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Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Rare Vintage Ray Ban 1978 Gold Rb3 Lens B&L Sunglasses
Rare Vintage Ray Ban 1978 Gold Rb3 Lens B&L Sunglasses

Rare Vintage Ray Ban 1978 Gold Rb3 Lens B&L Sunglasses

By Ray-Ban

Located in Baleares, Baleares

Rare Vintage Ray Ban 1978 Gold RB3 Green Lenses. This Pair Show Minor Sign Of Wear On The Lenses

Category

1980s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Ultra Rare 1940's Bausch & Lomb Ray Ban Classic Hinged Gold Filled Sunglasses
Ultra Rare 1940's Bausch & Lomb Ray Ban Classic Hinged Gold Filled Sunglasses

Ultra Rare 1940's Bausch & Lomb Ray Ban Classic Hinged Gold Filled Sunglasses

By Ray-Ban

Located in Baleares, Baleares

Superb pair. Classic Hinged Butterfly 12K gold filled frame. USA Made by Bausch and Lomb. Original True Green RB3 B&L lenses. Marked on top of the bridge BL 12K GF ( Gold Filled ). ...

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1940s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

New Vintage Ray Ban B&L Sports Series 4 Aviator Sunglasses USA
New Vintage Ray Ban B&L Sports Series 4 Aviator Sunglasses USA

New Vintage Ray Ban B&L Sports Series 4 Aviator Sunglasses USA

By Ray-Ban

Located in Baleares, Baleares

New and rare Vintage Ray Ban Sport Series 4 black matte frame with G15 grey lenses. Curled

Category

1980s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Recent Sales

Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses Early 1960s Extremely Rare
Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses Early 1960s Extremely Rare

Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses Early 1960s Extremely Rare

By Ray-Ban

Located in Boca Raton, FL

Presented here is a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses from the early 1960's. This stunning pair

Category

1960s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

1990´s Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban Rare
1990´s Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban Rare

1990´s Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban Rare

By Ray-Ban

Located in Madrid, Spain

Authentic Vintage Sunglasses RAY-BAN ONYX B&L USA. From early 90's. Golden metal frame. Green

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1990s French Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Ray Ban Purple Chromax 58MM Outdoorsman USA Sunglasses
Ray Ban Purple Chromax 58MM Outdoorsman USA Sunglasses

Ray Ban Purple Chromax 58MM Outdoorsman USA Sunglasses

By Ray-Ban

Located in Baleares, Baleares

New, rare and sought after Vintage Ray Ban Purple Chromax. 58Mm outdoorsman gold frame holding a

Category

1980s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Ultra Rare 1940's Bausch & Lomb Ray Ban Classic Hinged Gold Filled Sunglasses
Ultra Rare 1940's Bausch & Lomb Ray Ban Classic Hinged Gold Filled Sunglasses

Ultra Rare 1940's Bausch & Lomb Ray Ban Classic Hinged Gold Filled Sunglasses

By Ray-Ban

Located in Baleares, Baleares

Superb pair. Classic Hinged Butterfly 12K gold filled frame. USA Made by Bausch and Lomb. Original True Green RB3 B&L lenses. Marked on top of the bridge BL 12K GF ( Gold Filled ). ...

Category

1940s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Ray-Ban Vintage Unisex Sunglasses Bewitched Rituals Mirror W2551
Ray-Ban Vintage Unisex Sunglasses Bewitched Rituals Mirror W2551

Ray-Ban Vintage Unisex Sunglasses Bewitched Rituals Mirror W2551

By Ray-Ban

Located in Rome, Rome

"Pink Stems", which are more rare - ORIGINAL MINT RAY-BAN BAUSCH & LOMB LENSES - Silver metal frame with

Category

1990s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Ray-Ban Vintage Unisex Mint Sunglasses Rituals Mirror W2551 Bewitched
Ray-Ban Vintage Unisex Mint Sunglasses Rituals Mirror W2551 Bewitched

Ray-Ban Vintage Unisex Mint Sunglasses Rituals Mirror W2551 Bewitched

By Ray-Ban

Located in Rome, Rome

"Pink Stems", which are more rare - ORIGINAL MINT RAY-BAN BAUSCH & LOMB LENSES - Silver metal frame with

Category

1980s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Ray Ban Purple Chromax 58MM Outdoorsman USA Sunglasses
Ray Ban Purple Chromax 58MM Outdoorsman USA Sunglasses

Ray Ban Purple Chromax 58MM Outdoorsman USA Sunglasses

By Ray-Ban

Located in Baleares, Baleares

Rare And Sought After Vintage Ray Ban Purple Chromax. 58Mm Outdoorsman Gold Frame Holding A Pair Of

Category

1980s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Ray Ban 1980s
Ray Ban 1980s

Ray Ban 1980s

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Size: S

Ray Ban 1980s

By Ray-Ban

Located in Phoenix, AZ

A fine vintage pair Ray Ban sunglasses. Rare gilt wire frame model features faux tortoise framed

Category

1980s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

RAY BAN 'Cat Eye' Frames, 1950s

RAY BAN 'Cat Eye' Frames, 1950s

By Ray-Ban

Located in Phoenix, AZ

Fine & rare vintage Ray Ban 'cat eye' eyeglasses/sunglasses frames. Authentic 1950s'Pearlized

Category

1950s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses - Red - 1980's - Original - Rare
Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses - Red - 1980's - Original - Rare

Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses - Red - 1980's - Original - Rare

By Ray-Ban

Located in Boca Raton, FL

Presented here is a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses. This pair was originally purchased in the 1980's

Category

1980s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

1960s Ray Ban Classic Pilot's Aviator Gold Plate Sunglasses
1960s Ray Ban Classic Pilot's Aviator Gold Plate Sunglasses

1960s Ray Ban Classic Pilot's Aviator Gold Plate Sunglasses

By Bausch & Lomb, Ray-Ban

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Rare 1960s Ray Ban by Bausch & Lomb gold plate with dark green UV protection lenses and the Ray Ban

Category

Mid-20th Century American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

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New Vintage Cartier Segur 54MM Gold Plated Brown Lens France 1990 Sunglasses
New Vintage Cartier Segur 54MM Gold Plated Brown Lens France 1990 Sunglasses

New Vintage Cartier Segur 54MM Gold Plated Brown Lens France 1990 Sunglasses

By Cartier

Located in Baleares, Baleares

New 1990 Cartier Segur 54MM Sunglasses with brown (uv protection) lenses. All hallmarks. Cartier gold signs on the ear paddles. These are like a pair of jewels on your nose. This pi...

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1990s French Rare Vintage Ray Bans

New Vintage Cartier Romance Vendome 56MM France 18k Gold Plated Sunglasses
New Vintage Cartier Romance Vendome 56MM France 18k Gold Plated Sunglasses

New Vintage Cartier Romance Vendome 56MM France 18k Gold Plated Sunglasses

By Cartier

Located in Baleares, Baleares

Vintage Cartier Romance Vendome Sunglasses With Solid Brown (Uv Protection)Lenses. Frame Is With The Front And Sides In Yellow And White Gold. All Hallmarks. Red Enamel With Cart...

Category

1980s French Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Vintage Cartier Bengali Precious Wood Full Set Platine C Decor France Sunglasses
Vintage Cartier Bengali Precious Wood Full Set Platine C Decor France Sunglasses

Vintage Cartier Bengali Precious Wood Full Set Platine C Decor France Sunglasses

By Cartier

Located in Baleares, Baleares

Vintage Original Cartier Sunglasses with carved wood temples and solid grey uv protection lenses. Frame with the front and sides in platine. All hallmarks. Platine Cartier signs...

Category

1980s French Rare Vintage Ray Bans

New Cartier Rimless C Decor Classic Precious Wood Full Set France Sunglasses
New Cartier Rimless C Decor Classic Precious Wood Full Set France Sunglasses

New Cartier Rimless C Decor Classic Precious Wood Full Set France Sunglasses

By Cartier

Located in Baleares, Baleares

Vintage Original Cartier Sunglasses with wood temples and blue gradient uv protection lenses. Frame with the front and sides in gold. All hallmarks. Cartier signs on the ear padd...

Category

1980s French Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Vintage Cartier Zebra Precious Wood Full Set Gold C Decor France Sunglasses
Vintage Cartier Zebra Precious Wood Full Set Gold C Decor France Sunglasses

Vintage Cartier Zebra Precious Wood Full Set Gold C Decor France Sunglasses

By Cartier

Located in Baleares, Baleares

Vintage Original Cartier Sunglasses with carved wood temples and solid brown uv protection lenses. Frame with the front and sides in 12k gold plated C decor. All hallmarks. Gold C...

Category

1980s French Rare Vintage Ray Bans

New Vintage Ray Ban Caravan Gold Medium Grey Lenses 1970's B&L Sunglasses
New Vintage Ray Ban Caravan Gold Medium Grey Lenses 1970's B&L Sunglasses

New Vintage Ray Ban Caravan Gold Medium Grey Lenses 1970's B&L Sunglasses

By Ray-Ban

Located in Baleares, Baleares

New Vintage Ray Ban Caravan gold plated with medium grey lenses. B&L etched on top of the lenses, so mid 1970's. Please notice this item is nearly 50 years old and may show minor sig...

Category

1970s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

Ray Ban Vintage B&L Stateside Blue Red White Green Sport Lens Sunglasses USA
Ray Ban Vintage B&L Stateside Blue Red White Green Sport Lens Sunglasses USA

Ray Ban Vintage B&L Stateside Blue Red White Green Sport Lens Sunglasses USA

By Ray-Ban

Located in Baleares, Baleares

Vintage Ray Ban Stateside In Blue, Red And White Combination With Rb3 Green Lenses. This Pair Show Minor Sign Of Wear Due To Nearly 40 Years Of Storage. Designed And Produced In...

Category

1980s American Rare Vintage Ray Bans

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Rare Vintage Ray Bans For Sale on 1stDibs

On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our collection of rare vintage ray bans. Our collection of rare vintage ray bans includes a variety of colors, spanning black, brown, green and more. The ideal items for you are waiting among the distinctive accessories we have available, which include versions made as long ago as the 20th Century as well as those produced as recently as the 20th Century. If you’re browsing our inventory for these accessories, you’ll find that many are available today for men, but there are still pieces to choose from for women and unisex.

How Much are Rare Vintage Ray Bans?

Prices for rare vintage ray bans can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $349 and can go as high as $16,999, while these items, on average, fetch $569.

Ray-Ban for sale on 1stDibs

Vintage Ray-Ban sunglasses remain practically synonymous with American cool. And although the brand has given us some of America’s most iconic sunglass styles — the Wayfarer, the Clubmaster are widely loved Ray-Bans — the Ray-Ban Aviator is in a class of its own.

As a pilot in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, Lieutenant John Macready had experienced the debilitating headaches caused by the bright sun high up. In the 1930s, he took action, partnering with eyewear manufacturer Bausch & Lomb to develop sunglasses specifically for aviators like himself and his colleagues. It was patented as the Ray-Ban Aviator in 1939.

“Aviators reflect the idea that form follows power. They express charisma and heroism — a pilot takes us forward through danger, and there is no going back,” says Patrick Michael Hughes, fashion and decorative-arts historian at Parsons School of Design.

When the Wayfarer was released, in 1952, it was the first sunglass frame made from acetate. With a design inspired in part by mid-century Cadillac tail fins, it caught on with silver-screen stars. Early adopters included James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, who were soon followed by other artists, like Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol. Indeed, celebrities have long held sway in the sunglasses realm — whether you’ve opted for vintage Ray-Ban sunglasses because you’re enamored with Marilyn Monroe’s celebrated Wayfarers or you’ve taken to classic Aviators because actor Jon Hamm wore them in the nostalgic TV smash hit Mad Men.

Of course, with all of this star power, that means they’ve become as popular with counterfeiters as they are with consumers. Do you know how to spot fake Ray-Ban sunglasses?

The center portion of a pair of Ray-Ban acetate sunglasses — which holds the lenses — is cut from a single block. If you feel a seam where two pieces of plastic, front and back, have been glued together, just say no. Also, look out for glue and uneven edges. These are telltale signs of counterfeit production. The final product should have a sturdy, substantial hand.

The lettering inside the temples, or arms, is another good indicator of authenticity. The text should be cleanly etched, perfectly centered and aligned. Ray-Ban’s faux-leather cases come in black, brown and occasional special-edition colors. What you won’t find on a real case is frayed or uneven stitching. What you will find, on newer cases, is a snap closure inscribed with a perfectly centered and executed signature logo and, at the left, a larger logo stamped on the case, sometimes in matte gold or black.

There will be a prominent Ray-Ban signature logo in the upper corner of the right lens and a very subtle BL (for glasses made before 2000) or RB (for those made in 2000 or later) etched on the left one. The logos appear on the opposite sides for prescription lenses.

If faced with Ray-Bans of questionable provenance, remember: The truth may hinge on the hinges. Ray-Bans will always have solid metal, not plastic, hinges, and they will be attached to the frame with screws or rivets, not glue.

A pair of classic designer sunglasses can be a game-changing finishing touch to your ensemble. Find your perfect pair of vintage Ray-Ban sunglasses on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Sunglasses for You

A pair of vintage designer sunglasses can be a game-changing finishing touch to your ensemble.

No matter your age or general fashion sensibility, wearing sunglasses may already be part of your regular outdoor routine owing to their practicality. Most sunglasses protect the eyes from harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays — and not merely on sunny days. Glasses that utilize color-enhancing lenses, which feature specific coatings or filter tints, can limit the amount of light coming through, while polarized lenses substantially reduce glare.

So while their usefulness is well known, let’s face it, a good pair of sunglasses can be stylish too.

People have been making a statement with iconic eyewear for a while — sunglasses garnered popularity with the Hollywood set in the early 1900s, when it wasn’t uncommon for a hip actress to be photographed in a pair of her sharpest shades.

Today, we’re still talking about the sunglasses that Audrey Hepburn — the original trendsetter — donned in the opening scene of 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She emerges from the flagship store of the legendary luxury house referenced in the film’s title in a pair of glamorous dark tortoiseshell frames designed by London eyewear firm Oliver Goldsmith Sunglasses. The brand was a keeper for Hepburn — in 1967, she famously wore a pair of Goldsmith’s Yuhu wraparound frames in the poster for Stanley Donen’s film Two for the Road.

Indeed, celebrities have long held sway in the sunglasses realm — perhaps you’ve opted for vintage Ray-Ban sunglasses because you’re enamored with Marilyn Monroe’s celebrated Wayfarers or you’ve taken to classic Aviators because actor Jon Hamm wore them in the nostalgic TV smash hit Mad Men. Good frames are a surefire way to take your style to the next level.

When shopping for the right pair of sunglasses, consider the color and shape of the frames (as well as the shape of your face), how dark or light the lenses are — or tint, if you’re leaning toward a chic gradient lens. Take your time, spring for more than one pair because different moods call for different shades and, while you’re at it, make sure you know how to spot a pair of fake Ray-Ban sunglasses before you make that purchase.

On 1stDibs, our collection of vintage designer sunglasses features classics from Gucci, Cartier, Chanel and other brands as well as a wide range that can be sorted by color — find sleek black sunglasses, brown pairs and a whole lot of other eye-catching options, whether it’s sunny outside or not.

Questions About Ray-Ban
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 20, 2024
    Yes, some real Ray-Bans say Made in Italy. The company that manufactures Ray-Ban eyewear, Luxottica, does produce select styles in Italy. However, other sunglasses that bear the Ray-Ban name originate from factories in China. As a result, a pair of sunglasses may be genuine even if it doesn't have a Made in Italy stamp. If you need assistance authenticating your eyewear, consult a certified appraiser or other knowledgeable expert. Explore a variety of Ray-Ban sunglasses on 1stDibs.