, they’re more likely to give back to the community, create jobs, and have better customer service.

Don’t expect big-name brands to give you affordable sunglasses at a reasonable price because their top priority is charging the highest price to make more money.

Keep reading for some of the best sunglass brands to buy from.

1. WMP Eyewear

First on our list is WMP Eyewear for its amazing prices and value. The company’s sunglasses range from $25 to $50 but offer everything that big brand names do: polarization, 100% UVA/UVB protection, quality frame materials, and a wide variety of fashionable shades to choose from.

WMP Eyewear also sells blue light glasses (which are great for work) and prescription glasses, as well as gender-neutral jewelry.

You can also feel good about your purchases because WMP donate a portion of every sale to help animals in need at Arizona Humane Society. The state's largest no-kill shelter.

2. Warby Parker

Next up is Warby Parker, which offers sunglasses and glasses at reasonably affordable prices, around $80 to $150. They have a decent amount of brick-and-mortar stores across the US, so you can try on some frames before you buy them.

If you prefer to wear contact lenses or want them as a second option, you can order those through Warby Parker too.

3. Raen

Raen sells glasses, sunglasses, and blue light glasses at a price range of $100 to $180. While that rivals designer in price, Raen’s materials are proven quality. The shades are designed in California and use hand-made materials in all of their glasses.

4. Quay

A popular sunglasses brand from Australia, Quay’s inventory includes bold shades that range from $70 to $80. They focus on ultra trendy frames with desirable features, and also offer accessories, care products, and extended sizes.