Ready To Discover Some Antique Eyeglasses?

Take a walk back in time and discover some fascinating and fun facts about Pince-Nez eyeglasses, including the history behind them which make them so unique. Pince Nez originally came into existence in the mid 15th century in Europe, but later gained a large following from curious eyeglass enthusiasts from 1885-1925 when Pince-Nez eyeglasses reached their peak popularity. At one point, they actually were one of the most commonly seen antique eyeglasses during that era. They are unusually unique because their supported without ear pieces, by pinching the bridge of your nose to keep them in place. They were anchored onto the bridge of the nose with two small spring loaded clips. These one of a kind eyeglasses have earned their place in history and will make people do a double take.

The name Pince Nez originates from the French Pincer, meaning “to pinch”and “nez” meaning nose. This is where the name was established and came into existence for these eyeglasses.

Pince Nez eyeglasses are vintage glasses that definitely make a fashion statement. Originally designed to clip onto the bridge of the nose, you won't find any antique eyeglasses that could ever compare to the style these have to offer. The majority of people could wear a pair that fit well, while only needing one hand to move or adjust them.

Pince Nez glasses were available in a tremendous variety of styles in Europe since the emergence in the 15th century featuring special changes all the way into the Civil war era. It's thought to be a possibility that Benjamin Franklin's extended amount of time spent in France could be part of the reason for the development of this unique style, in addition to the use of French words “to pinch the nose”, which describes this vintage eyeglasses original style. There were many images from the mid 15th all the way into the 19th century of hierarchy wearing pince-nez eyeglasses; including big name VIP such as Teddy Roosevelt and Tolstoy. These one of a kind antique eyeglasses have recently been featured in the Matrix movie worn by the all time hero Morpheus.

While many of these enthusiasts loved to flaunt their eyeglasses, the thought of accidentally dropping them was a reason of concern, which made them start featuring and affixing a chain to keep them from falling onto the ground when bending over or when they would get up to walk around. Pince-nez appeared in impressive quantities in terms of early mass manufactured items that were sold at the World's Fairs and many other novelty and gift shops.

Pince Nez eyeglasses definitely hold their place in the world of fashionable and extraordinary styled eyeglasses. They have their own piece of history and their own special following. They are still very popular among elderly people and certain fashionistas who seek out styles with flare.