On the Road Again!

I heard back from one of the companies I emailed and they are sending me a package to bundle off the Ray-Bans to them.  They will then give a quote for reglazing them. Hopefully it won't be too expensive and not in the sort of "new" Ray-Ban arena!

I was given these sunglasses quite a few years ago by a friend.  They were really badly scratched and so she was going to throw them away. Sadly, the original lenses actually had the name etched into the corner but when I had them reglazed with non OEM Ray-Ban lenses they must have thrown them away.  I had them reglazed extra dark as I was wearing them in Florida, mostly.  They were perfect for the very bright sunshine! Since then, I have barely worn them and they have been in a drawer. Recentyl, I dud them out and they are very dark indeed. I started casting about on the internet to see if anyone can put genuine Ray-Ban lenses i n them. A couple of places in the UK replied to say that they can do it. So now I am waiting for a quote for the job from them both. These glasses are top quality.  The arms need tightening as well! It eould be nice to have them almost restored to original.

Back in February 2016, another leap year, I ordered two pairs of designer label glasses. A Ray-Ban pair in Wayfarer style that I had sunglass prescription lenses and a pair of Oakley's that were clear prescription lenses. These were Oakley OX8026 and Ray-Ban RB5814.  I wrote about it on this blog -  https://invictamoto.blogspot.com/2016/02/new-specs.html Since then I have had cataract surgery and no longer need prescription lenses. I had both pairs reglazed as sunglasses in 2021. Neither of the companies could supply original sunglass lenses for these frames. Some years ago I bought Claire a pair of Ray-Ban RB4004 sunglasses. They developed a pit in one lens.  Once again Ray-Ban were unable to supply genuine replacement lenses! So they were reglazed with non genuine lenses. They have been in a drawer for years. As Claire no longer uses them as she has prescription sunglasses I have put them back into use. I do like them. A little tightening of the arms and they are good ...

My Ray-Ban frames came back from Re-Glaze Specs last week and they are perfect.   If you read the previous few posts you'd be aware that Ray-Ban themselves nor any stockists would admit to fitting genuine Ray-Ban lenses to frames. I posted them on Saturday morning and they were back on Thursday morning.  They have been retro fitted with brown lenses for tortoiseshell frames, as would be the case if they were Ray-Ban. They just lack the Ray-Ban motif in the top corner. I have been wearing them over the weekend.  For £30 including postage both ways they have been excellent value.  I can thoroughly recommend  https://www.reglazespecs.com/

After much Google activity I found a place that will replace the prescription  lenses in my Ray-Bans.   They won't be genuine Ray-Ban lenses as no one will admit to having access to the genuine article for re-glazing jobs. As I said in a previous post, what happens if you are wearing your £100 plus Ray-Ban sunglasses, looking cool and then you drop them.  They end up scratched?  So you junk them? Seems like a load of bollocks.  Someone thoroughly taking the piss. Anyway I have entrusted the Ray-Bans to Reglaze Specs in Heywood near Oldham. It will cost me £30 but a much better option that junking the current frames and then buying new Ray-Bans. I'll see how they do and maybe send the Oakley's to them as well.

So now that my eyes have been operated on and I no longer need spectacles for distance wear it seems a waste to junk the Ray-Ban and Oakley frames. After all, these are a premium brand each.  So I had the idea of checking for both company's customer services online and dropping them a line to see if they could suggest a reglazer for the frames. Firstly Oakley UK replied:  " Thanks for contacting us. I can see that you would like to convert black lenses to the frame you owned.  But, we don't offer a pair of alternative black lenses for this model: OX8026, apologise. If you are looking for the sunglasses, we recommend you purchasing a new pair directly. " Helpful?  Not really. Then Ray-Ban UK replied:  " Unfortunately, currently we do not offer this service as we only sell entire pair of glasses on our official website. We recommend contacting the retailer or other authorised opticians in your area and ask for assistance there. The easiest way to fi...

When it is bright I have been wearing these sunglasses initially to protect my newly operated eye with its new plastic lens. I have worn them quite often and am happy that they have done their job. The frames and arms seem quite strong but I do get the feeling that the lenses are a little thin. They are also quite dark which is good in bright sun but a little too dark when just bright. But. Well worth the money. It was only £24 from Amazon Prime. I guess I could have gone the whole hog and bought Ray-Bans.  Although I have a pair of those already with prescription lenses in them. I wonder if I can get them re-glazed back to standard non prescription lens? I have had them for just over 5 years and my prescription hardly changed! I am on the lookout for a re-glazer,

The last time I had an eye-test was two years ago and it was at Tesco in Ashford. I went mad and bought a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses with prescription lenses and a pair of Oakley clear classes.  Cost a fortune but two years later they are fine and maybe even still "fashionable". I don't think that Ray-Ban Wayfarers have even been unfashionable! Ray-Ban Wayfarer RB5814 Oakley OX8026 Currency So today I went to Specsavers in Folkestone for my bi-annual check-up.  As expected I need reading glasses.  Reading the screen at work has become a little more difficult without added blinking and concentrating.  I have had to up the font size on my Kindle too! Claire chose a nice pair for me in the £69 range.  They will be delivered next Saturday. Watch this space.  At least I'll be able to see it more clearly.... What was less comforting was when I did all the tests for distance and mentioned to the optician that I was having a problem with not pe...

On Saturday I went to Tesco to visit the opticians. For non-UK readers that's a little like Walmart. Except Tesco don't sell guns and ammunition. The eye test was free, and as I am over 60 now, it would have been anyway. They were very thorough and my prescription has changed a little. The right eye needing a slightly stronger lens than before.  I've not had a new pair for quite a few years and as we pay into Simplyhealth insurance I thought I'd splash out on a decent designer pair. There is an offer of buy one pair get another free.  So I have opted for a pair of Oakley's with plain lenses and a pair of Ray-Bans with sunglass lenses. As I need reading glasses I opted for a cheap pair. No designer needed. Ray-Ban RB5814 Oakley OX8026 Currency Ordered on Saturday and I had a call tonight to say two pairs are ready. But which two?