Antique Sunglasses Antique Sunglasses Antique sunglasses may seem like an oxymoron.  Although this type of eyewear has not been around for countless generations, there can be varieties that can still be regarded as antiques.  Believe it or not, the 1950’s occurred half a century ago, and certainly 50’s sunglasses can be regarded as antiques, if they are actually from that era.  The Genuine Article The same would apply to the 1960’s, although there might be some disagreement concerning the owl-eyed glasses of the 1970’s or the Tom Cruise shades from the film Risky Business in the 80’s (which actually resembled antique sun glasses from the 1950’s.) Retro versus Antique So, what is the difference between retro and antique sunglasses anyway?  Retro can be applied to items which are manufactured in the present day, but which are designed to resemble items from the past.  Actual antique sunglasses are from that era, and were manufactured many decades earlier.  Another distinction is that while retro can be applied to a mere 20 years in the past, most people dealing in antiques will only consider something an antique if it is at least 50 years old.  There may be some difference of opinion, but everyone would agree that something at least 50 years old is an antique.  Therefore, your grandmother’s cat’s eye rhinestone sunglasses are antiques, but your mother’s owl-eyed 1970’s specs may be just retro (but hold on to them, because in another 20 years, they will be antiques.) Flea Markets and Boutiques You can find antique sunglasses where you find other antiques, in antique stores, boutiques, and flea markets.  Since antique sunglasses are not yet considered very valuable items (some would beg to differ), they can be found in second-hand stores and flea markets, where they have a much cheaper price tag than in boutiques.  The older the pair of antique sunglasses, usually, the more it is worth, provided it is in good condition.  Try shopping on the Internet for antique sunglasses, but ensure you are getting the real thing.  Since you cannot inspect the antique sunglasses before buying, you may be tricked into purchasing an item that is not really an antique.  Have an expert check your purchase for you to ensure that you haven’t been “ripped off.”  You may be able to get your money back if you are not satisfied.  Once you have purchased your antique sunglasses, keep them under lock and key, because they are valuable items.