Good for personal service: The Old Glasses Shop
Whether you’re new to vintage or an old hand but have never bought specs before, the team behind The Old Glasses Shop are available to advise. They’ve been in business since 2004 and still pride themselves on exceptional levels of service, answering every phone call and email personally.
Managing Director Graham Green offers this advice: “Buying pre-owned frames can be rewarding and more eco-friendly. However, there are a few pitfalls to watch for.
“Older acrylic and plastic frames can become brittle over time, and this makes fitting them with new lenses risky.
“Metal frames tend to have different issues. Older metals and alloys were often less hypoallergenic than their modern equivalent, meaning they can irritate your skin. The original coatings and surface layers – particularly on the arms – may have eroded away, giving the same risk of irritation. There are modern sprays you can buy to re-coat the metal and help counteract this.”