They were among Andy Warhol’s favourites, as countless portraits from the 1960s and 70s attest. The father of Pop Art might have used bold, saturated colours on canvas, yet when it came to eyewear, he favoured the subtle allure of clear frames. Subtle, of course, only at first glance. A striking example comes from Kaleos (as seen in the opening image), created in collaboration with Arquitectura-G, the renowned Barcelona-based architecture and design studio. In the Light Grey version, the almost total absence of colour is counterbalanced by a bold, sculptural round silhouette — a contemporary statement worn on the face.

And that is the real challenge: creating presence through absence and subtraction. A challenge also mastered by Jacques Marie Mage, whose now-iconic frame has become an emblem of understated luxury — defined by meticulous detailing and exceptional craftsmanship, a visual language that has always been at the heart of the brand. The Dealan model was among the first to be produced in spring 2015, marking the brand’s debut in the eyewear world. Since then, its success has spanned a decade, returning season after season in new colourways. Inspired by 1960s design, the Sulfur version with charcoal CR39 lenses features exquisite silver accents: the visible core wire running through the translucent temples, arrowhead front pins, and a custom hinge.

Remaining in the realm of discreet luxury, Ahlem — the Los Angeles-based label founded in 2014 by Ahlem Manai-Platt — creates frames whose beauty transcends trends and time. Its philosophy, both radical and poetic, is rooted in concepts such as “radical minimalism, poetic craftsmanship, Japanese sobriety, Parisian clarity.” The George V model, produced in a limited run of 300 pieces per colour, draws on late 20th-century iconography, reimagining the double bridge with sculptural precision and a silhouette that radiates modern masculine energy. Like all Ahlem acetate frames, it is distinguished by prism-like bevels that diffuse light through the material, softly illuminating the face.