Collection: Jean François Rey

Jean-François Rey develops an independent optical language, free from the classic codes of luxury or fashion. His approach is based on the search for original volumes, experimentation with materials, and a highly constructed graphic interpretation of the frame. Glasses are not accessories to a style, but objects in their own right, designed for their balance, their visual tension, their contrast. Color is often used as a break, the visible structure becomes an aesthetic element, and the frame asserts its creative autonomy.

The Jean-François Rey workshop was founded in Marseille in the 1980s, under the direction of the eponymous designer, after an initial experience in the family eyewear business. Early on, he distinguished himself by his desire to break with the standards of traditional optics. In the 1990s, he founded JF Rey, an independent brand that produces its collections primarily in France and Japan, in collaboration with specialized workshops. The brand quickly gained international recognition in professional circles for its originality and technical rigor. Vintage frames by Jean-François Rey—whether they bear this signature or that of BOZ, a sub-brand founded in 1998—demonstrate a unique design, sometimes radical, but always balanced.

Recognizable vintage models include geometric frames with sharp angles, double-structured shapes (acetate/metal), and bold cutouts without unnecessary ornamentation. Some iconic models, such as the JF2280 or the JF1304, feature taut lines, matte/shiny contrasts, and asymmetrical architecture. The temples are often designed as separate elements: split, layered, and colored. The metalwork, particularly titanium in certain Japanese series, emphasizes finesse without sacrificing solidity. Vintage Jean-François Rey glasses are distinguished by their manufacturing precision and innovative optical construction.

In 1998, Jean-François Rey created BOZ, a second line originally designed for a more expressive and baroque female audience. Soon, some BOZ models were included in mixed collections, blurring gender boundaries. This deliberate play on stylistic ambiguity, already perceptible in his early collections, foreshadows a trend that has become central to contemporary optical design: the deneutralization of the gaze through form.

Jean-François Rey vintage eyewear represents an independent approach to French optical design, both inventive and demanding. Their manufacturing, often French or Japanese, guarantees high-quality structure and finish. Their rarity on the second-hand market is explained by their selective distribution and their unique character, which appeals to a discerning clientele. These frames are of interest to collectors for their contribution to the history of contemporary optical design, outside of traditional industrial circuits or major licenses.