Ray Ban Aviator Appraisal

Vintage Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban Shooter Aviator Sunglasses with Case

This is a pair of vintage Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban 'Shooter' style aviator sunglasses, likely dating from the 1960s to early 1980s. The glasses feature gold-toned metal frames with the classic teardrop-shaped lenses and a signature circular cigarette holder or 'vanity hole' at the bridge. The brow bar is accented with a cream-colored or yellowish plastic/pearlized sweat bar. The lenses appear to be early mineral glass, possibly G-15 or Kalichrome depending on their transmission, though they are currently obscured by heavy dust and surface grime. The ear stems are 'cable' style, designed to wrap around the ear for security. Included is an original brown pebble-grain faux-leather case with a soft interior lining. The case features the vintage gold foil logo including the text 'BAUSCH & LOMB', 'Ray-Ban', 'SUN GLASSES', and 'MADE IN U. S. A.' Condition reveals significant storage wear: the metal shows signs of surface verdigris (green oxidation) near the hinges and nose pads, the lenses are extremely dusty and potentially scratched, and the case shows some fading and cracking near the fold. The gold foil on the case remains largely intact, which is a positive indicator for collectors. Overall, these are high-quality mid-century optics from the pre-Luxottica era of manufacturing.