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Wooden sunglasses: how to care for them and how long they last
Wood is a living material: with a few simple habits your sunglasses stay beautiful for years. Here’s how to clean them, store them and what to avoid.
Do wooden sunglasses last?
Yes. Today’s wooden frames are made from multilayer wood or combine wood with bio-acetate and carbon fibre: they are stable, light and durable. As with any pair of glasses, how long they last depends mostly on how you treat them. The rules are few and easy.
How to clean the lenses
- Rinse the lenses with lukewarm water to remove sand and salt: wiping them dry with sand on them scratches them.
- If needed, use a drop of mild soap and rinse.
- Dry with a clean microfibre cloth – never with your T-shirt or paper tissues.
Avoid alcohol, ammonia and glass cleaners: they can damage the coatings of polarized lenses.
How to treat the wood
Wood doesn’t like standing water. If your sunglasses get wet – it happens at the beach – dry them straight away with a soft cloth, without rubbing hard. Don’t soak them and don’t put them in the dishwasher (yes, some people do).
Enemy number one: the heat in your car
In summer a dashboard can get hotter than 60 °C. Extreme heat and direct sun are bad for wood, acetate and lenses alike. When you get out of the car, take your sunglasses with you or put them in the glove box, inside their case.
And when you put them down on a table, always place them lenses facing up.
Storing them the right way
Most damage happens in a bag or pocket: keys, sand, phone. A hard or padded case protects lenses and hinges. We chose cork: light, natural and soft to the touch.
From our shop
Foldable cork sunglasses case
- Light and foldable
- Made of natural cork
- Protects lenses and frame in your bag
Screws and hinges
With use, the hinge screws can loosen a little. A small optician’s screwdriver is enough to tighten them gently; otherwise any optician will do it in a minute. Many of our models have spring hinges, which adapt to your face and cope better with being opened roughly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I swim in the sea with wooden sunglasses?
Better not: besides the risk of losing them, salt water and sand are not good for the wood. If they get wet, rinse them with fresh water and dry them straight away.
How do I remove smears from the lenses?
Lukewarm water, a drop of mild soap and a clean microfibre cloth. No alcohol or glass cleaner.
Does the wood change colour over time?
Wood is a natural material and can darken slightly with light, like a wooden piece of furniture. It is part of its character.
Do the hinges get loose?
It can happen with use. Just gently tighten the screws with an optician’s screwdriver.
Simple care, sunglasses for years
Rinse, dry, case: three habits are all it takes. If you’re looking for a new pair, you’ll find them all in our collection.
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