Cartier approaches eyewear with the same high standards as jewelry: precise lines, quality materials, and expert finishing. The aesthetic is understated, but every detail counts: exposed screws, engravings, technical hinges, and symbols inherited from its watches and jewelry.

No flashy logo: the Cartier signature can be recognized with the naked eye by those in the know.

The house was founded in 1847 in Paris. It quickly became a leading name in jewelry, then in watchmaking. It was in the 1980s that Cartier entered the world of eyewear. Production is entrusted to specialized workshops in Japan, France, and sometimes Italy.

The first series are often made of gold plating, vermeil, or sculpted acetate, with a high level of craftsmanship. Some pieces are numbered or produced in small series, sometimes only available to order.

- Cartier Vendôme Santos: recognizable by its screws inspired by the Santos watch. Aviator or rectangular shapes, often gold-plated.

- Cartier Must: gold-plated metal series with engraved temples. More understated, but still very detailed.

- Panther models: frames with metal panther heads or silhouettes, often positioned at the hinge or on the temple.

Some models incorporate elements of wood, horn or leather, inherited from the house's work on its pocket objects.

In the 1980s and 1990s, some Cartier frames were hand-engraved and assembled with watchmaking components, such as eyeglass screws inspired by watch cases. Some versions were fitted with prescription sunglasses in-store, custom-made for the customer.

Vintage Cartier glasses are of interest to collectors for several reasons: their manufacturing quality, their understated yet recognizable design, their limited editions, and their jewelry-like finishes. They are also highly sought-after pieces on the secondary market, with a stable or even growing price. A well-preserved pair retains its value and functionality, sometimes for decades.