Behind the brand: Franco Vahe, founder and designer of the Luxuriator Collection sunglasses, spent 15 years as a jewelry designer for Diana Ross, Kenny Rogers and Michael Jackson before opening Maison D’Optique, a retail eyewear boutique serving Los Angeles’ most discerning clients. Vahe saw an opportunity in the marketplace for exceptionally luxurious sunglasses—and the fact that he is also an optician was an added bonus. After he designed a variety of glasses with titanium frames and wood temples, the Luxuriator brand was born in 2004.
Specs on these specs: The Lux Due 045 is created with either 18-karat yellow, white or rose gold; 132 hand-set pavé diamonds, with a weight of 1.45 carats, and authentic buffalo horn temples. The sunglasses are available with clear lenses, transition lenses or sunglasses, and clients can choose from approximately 50 lens tint colors and have them customized to their prescription.
Why they’re special: "Every day I breathe and eat fashion," Vahe says. His dedication to ensuring that the brand remains a fashion-forward force results in a benefit for his clients. "What is fun about this collection is that six months after a client buys a pair, she can give them back to us, and we save the settings and refurnish the whole shape," Vahe says.
Who has some: Paul McCartney, Denzel Washington, Sting and Oprah Winfrey are just a few of the celebrities who own Luxuriators.
Where to find them: Marissa Collections in Naples carries the sunglasses, which run $6,000 to $7,000 per pair.
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