Edel-Optics

Jörg Blanke  / pixelio.de

Hardly any other fashion accessory is considered as attractive as glasses. While kids in the playground might be teased for being a “four-eyes”, just a few years later spectacles are actually considered a sex symbol – and a top search term on porn sites.

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According to a recent survey by the German health magazine “Apotheken Umschau”, almost four in ten men surveyed (38.4%) in Germany find women with glasses “clever and sexy”. And men too should not be embarrassed of their glasses: spectacles went down well with 37 per cent of women. More than half (55.8%) of respondents said that they considered glasses-wearers to be intellectual and respectable.

The sexual appeal of glasses is also reflected in search requests on porn websites. Statisticians from the pornographic video sharing website “Pornhub” have discovered that men are 160% more likely to search for videos involving glasses than women. Glasses appear to have a clear erotic effect above all on the 18–24 age group.

But why is this? “There are few reliable studies on this subject,” says glasses specialist Phil Thomas from Edel-Optics. “But based on surveys, it can be concluded that glasses-wearers are generally considered competent and trustworthy.” And that goes for both men and women.

According to “Pornhub”, Hungary is the country whose inhabitants search most often for pornographic videos featuring glasses. Poland comes in second place in the global rankings, followed by Croatia, Finland and the Czech Republic. Glasses are also popular when combined with particular hair colours. Blondes are in high demand, followed by brunettes and redheads.

The scam is both insidious and dangerous: thousands of Facebook users are currently getting friend requests from friends whom they actually know. But the profiles are fake – the photo has been brazenly stolen from a friend’s profile and the name copied. Sometimes the name might differ in one letter from that of the “real” friend.

So what’s it all about? The hacked profiles are used to link their friends to photos of glasses which refer to supposed special offers. Behind these lurk a link to online shops which, at first glance, might appear to be professional, but, in reality, are actually phishing sites. The bait currently being dangled is for cheap Ray-Ban glasses. 

How to recognise fake offers 

It’s becoming ever more routine to buy glasses on the Internet rather than from a local retailer, says Phil Thomas, vision specialist at the online optician Edel-Optics. 

But to make sure you don’t wind up on such phishing sites, you should pay attention to a few things: 

The price shouldn’t be too low. “You can’t get a pair of Ray-Ban glasses for less than €50, the seller would never make a profit on it,” says Thomas with the confidence of a man who knows. Fake sites also often don’t have a proper legal notice, and the texts are riddled with spelling and grammatical mistakes. 

In addition, the glasses in the shop should always come with a model number, a colour number, and size details. The model number begins with RB, followed by four numbers. The colour number is slightly more complex. This can consist of a combination of up to six numbers and letters. “If you aren’t sure, you can compare it with the official Ray-Ban website,” advises the Edel-Optics expert.

Ray-Ban JUSTIN (RB4165 - 601/8G)

Potential buyers should also be wary if they are offered only a limited number of models because the Ray-Ban product portfolio contains several hundred different models. Equally suspect is when payment in advance is the only payment method offered. In general, an online shop should offer at least four or five different payment methods.  

A common scenario with fraudulent sites is that you must first register in a portal to get the discount. Reputable retailers only ask for addresses or registrations when you actually buy from them.  

Ray-Ban is also one of the bestsellers of the online retailer Edel-Optics. “Everyone knows them and everyone has a pair, from celebrities to everyday people. This is no doubt one of the reasons why there are so many fake Ray-Ban glasses around,” explains Thomas.  

In anticipation of the ‘International Sunglasses Day’, Edel-Optics reveals the shapes, colours and features that are on trend this year.  

‘This summer, we shall see glasses in panto or butterfly styles everywhere,’ says Phil Thomas, vision specialist at the online opticians Edel-Optics. Men and women alike are going for round frames with lenses that are slightly flattened at the top. ‘Ladies like their glasses a little larger and more feminine. 

But this year, the glasses will not be quite as oversized as last year,’ Thomas says about this year’s trend for the lifestyle accessory, which even has 27 June dedicated to it as ‘International Glasses Day’.

New trend: matt colours and tinted lenses

In addition to rounded shapes, frames in matt colours are playing a large role – in line with the matt vehicle colours that have become popular of late. 

‘This makes the model appear softer and more understated,’ explains glasses expert Thomas. Models with mirrored lenses are a totally different matter. 

While the colours blue, orange and green continue to dominate, the new thing this year is the so-called graduated mirror finish, which means that the glass becomes gradually more transparent towards the bottom. A small help to all those who are desperately trying to look the other person in the eye. 

Niche market: sustainable sunglasses

According to Edel-Optics expert Phil Thomas, there is also a new trend emerging with respect to the materials used in the manufacture. The frame of a pair of 2016 sunglasses is no longer made from a single material. The arms could be made from plastic, for instance, but the rims and bridge from metal. 

There are even sunglasses for vegans this year, which do not involve any animal products in their manufacture. Fair-trade wood is being used instead. ‘But this market is still very limited,’ says Thomas.

Anybody who wants to play it safe will choose a classic, such as the Ray Ban aviator glasses. This year, the glasses company has combined the two models Round Metal and Club Master to produce the Club Round, which can even be combined with coloured lenses. ‘We dug down deep into the trend chest for this,’ says online optician Thomas.  

In the Gucci range, floral patterns and the famous red-green colour combination are immortalised in the glasses’ arms. Versace, for its part, has its aficionados sport its logo, the head of Medusa, on their faces this year. 

And sunglasses from Burberry are also gaining in popularity – ‘not well-known as a glasses designer normally, but making great strides this season,’ according to Thomas. People also increasingly reviving grandma’s frames with new lenses and a little beauty treatment. 

For more details visit: www.edel-optics.co.uk   

Press contact – for more information, enquiries and/or image material, please get in touch with: Edeloptics GmbH, Katharina Kath c/o Publiplikator GmbH, Tel.: +49 (0)30 – 200 898 28, Fax: +49 (0)30 – 200 898 99, E-mail: [email protected]

Whether it’s a national cup, the World Cup or the European Championship – following football matches together has become an integral part of football. No matter where you are watching the matches, these are six essential things for getting the perfect experience at a public screening.

1. Plan ahead of time

Many people prefer to watch big games, like the Euro matches of the English national team, on a big screen. Find out beforehand where the next public screening is and how you can get there. Then arrive in good time. We recommend using public transport to get to a public screening.

2. Bring enough water in plastic bottles

If you are going to be standing in the summer heat for a long time, you should be drinking sufficient liquids. Since glass bottles are not allowed at many public screenings, you should carry water in plastic bottles or bring enough cash to buy drinks there.

“It is important to avoid drinking hot and likewise ice-cold liquids,” advises Angela Schuh, professor of medical climatology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, in an interview with “Spiegel Online”.

3. Decide on a meeting point

A large gathering can quickly overload the mobile networks. If you get separated from your friends or family at a public screening, it is useful to agree in advance on a place to meet, for example at half-time.

4. Don’t leave your sunglasses at home

The glare of the sun can quickly ruin your enjoyment of a match, especially at a public screening. Wearing a pair of sunglasses is therefore recommended. “Sunglasses with polarised lenses are especially suitable,” advises Phil Thomas, senior optometrist at Edel-Optics. 

“Polarised lenses have a built-in filter that minimises or even eliminates the glare off smooth surfaces.”

Sunglasses with polarised lenses - source: www.Edel-Optics.co.uk

Jérôme Boateng with "New York" from the JB-collection - photocredit: Paul Ripke 

So if you are watching football at a public screening surrounded by many reflective surfaces, such as window panes or a lake, wearing polarised sunglasses can help cut down the glare and catch all the goals.

5. Be prepared for poor weather

Of course, everyone is counting on the sun to shine. Nonetheless, you should note the weather forecast and be ready for bad weather. We recommend taking along a raincoat in case it rains. Avoid using an umbrella, which can be a major annoyance to the people behind you and obstruct their view of the screen.

6. Beware of theft

While most people at a public screening are there to cheer on their national team, some come to take advantage of the exuberant atmosphere and to commit crimes. We may get so caught up in the exciting final minutes of a match that we become less mindful of our valuable personal belongings. A smartphone can be snatched from a bag in a flash.

This is especially infuriating because smartphones are not only expensive but also contain bank account login information and emails. It’s best to activate your smartphone’s native tracking feature in advance and secure your phone by setting up a passcode or fingerprint lock.

Contact (press / blogger / business relations): 

If you wonder which glasses Jérôme Boateng is wearing at Euro 2016 press conferences:

“New York” from the brand new collection JB by Jérôme Boateng exclusively for Edel-Optics

Photo: Paul Ripke