EssilorLuxottica SA is introducing the latest addition to the Ray-Ban eyewear brand: Ray-Ban Change, a light-responsive frame featuring Transitions-powered lenses.
First thing’s first: an Essilor refresh.
EssilorLuxottica was established in 2018 after Luxottica, an Italian eyewear group, was acquired by the international ophthalmic company Essilor International.
Since then, the Paris, France-based, vertically-integrated, multinational corporation has focused its attention to designing, producing, and marketing major brands of the following:
- Ophthalmic lenses
- Optical equipment
- Prescription glasses
- Sunglasses
Plus, it owns an estimated 18,000 vision care-based stores, including a widespread brick-and-mortar retail network of eyewear retailers and e-commerce platforms.
Let’s zero in on the Ray-Ban brand.
Originally developed in 1936 by Bausch + Lomb, the luxury brand of sunglasses and eyeglasses was sold to the Luxottica Group in 1999 and (as a result of that 2018 merger), is now owned by EssilorLuxottica.
- Once of its best known frames: the Original Wayfarer (launched in 1952)
- Fun fact: The name “Ray-Ban” stemmed from the ability for the glasses to limit the amount of ultra-violet or infra-red rays of light from entering the lenses and, as a result, impacting vision.
See the complete Ray-Ban brand of eyewear, which now includes:
- Sunglasses
- Eyeglasses
- Customized eyewear
- Smart glasses
- Prescription-based eyewear
Plus, a wide array of lens options are available: prescription-based, polarized, blue-violet light lenses/filters, and lens technologies (including Transitions and Chromance).
And we can’t forget its relatively recent partnership with Meta to develop a next-generation collection of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, complete with camera and open-ear audio capabilities.
Alrighty, I’m up to date. Now let’s talk about these new glasses.
The Ray-Ban Change is noted as a “revolutionary take” on the brand’s original Wayfarer square silhouette and the Wayfarer Oval designs, known for larger lenses and narrower, slightly larger frame height.
Go on …
Both the Original Wayfarer and Wayfarer Oval frames are available in three Ray-Ban Change options:
- Ray-Ban Change
- Includes: frame only
- Ray-Ban Change Transitions
- Includes: frame + lenses (more on that in a moment)
- Ray-Ban Optics Change
- For all optical needs
And a unique addition: Transitions lenses in a light-response frame designed to sync with light.
Explain this Transitions component.
Manufactured as a registered trademark of the U.S.-based Transitions Optical, the Transitions lens features photochromic technology with the following lens properties:
- Scratch resistance
- Protective coating
- Photochromic layer
- Substrate
The molecules in this technology react to ultraviolet (UV) light, moving faster and causing the lenses to darken when exposed to heat outside; conversely, they move slower when exposed to colder temperatures indoors, quickly clearing the lenses.
Wasn’t there a recent upgrade to the Transitions lenses?
Indeed there was!
Transitions GEN S, the next-generation lens, blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays while also filtering up to 32% of blue-violet light (when clear) and up to 85% when activated (darkened).
Now about the Ray-Ban Change … let’s talk aesthetics.
Available in nine colors (including a new Ruby shade), each tone was selected and optimized to appear “true to tone at all stages” of light exposure, EssilorLuxottica noted.
More specifically: Transparent frame colors are available for the Original Wayfarer, while the Wayfarer Oval features translucent colors that morph into painterly solid stripes.
- As a bonus: The frames’ colors and patterns were developed with Transitions’ photochromic dyes to rapidly activate (change color/pattern) when exposed to UV light before fading back within minutes indoors.
I need to see these for myself.
As a bonus: If you’re attending Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, Nevada, next month (Sept. 18-21), stop by booth #16050 for a chance to see these in-person!