Gold Wire Framed Glasses

Vintage and Antique Glasses and Frames from Eyeglass Warehouse

Eyeglass Warehouse provides reclaimed and restored original vintage eyeglasses in a variety of styles and shapes. Of all the different stylish glasses we offer, our antique gold wire framed glasses are some of our most popular. Our selection includes real, original vintage gold classes, manufactured in the early to mid-20th century. Each one has been carefully selected and restored, and can be fitted with modern prescription lenses or sunglass lenses as needed. Browse our entire selection below, or bookmark this page for more vintage lens finds.

About Our Antique Gold Framed Glasses

Every decade has a style, and nowhere is that style as evident as it is in the eyeglasses of the time. In the late 19th and early 20th century, one of the most popular types of eyewear were the wire framed glasses, many of which were designed with round or oval lenses that fit comfortably beneath the eyebrow.

Glasses of this era were traditionally made in silver or gold. They were also crafted before nose pads were invented, using a bridge made from the frame itself to keep it stationed on the face. Early 20th century antique wire frame glasses often used what’s known as a “W-Bridge,” where the metal of the frame itself was shaped into a curved “W” so that it could sit on the noise comfortably and further from the face.

Because the nose pads were not popularized until closer to the middle of the century, eyeglasses had to sit closer to the face. That’s why most frames of this era are smaller, helping them fit underneath the eyebrow rather than in front of it. Some popular vintage eyeglass shapes, like the cat eye, were not yet in style. But you could find designs that included:

One of the more intriguing components of these types of vintage wire glasses is that they used what’s known as “gold filling” rather than gold plate. Gold “plate” is typically just a very thin layer of gold over another metal, like brass. Over time, through handling, the gold would often wear away.

But gold filling involved wrapping multiple layers of 10k, 12k, or 14k gold over the base metal, including extra layers in the areas that see the most wear. As a result, it is far more difficult for gold wire frame glasses to fade. Most of them have retained 100% of their original gold color, and while there are certainly signs of wear from a century of ownership, those nicks just add to the charm. Some were even solid gold frames.

We also carry what’s known as “Marshwood Style” framed glasses. These have a similar frame as their wire framed counterparts, but finally incorporate the nose pads, which were becoming more popular when the style was introduced in 1921. Some of the brands that created these and other antique eyeglasses include:

  • Art Craft
  • Shuron
  • Eyetel
  • Bausch & Lomb
  • Univis, and Many Others

At Eyeglasses Warehouse, we have several different types of antique eyeglasses and spectacles, with styles that include traditional wire rim, Marshwood, Windsor, and more, and made for both men and women. In the world of antique and retro style eyewear, these rare, original eyeglass models, many of which are over 100 years old, are a great way to add some personality to your eyewear. Our inventory is updated regularly, so if you do not find the style you’re looking for, you can browse our website or come back soon, as we update our inventory regularly with new finds, restorations, and more.