Our Guiding Principles
Our mission is simple: to empower every wearer to move forward with confidence, clarity, and uncompromised vision—where style, luxury, and responsibility meet. At Spectaculars, we use the finest materials available and finish every frame by hand. Our artisans bring patience, skill, and attention to detail to each piece - creating eyewear that blends iconic American design with modern sophistication.
Behind Spectaculars.
An American eyewear story, still unfolding.
We are a family-owned American eyewear brand with roots originating from 1961. In 2001, career eyewear artisan William Vetri revived the Spectaculars brand, reintroducing its classic styles to a new generation. Today, the vision is carried forward by his three children, who bring a contemporary perspective to a legacy grounded in design, quality, and care.
Our frames are inspired by iconic American styles from the 1950s through the 1970s — timeless silhouettes drawn from vintage archives and thoughtfully reimagined for modern life. We blend original design with carefully selected materials chosen for durability, comfort, and responsible sourcing, creating eyewear that is both expressive and built to last.
Every piece reflects our belief that true style endures. With a commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and everyday wearability, we design frames meant to be worn with confidence and cherished for years to come.
Handcrafted Eyewear
Our eyewear is still handcrafted using traditional wire temple cores and pin-rivet hinges—methods chosen not for speed, but for strength.
We believe the rivet is one of the most honest tools ever made. Permanent. Mechanical. Reliable. You’ve trusted it your whole life without thinking about it—holding together your denim, your tools, your buildings.
A Return to Standards
Before the 1930s, eyeglasses were purely functional - style wasn’t part of the conversation. That changed in 1934 in New York, when designer Altina Schinasi introduced the cat-eye frame—an idea that transformed eyewear from necessity into expression. For the first time, spectacles were designed with identity in mind, giving rise to American fashion eyewear as we know it.
In the decades that followed, American manufacturers set the global standard. Craftsmanship, innovation, and attention to detail defined the industry, and by the late 1970s much of the world’s eyewear was still being produced in the United States.
Then production moved overseas in pursuit of cheaper labor. Slowly, quality gave way to cost.
Today, the equation has changed again. Modern manufacturing and automation have made it possible to produce exceptional eyewear without compromise. Combined with American imagination, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of luxury, the future of eyewear manufacturing once again belongs close to home.
Built to Be Repaired, Not Replaced
In 1921, New York inventor John Oknianski recognized eyewear’s weakest point: the temple hinge. His patented pin-rivet hinge reinforced frames at their most vulnerable spot, forever changing how American eyewear was built.
His company, Standard Optical Manufacturing, supplied hinges to icons of American eyewear—AO, B&L, and the earliest Wayfarers. These frames weren’t designed for landfills. They were designed for service, adjustment, and longevity.
Their philosophy was simple: frames should be serviced, adjusted, and worn for years, not discarded. When production left the U.S. in 1999, most brands left this philosophy behind.
At Spectaculars, that philosophy continues. By incorporating traditional components like pin-rivet hinges, our frames are built with durability and longevity in mind—designed to be maintained and enjoyed for years to come.
Materials Matter
The character of every Spectaculars frame begins with the materials we choose. From plant-based bio-acetate to carefully engineered components, each element is selected for comfort, strength, and lasting quality.
Discover the materials behind Spectaculars eyewear -