Buying eyeglass frames in Italy
 

I know some posters have mentioned buying eyeglass frames in Italy.

A few questions, do you find they are less expensive in Italy or is it that the choice of styles are more abundant?

Do you bring the frames home and have your prescription lenses made and inserted in the frames here in the USA?

Have you ever bought any frames in Italy that you were not able to get the lenses for here in the USA.

The shop I use said that they could not guarantee being able to take care of lenses with frames purchased in Italy.

Now let me state the people at this shop are not the brightest lightbulbs in the chandalier. In fact the glasses I bought from them this year are terrible and I do not know how many times I have taken them back to no avail so am not going to use them again in any case.

Have never thought of buying the frames in Italy, just never crossed my mind. Now I am seriously thinking of doing this but am hoping for some feedback from those of you that have.

Thanks.

LoveItaly, I suspect the company stating this to you is just engaging in some "CYA" behavior. They might be at legal liability if they break your frames unless they state to you that by filling your prescription with frames other than the ones they sell. This is fairly typical behavior.

I have never had any problem getting lenses in anything I've purchased because my older brother is an eye specialist and will make certain any frame I buy is filled properly. ;)

bookchick, and my luck is most of the relatives are attornies except for the computer geeks and all the biologist. Oh boy, I never luck out.

I'm no expert, but I've often thought about getting a new pair of glasses while in Italy, but I'd probably take my prescription and let them do the lenses as well. I've known a number of people who have done just that and all felt they got a fantastic deal. I actually had a very good glasses place break my new very expensive sunglass frames trying to put in the new fairly curved lenses. Thank goodness I was buying the frames and lenses from them. Otherwise I'm sure I'd have been out the cost of those frames.

Patrick, thanks, that is a real good idea (another thought I hadn't had). I will be there long enough to have this done I am sure (I have a difficult prescription). Would make a nice memory too. I love buying things on trips that I use a lot instead of just tourist items. Thanks again!

Over the years my bespectacled spouse has bought frames-only in the UK, France, Canada and Italy, and has never had a problem getting lenses fitted in the US later. Global business and all that.

Are the prices cheaper? Location, location, location. In April we stopped into optician's shops in London, Nice, Capri, Florence and on Sardinia. (Does that sound obsessive? Hmm?) The prices in Capri and in Florence (tried to compare apples to apples) were at US levels for the high-end items, otherwise a tad less, even with Euro=dollar crumbola exchange and VAT; in Sardinia (where she sprung) they were considerably less. The ones she bought were maybe 25% - 30% cheaper than they'd cost in the US. Hard to believe, I know. London and Nice were, respectively, about the same and more than the US. Oh, forgot Barcelona - looked there too. Don't recall prices, 'cause she had already bought some grey-green semi-toned highly trendy thingies from some Sardinian (Sardine?) chappy in black with attitude.

Styles are more abundant but tending to the flavor of the month. I don't think Rick Steves has ever been in an Italian optician's.

Hi Love Italy,

I posted a write-up on buying frames in Italy a few years ago. I had no problems with lenscrafters making the lenses in the US and placing them in the frame that I purchased in Milan. The frames were at least 1/3 less than here, but that was when the dollar was alot stronger than the euro. I suspect that the price is still less in Italy than in the US, since you save on taxes, tariffs, shipping, etc.

Might I suggest going to a lenscrafter or another local merchant to get their opinion? Once you have a consensus, then you can make your decision.

Have fun shopping!

Hi Love Italy,

I forgot to add that if you do have the lenses made in Italy (I was quoted a 24 hour turn around when I asked this), you may want to ask what type of lens they use. For instance, the lenses can be made thinner in Italy if you have a high prescription, b/c they have different laws there than in the US. I know it sounds crazy, but it is true. I think in Japan you can get the thinnest lenses. I had a friend who worked for Sunglass Hut in corporate, and they got me some new lenses that were so thin, but I don't think they ever went to market with them, not sure why.

Thank you everyone!!! A lot of good information. And the thinner the lense the better for sure. The small town I go to when I go to Italy has several opticians so I will check there first as no doubt yes they would be less expensive. Over and above saving money however (which I always like to do) is finding some wonderful frames. Have been very dissapointed the choices where I live. And also very unhappy with all 3 pairs I got this year.

Have an eye appointment, with a new Dr. in January so the timing will be perfect.

Glad to know I am not the only one wanting to acquire glasses while on vacation!

I work in Optical Retailing as a buyer for one of the world's largest optical groups.

The two biggest frame manufacturing companies in the world (by turnover) Luxottica and Safilo (who between them make most of the brands you can think of from Ray-Ban to Gucci, Chanel to Ralph Lauren)are both Italian. Another 3 or 4 important, major international manufacturers are also Italian (mopping up the rest of the brand names of which you may not have heard!).

Basically what I'm trying to say is that Italian frame manufacture is world leading, the very same frames are probably available at a mall back home near you in the states (I'm not going to begin to comment on pricing policies in different territories) and there is no reason on earth that frames bought as rx-able ophthalmic prescription aids in Italy can not be properly and competently glazed in the States - whether or not Lenscrafters wish to do it is another matter, they may have trouble maintaining their one hour service levels with certain designs (rimless for example or fitting MAR coated lenses)and so would rather refuse the work than log a "late job" and risk the ire of the Regional Manager.

So, my advice to you is to buy in Italy with impunity.

I would however recommend you get them glazed at home - purely because if you have any problems with them (rx change tolerance, bedding-in etc) it's far easier to be able to visit your own optician who posesses your full (lens)purchase history, ophalmoscopy and corrective diagnostic rather than relate to them your experience in far-off Italy.

Hope this helps some

Dr D.

Spending one's vacation time shopping for eyeglass frames? Whatever floats your boat.

I love to buy new sunglasses or frames when we travel. The styles are always different from home, even when we were in Montreal one summer, I found frames that were never available in the US..which I appreciate. Once in a while, it is nice to wear something that not Everyone has :)
Dr DoGood, thanks , that was very interesting~

RufusTFirefly. I can understand your statement IF you are one to race around Europe (as in "If this is Tuesday, this must be Belgium" sort of vacation).

Some of us go to a region. Have friends there and live there for weeks on end. Know the owner of the special woman's dress store. The owner of the wine shop. The priest of the church. The owner of the drycleaner shop. The bakery shop owner, the cafe owner. Also go for a day trip or a three, four or five day trip to other regions. Know the cafe, the restorante, the art gallery and on and on.

So in that circumstances buying frames, and perhaps getting the frames with ones prescription is not a big deal. Just part of having a "home away from home". Which I have!

If you do not understand, I understand your not understanding. We all live different lives.

Dr-DoGood, first of all thank you so much for all your advice. I truly appreciate it.

A small story you might appreciate. In 1998 I spent about 3 weeks in the small town of Agordo in the Dolomites with friends that had a house there. Twice a day my friend and I would go to the cafe in the piazza about 2 blocks from her house.

I had a friend from my hometown in California that teased me "if you find the richest man in Italy, grab him or if you aren't interested in him bring him home to me". Just a "girl's joke".

So, about 4 days after I arrived in Agordo I noticed a rather rumpled looking older man walking across the piazza every day. And the women (no other American's there at that time) would begin to chatter away. I understand and speakk Italian but not well. I did not understand what this was all about. But knew something about this man caused comments. I wondered if he was the homeless man of Agordo. Than I found out. This rumbled, rather older looking man was the one who started Luxottica!!! He was from Agordo and the factory was just a few miles away.

But the chattering of the women was because as he became so wealthy he divorced his dear little wife and ended up marrying a very young "blond" model from New York. And he of course now had a home in NYC. His ex wife lived in Agordo. If you know Italy, you can only imagine the gossip.

I thought to myself "well my friend teased me and told me to find one of the richest men in Italy, but really, don't think this one will do".

About 2 or 3 weeks later I was in another small town in Veneto and the news bulletin came on the TV that this man's son and daughter-in-law, or daughter an son-in-law, I don't remember which, had died in a helicopter or private airplane crash.

Strange circumstances. My friends teasing comments, the old rumbled looking man and than the crash.

Until my stay I had never been aware of Luxottica. Since than of course very aware.

As far as all my glasses that I have now, they were through the lab that my optomotrist had in in office. Purchased them there as wanted to make sure I had the "best". But that is not what I received.

My HMO just changed from one medical group to another. I will now have the Optomotrist that I had 4 years ago who I loved. And the glasses that I had obtained from her were wonderful.
So happy to be back with her.

I will follow your advice, and understand what you have said. Thank you again for taking the time to share your knowledge with me. Am sure others on this board will appreciate your information also. Take good care.

LoveItaly--I guess you'll never understand my statement then.

Though it might help to know that I am not a shopper--at home or abroad.

I bought my Italian prescription sunglasses from the local mall (Lenscrafters). The frame is by Sergio Tacchini. Anyone heard of it?

Thats OK Rufus. Yes, I got your message.

I my case this spring I will need to buy new glasses. Here or there.

As I said, I have a "home away from home" in a dear town in Veneto.

Rather am like a resident when I am there.

Shopping, it is not my biggest thing to do either. But in this case, need new glasses including frames. Thus my question.

And truly got some real good advise from Fodorite posters, in my opinion.

Take care.

Platzman - Sergio Tacchini is an Italian sportwear brand (incidently sued by Martina Hingis - who they sponsored - a couple of years back who blamed wearing their footwear for causing/exacerbating an ankle injury which kept her out of the game).

The sunglasses are manufactured (under license)by the aforementioned Luxottica and are widely available.

Incidentally Luxottica own LensCrafters (amongst an increasing number of optical outlets around the world, including Sunglass Hut).

Dr D.

Doc,
thanks for the info.