Léon Jeantet's jolie nice goggles

Ten miles west of Lake Geneva lies the small French town of Morez. The town began producing spectacles as early as 1796. The commercial success of opticians and their proximity to the French and Swiss markets caused the production of spectacles to increase rapidly. With industrialisation production rose from 720,00 pairs in 1850 to nearly 11 million in 1882.


In 1880 Eugene Jeantet founded the Jeantet company which manufactured and sold mainly pince-nez spectacle frames for cyclists and the first automobile drivers. Léon Jeantet, Eugene's son, created the Aviator Goggle on 3 July 1929. It was marketed to all sportsmen involved with planes, motor cycles and automobiles. Since then, very little has changed at the Jeantet company. Various family members have continued the traditions of its founder and in 1992, Pierre-Leon recommenced production of the Aviator Goggle. To this day the goggles are still made on the same premises, utilising the same tools and materials. To produce a single pair requires sixty seperate manual operations.



Manufactured from polished rolled brass and coated in a variety of finishes. All are supplied with clear polcarbonate lenses and two sets of acetate lenses in smoke and yellow. They appear to cost between £100 to £140 and are available online and through Davida.