# Vuarnet

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For the skier, see [Jean Vuarnet](/source/Jean_Vuarnet).

**Vuarnet** (vyaʁnɛ) is a premium heritage brand of [sunglasses](/source/Sunglasses) founded in 1957 that is owned by French manufacturer Sporoptic Pouilloux S.A.[1] Thélios (LVMH) acquired Sporoptic Pouilloux S.A. and Vuarnet in 2023.

## History

The sunglasses were developed from the invention of the Skilynx lens in 1957 by French opticians Roger Pouilloux and Joseph Hatchiguian.[2] Skilynx are special, coated, yellow [mirror lenses](/source/Mirrored_sunglasses) designed to enhance perception of contrasts in conditions of [white-out](/source/Whiteout_(weather))[3] as well as reducing the effects of snow [glare](/source/Glare_(vision)). Allowing skiers to better discern variations in snowy terrain without distortion.[4]

The anti-glare sunglasses were originally marketed under the name 'Skilynx Acier', and they were provided to the French Ski Team. After [Jean Vuarnet](/source/Jean_Vuarnet), a French [alpine ski racer](/source/Alpine_skiing), won [the gold medal](/source/Alpine_skiing_at_the_1960_Winter_Olympics) in the [Downhill](/source/Downhill_(ski_competition)) at the [1960 Winter Olympics](/source/1960_Winter_Olympics) while wearing [cat eye](/source/Cat_eye_glasses) model "002", an agreement was reached in 1961 to market the sunglasses using his surname as the [brand name](/source/Brand_name).[3][5][6] In 1974 Vuarnet branched out to [mountaineering](/source/Mountaineering) eyewear by introducing its 'Glacier' model of glacier glasses, which were worn by French [alpinist](/source/Alpine_climbing) [Jean Afanassieff](/source/Jean_Afanassieff) during the first successful French expedition to the summit of [Mount Everest](/source/Mount_Everest) in 1978.[7][8]

The company was an official corporate sponsor of the [1984 Summer Olympics](/source/1984_Summer_Olympics) in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). Vuarnet was in its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s[9], widely known for their bold mirrored lenses and colorful frames.[10] The brand released many (related) products, such as ski equipment and apparel, but sunglasses remained its most popular item.[11]

By the 2000s the brand faded from prominence and had left the US market.[4] In 2009, 75% of Vuarnet was purchased by [Alain Mikli](/source/Alain_Mikli). The company then made 40 million euros in revenue, but -10 million euros in losses.[2] Neo Investment Partners acquired Vuarnet out of bankruptcy in 2014 and set out to turn the brand around.[12] Under the new ownership and management Vuarnet reined in [brand licensing](/source/Brand_licensing) agreements[9], focused on French and Italian markets[9] and re-entered the North American market with selective distribution, with an expanded, modernized eyewear range averaging $275 (€220) in price targeting affluent urban professionals with active lifestyles.[13] In 2017, the company officially became an [Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant](/source/Entreprise_du_Patrimoine_Vivant) (*Living Heritage Company*).[14]

In 2023, Vuarnet and its parent company Sporoptic Pouilloux S.A. were acquired by [LVMH](/source/LVMH)'s eyewear subsidiary Thélios.[15] Vuarnet is one of the last eyewear brands to still produce their own mineral lenses, in [Meaux](/source/Meaux) near Paris.[16][4]

## In popular culture

The following actors wore Vuarnet sunglasses in the following movies:

- [Alain Delon](/source/Alain_Delon) in the movie *[La Piscine](/source/La_Piscine_(film))* (1969)[17]
- [Kurt Russell](/source/Kurt_Russell) in the movie *[The Thing](/source/The_Thing_(1982_film))* (1982)[18]
- [Tom Selleck](/source/Tom_Selleck) in the television series *[Magnum, P.I.](/source/Magnum,_P.I.)*[19]
- [Jeff Bridges](/source/Jeff_Bridges) in the movie *[The Big Lebowski](/source/The_Big_Lebowski)* (1998)[20]
- [Daniel Craig](/source/Daniel_Craig) in the James Bond movies *[Spectre](/source/Spectre_(2015_film))* (2015)[17] and *[No Time To Die](/source/No_Time_to_Die)* (2021)[21]

Other notable celebrities known for wearing Vuarnet sunglasses were [Mick Jagger](/source/Mick_Jagger), [Romy Schneider](/source/Romy_Schneider) and [Miles Davis](/source/Miles_Davis).[18] During the 2025 [Sun Valley Conference](/source/Allen_%26_Company_Sun_Valley_Conference) [OpenAI](/source/OpenAI) CEO [Sam Altman](/source/Sam_Altman) declared "I don’t like [smart glasses](/source/Smartglasses)"[22] while wearing large white-rimmed Vuarnet mountaineering sunglasses.[23][24]

## References

1. [887 F.2d 1065](http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/887/887.F2d.1065.89-1079.89-1053.html)

1. Vulser, Nicole (2009-12-17). ["Alain Mikli International rachète les lunettes Vuarnet"](https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2009/12/17/alain-mikli-international-rachete-les-lunettes-vuarnet_1282065_3234.html) (in French). Retrieved 2024-10-25.

1. Foreman, Misty White Sidell,Katya (2017-01-04). ["Jean Vuarnet, Eyewear Icon and Champion Skiier, Dies at 83"](https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/feature/eyewear-icon-champion-skiier-jean-vuarnet-10737656/). *WWD*. Retrieved 2026-01-27.

1. Bastone, Kelly (2018-02-06). ["Vuarnet: France’s Most Iconic Sunglasses Are Making a Comeback"](https://www.afar.com/magazine/frances-most-iconic-sunglasses-are-making-a-comeback). *AFAR Media*. Retrieved 2026-01-27.

1. ["Vuarnet Official Site"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100117063920/http://www.vuarnet-international.com/en/histo_keysmoments.php). Archived from [the original](http://www.vuarnet-international.com/en/histo_keysmoments.php) on 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2012-07-01.

1. Sidell, Misty White & Foreman, Katya (2017-01-04). ["Jean Vuarnet, eyewear icon and champion skier, dies at 83"](http://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/eyewear-icon-champion-skiier-jean-vuarnet-10737656/). *[Women's Wear Daily](/source/Women's_Wear_Daily)*. Retrieved 2017-07-02.

1. ["Vuarnet, la marque de lunettes de soleil qui retrouve les sommets"](https://www.nouvelobs.com/mode/20250211.OBS100144/vuarnet-la-marque-de-lunette-solaires-qui-retrouve-les-sommets.html) (in French). *Le Nouvel Obs*. 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2026-01-28.

1. Ski, I. Love (2025-08-30). ["Vuarnet Glacier 02 Eclipse : l’héritage alpin à l’épreuve de l’innovation"](https://www.iloveski.org/fr/2025/08/30/vuarnet-glacier-02-eclipse/) (in fr-FR). *I Love Ski ®*. Retrieved 2026-01-28.

1. Dromard, Thiébault (2016-04-24). ["Comment Vuarnet veut surfer sur le haut de gamme"](https://www.challenges.fr/entreprise/comment-avec-vincent-cassel-vuarnet-veut-surfer-sur-le-haut-de-gamme_28525) (in French). *Challenges*. Retrieved 2026-01-27.

1. ["History of Eyewear: Vuarnet Sunglasses | Opticianado"](https://www.opticianado.com/uncategorized/history-of-eyewear-vuarnet-sunglasses/). Retrieved 2026-01-27.

1. Aaker, David (1990-07-15). ["Brand Extensions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"](https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/brand-extensions-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/). *MIT Sloan Management Review*

1. UK, FashionNetwork com (2024-05-30). ["David Belhassen on rebuilding Valextra, guiding Victoria Beckham, selling Vuarnet and buying Tom Dixon"](https://uk.fashionnetwork.com/news/David-belhassen-on-rebuilding-valextra-guiding-victoria-beckham-selling-vuarnet-and-buying-tom-dixon,1637418.html). *FashionNetwork.com*. Retrieved 2026-01-27.

1. WW, FashionNetwork com (2014-11-03). ["Vuarnet striving to become the luxury eyewear leader in the USA"](https://ww.fashionnetwork.com/news/Vuarnet-striving-to-become-the-luxury-eyewear-leader-in-the-usa-,440370.html) (in en-WW). *FashionNetwork.com*. Retrieved 2026-02-08.

1. ["La marque Vuarnet classée « Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant »"](https://www.frequenceoptic.fr/actualites/la-marque-vuarnet-classee-entreprise-du-patrimoine-vivant.html) (in fr-fr). *www.frequenceoptic.fr*. 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2024-10-25.

1. ["LVMH’s Thelios Acquires French Eyewear Brand Vuarnet"](https://www.businessoffashion.com/news/luxury/lvmhs-thelios-acquires-french-eyewear-brand-vuarnet/). *The Business of Fashion*. 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2024-10-10.

1. Hirschmiller, Stephanie. ["LVMH’s Eyewear Outfit Thélios Buys French Outdoor Brand Vuarnet"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephaniehirschmiller/2023/09/11/lvmhs-eyewear-outfit-thlios-buys-storied-french-outdoor-brand-vuarnet-beloved-by-james-bond/). *Forbes*. Retrieved 2026-01-27.

1. Faguer, Astrid (2023-11-19). ["Les secrets de fabrications des lunettes Vuarnet"](https://www.lesechos.fr/weekend/mode-beaute/les-secrets-de-fabrications-des-lunettes-vuarnet-2029949) (in French). *Les Échos*. Retrieved 2024-10-10.

1. ["Gli occhiali da sole degli eroi del cinema"](https://www.esquire.com/it/stile/moda-uomo/a22621398/occhiali-da-sole-uomo-moda-2018-vuarnet/) (in it-IT). *Esquire*. 2018-08-05. Retrieved 2026-01-27.

1. Lucas, Jillian (2018-09-24). ["Vuarnet Brings Back Iconic Glasses for ‘Magnum P.I.’"](https://www.thedailybeast.com/vuarnet-brings-back-iconic-glasses-for-magnum-pi). *Daily Beast*. Retrieved 2024-10-10.

1. ["Gear News: Vuarnet Releases Classic Jeff Bridges 'The Dude' Sunglasses"](https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/jeff-bridges-wears-signature-vuarnet-sunglasses). *Men's Journal*. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2024-10-25.

1. ["James Bond Likes His Sunglasses Like He Likes His Girlfriends (French and Opaque)"](https://www.esquire.com/uk/style/a37863883/james-bond-daniel-craig-no-time-to-die-sunglasses-vuarnet/). *Esquire*. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2026-02-01.

1. Peters, Jay (2025-07-09). ["Sam Altman: “I don’t like smart glasses.”"](https://www.theverge.com/news/701845/sam-altman-i-dont-like-smart-glasses). *The Verge*. Retrieved 2026-02-08.

1. Wickman, Kase (2025-07-14). ["Melania Trump and Sam Altman Share an Unlikely Twinning Moment"](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/melania-trump-sam-altman-white-sunglasses). *Vanity Fair*. Retrieved 2026-02-08.

1. Hart, Jordan. ["The luxury sunglasses worn by CEOs and tech leaders"](https://www.businessinsider.com/sunglasses-worn-by-billionaires-ceos-ray-ban-vuarnet-2025-7). *Business Insider*. Retrieved 2026-02-08.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.vuarnet.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Vuarnet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuarnet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuarnet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.