Pince Nez

We offer a wide range of expertly-curated, genuine Pince-Nez glasses which swept the American eyeglasses scene between 1880 and 1920.

 Vintage Pince nez Glasses

At The Vintage Optical Shop, we are committed to discovering and offering a collection of the most sought-after selections of eyeglasses throughout history. For over 20 years, the Pince-Nez accounted for over two-thirds of all glasses sold within the United States.

Despite not being manufactured since the 1920s, we have managed to procure various styles and designs from finest Pince-Nez manufacturers.

What are Pince-nez Eyeglasses?

Pince-Nez spectacles famously have no arms, simply clipping onto the nose of the person wearing them. Aptly named for the French terms pincer, “to pinch”, and nez, “the nose”, their functional yet intriguing design make them highly desired for both vintage collectors and modern fashion aficionados, especially after Morpheus of the Matrix brought them into modern culture.

 Originally developed in Europe during the 1400s, it was their arrival in the United States that truly saw them become one of the biggest trends of the late 19th century. After being popularized by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series in The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez in 1904, they became an even large worldwide phenomenon, before the trend began to fade in the 1920s.

Styles of Pince-nez Glasses

There are two main styles of Pince nez eyeglasses, each with their own unique build and benefits.

Hard Bridge Pince nez 

Commonly known as the fingerpiece, this variety includes a solid bridge piece that is molded to fit the bridge of the nose. Using two spring-loaded clips made from premium bone or tortoise shell, they can be opened up to be placed on the nose, then squeezed to keep the spectacles in place.

Hard bridges are considered to be the most functional style of Pince-nez as they only require two fingers from the same hand to be placed on the face, making them convenient for those working in trades. The rigid bridge also ensures that they remain on the face without being worn on an angle, making them extremely comfortable.

Spring Bridge Pince-nez (Also Know as C Bridge)

Designed with a C-shape bridge made from flexible metal, these are the earliest rendition of the style. Ranging from the Civil War-era style that lack nosepads to the more modern rendition which used nose pieces, the C-Bridges are notorious for fitting all faces.

Available in a wide range of frame materials including gold, silver and stainless steel, these fashionable Pince nez glasses are favorites of those who like to tailor their eyeglasses to their personal style.

Oxford Spectacles

While not technically considered Pince-nez, Oxford eyeglasses were invented when a 19th century professor at Oxford University broke the arms off his traditional glasses, forcing him to simply add two nose pieces to the frame to stay on his face.

We carry a variety of authentic vintage Oxford Spectacles made from top quality materials.

The Authority in Pince-nez Eyeglasses

We believe that the moment you put vintage glasses on your face, you don’t just add style, you add a story. That is why we carefully discover and curate 100% genuine vintage Pince nez glasses that were manufactured by reputable companies during the height of their popularity.

Every piece in our selection is guaranteed to be authentic, original and of the highest standard. This way, you don’t just receive a pair of Pince nez, you receive over 100 years of history that come along with them.

Discover our collection of vintage Pince nez glasses today.

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63 Items

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