Pince-nez glasses clip onto the nose and have been around since the 15th century, becoming fashionable in the 19th century. They are associated with older people and are available in different bridge styles. They can be customized for vision correction and are still made today. Vintage versions can be found in antique stores.
A pince-nez is a set of glasses designed to clip onto the bridge of the nose. This style of glasses has been around since the 15th century, although it became especially fashionable in the 19th century. Today, the pince-nez is primarily associated with older people. Many people are familiar with the style, thanks to the ubiquitous appearance of pince-nez glasses in 19th-century portraiture, and the fact that these glasses were worn by a number of notable and famous people, including Theodore Roosevelt.
The name of this style of glasses is taken directly from the French, and means “to pinch the nose.” There are several different styles of pince-nez available, differentiated based on how their bridges are constructed. C-bridges are made with a flexible bridge that can be easily adjusted to the shape of the nose, while hard bridges and spring bridges use tension to hold the pince-nez, and tend to be less forgiving when sized. of the bridge is incorrect. selected. Because bridge size is important when choosing pince-nez, it’s a good idea to personally try on a pair before purchase.
Many people who wore spectacle glasses are reading glasses in the 19th century, which is why they often appear on ribbons or strings in portraits. By attaching the glasses to a ribbon or pin, the wearer can have them ready to hand, just like people who wear reading glasses with a lanyard around their neck. Many people associate the pince-nez style with librarians, as people in this profession frequently need reading glasses, especially later in life.
Like other glasses and eyeglasses, the lenses in a pince-nez can be customized to address the vision problems of the wearer. It is also possible to find spectacle glasses with a small magnifying lens, or with bifocal lenses for various situations where vision correction might be necessary. Because the fit of the bridge and lenses is customized to the wearer, it is relatively rare for people to interchange eyeglass lenses.
Several companies still make pin-nez glasses, for the people who want them, and others do a lively trade of reproductions for costumes. It is also possible to find vintage eyeglass glasses, often in vintage and antique stores, and some people like to collect them as curiosities. Glasses can be made with metal, tortoiseshell, bone, or even plastic frames, with older versions having glass lenses, while a modern pince-nez lens is often made of specialized plastic.
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