Pince Nez are a style of antique eyeglasses that stay on the face by clipping onto the nose rather than with standard eyeglass temples.
There were many types of pince-nez manufactured in the 19th & Early 20th Century, but generally speaking, there were two designs: the spring bridge pince-nez and the hard bridge pince-nez. Generally, it is easier to adjust the spring bridge pince-nez type for fit. The spring can be bent in or out to increase or lessen the bridge width.
The hard bridge pince-nez type is preset at the factory. Generally, such frames have very little adjustment. When ordering, you must know your bridge width to get a proper fit. Your optician can provide this information.
Pince Nez Sunglasses & Pince-Nez Reading Glasses
Many people today purchase pince-nez to be used as pince nez reading glasses or pince nez sunglasses.
Factory set bridge width varies between 14 and 26 mm. Generally, 14 to 16 is considered very narrow. Sizes 18 to 22 are the most common. Sizes 24 and 26 are considered wide.
Frames without metal rims offer more opportunities for today’s needs. The new lens can be cut wider. The area below the pupil can be dropped down to make room for bifocal or progressive lenses. Frames that originally held round lenses can be adapted easily to hold an oval lens and vice versa.
Wire rimmed frames work best with a single prescription, either reading or distance.