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My appreciation for hand-crafted goods have taken a new high ever since my interest in Japan grew to an addiction. However, today's brand highlight hails from the land of the artisans, Paris. The fourth-generation family business, now helmed by Christian Bonnet recently received the label “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (‘Living National Heritage Company’), not surprising for the brand that invented “luxury eyewear”.
Each and every eyewear is truly handmade, unlike the ones that are “industrially” hand-made, which means down to the assembling and the polishing, Maison Bonnet is in a class of its own. Each glasses take 3 appointments, which can take anywhere from 5 to 20 hours with the client altogether. This is to ensure the glasses take the shape of your face and lifestyle. While you can choose between turtle shell, horn and acetate as materials, the turtle shell is definitely the one that will exude elegance unlike any other.
While it's a good thing that Maison Bonnet allows out-of-Paris customers to have the three appointments within the day, such detail and luxury comes at a price. Bonnet glasses can cost from €650, or about $890, for acetate to €1,000 for buffalo horn and from €3,000 to €20,000 for tortoiseshell, the house speciality. Still, its a worthwhile investment to wear a timeless piece of art on your face, one that can last through the times.
Interested? Make an appointment here.