VIEUX St Jean Sunglasses, Melrose

Melrose is a dark red tortoiseshell, close to the colour of strong tea, with a green-grey lens set into it. Green-grey is the older idea of a sunglass lens. It takes the glare down without warming everything the way brown does.

The St Jean is the VIEUX round, drawn from the stone sea walls of Saint-Jean-de-Luz on the Basque coast. A fine gold-toned bar crosses the bridge. Under the acetate runs a beta titanium wire plated in 24k gold. The temples end in inlaid VX tips.

VIEUX is Paul Surman and his son Jack. Paul brings more than 35 years in eyewear. The frames are made by hand by artisans who have worked with him for decades. Hinges are seven-barrel COMOTEC, engineered in Italy. Lenses are Japanese CR-39 with full UVA and UVB protection.

Spec

• Hard density cellulose acetate
• 24k gold plated beta titanium wire core
• Japanese CR-39 lenses, anti-reflective and hard coated
• 100% UVA and UVB protection
• Seven-barrel COMOTEC hinges, Italian engineered
• VX signature inlaid temple tips
• Laser-etched frame number
• Lens 48mm, bridge 22mm, temple 145mm

Fit. A medium frame. Acetate cut from a block rather than moulded, which is why it takes an adjustment well.