What Frames Do I Have?

Have you ever looked at your glasses and saw all the seemingly random numbers and letters on the inside of the frame? In reality, their placements are not random and can actually tell you the model and size of your frame, along with other information. The frame size consists of three measurements, all measured in millimeters (mm): eye size, bridge size, and temple length. Note that even if a frame is the same in size, the fit may still be different based on the brand and model. This is why it is important to know the frame name, model number and lens size if you are trying to find replacement lenses for your glasses.

Frame Type

The model of the frame can be words, a series of numbers or a combination of letters and numbers. Brands give different names to their frames. In a lot of cases, this is the name you know your sunglasses by! The color of the frame may also be included with the model information. All brands display their model information differently. However, to avoid confusion, we will not get into specifics just yet. The specifics of models and frame size for some of the top sunglasses brands will be explained later in this post.

Eye Size

The eye size is the horizontal measurement, or the width, of the lenses. The eye size of the lenses is a two-digit number that usually ranges from 40mm to 62mm. The eye size and the bridge size is typically separated by a small square, where the eye size is the number located in front of the square. If you are looking into buying replacement lenses, the eye size is the most important measurement to identify on your frames. Sometimes this number can be rounded by the manufacturer, just to give a general sense of the size. When placing an order for replacement lenses if the number differs by a few decimal points, it should still work! 

Bridge Size

The number behind the small square is the bridge size. It measures the distance between the two lenses. For the majority of people, the bridge size can be anywhere from 14mm to 24mm. Knowing the bridge size might be important to know when buying new frames, but for replacement lenses, this number can be ignored.

Temple Length

The temple length is the largest number of the three, with the ranges being from 130mm to 160mm. This is measured from the frame hinge to the back tip of the temple. Like the bridge size, the temple length doesn’t matter when purchasing replacement lenses.

Color Code

On various frames, there is a color code included on the inside as well. This number is usually included after the model of the frame and before the size. The color code is usually a set of numbers but it can also be the name of a color. Knowing the color code is not really important compared to the model and size of your frames. We will get into the specifics of the placement of the color code when we talk about different brands.

Lens Category

There are five categories of lens tint ranging from zero to four. On your sunglasses, you will see a number, usually, two or higher followed by the letter P or N. The letter P stands for polarized and N is non-polarized. For example, you might see 3P which means these polarized lenses are category 3.

• Category 0: Very Low Light/Night - These have little or no tint.
• Category 1: Low Light - This has a light tint and is good against weak levels of sunlight.
• Category 2: General Use - It has medium levels of tint and is good for light, everyday use.
• Category 3: Bright Light - This has a strong tint and is used in strong sunlight, such as playing sports, going to the beach, offshore fishing, or other outdoor activities.
• Category 4: Specialty Use - These have a very strong tint and are used only for special circumstances with extreme levels of sunlight. 

The majority of the lenses at Fuse fall into category three, but this information is easily visible under the description of each lens.

Safety Glasses

Some glasses might have a Z87 written inside the temple arm. Z87 is the current standard for safety eyewear published by the American National Standards Institute, ANSI. This rating is usually for basic impact, but it can be more specific depending on the usage of the glasses. Regular sunglasses will not have these marking. Please note, when you replace the lenses in a frame with this marking, you are voiding the safety rating of your sunglasses. For instance, even though Fuse Lenses creates lenses that meet or surpass safety ratings, they were not tested in the frames you are putting them in, and are unable to be rated.

Which Ray-Ban Frames Do I Have?

A lot of the different types of models for Ray-Ban start with an RB and then a series of numbers. The RB stands for Ray-Ban and the numbers make up the model of the frame. Sometimes the model also includes a name with the model number.

After the frame model, you might see the color code of the lens next. This was discussed in the color code section. This may be a sequence of 3-5 numbers and can also start with a “W” or “L.” For replacement lenses, this color code can be ignored. The next set of numbers on a Ray-Ban should be the eye and bridge size. This is separated by a square with the eye size located on the left of the square and the bridge size on the right.

Some Ray-Bans might include the temple length. This is a 3 digit number located after the eye and bridge size. If you do not see it, there is a large possibility that Ray-Ban did not include it.

The last thing on a Ray-Ban should be the category of the lens, their sunglasses should be either 2 or 3. Right next to the number should be either a P or N. The letter P stands for polarized and an N is Non-polarized.

For this frame, you can see the model number to be RB2132 and the name is New Wayfarer. The eye size, located before the square, is 55mm. This is all the information you need to order replacement lenses! You would be looking for RB2132 New Wayfarer 55mm replacement lenses.

The rest of the information is not necessary for ordering replacement lenses. The number 6052 is the color code of the frame. The bridge size, located after the square is 18. The number 145 represents the temple length and these particular lenses are a category three non-polarized.

Which Oakley Frames Do I Have?

Oakley uses both names and numbers to distinguish their different models. The names are more well-known to the general public and are often located on the inside arm of the sunglasses. The other information can be slightly hidden further down the temple arm. 

The eye and bridge size is separated the Oakley’s logo instead of the small square. The three-digit number after this is the temple length.

The older Oakley models have a format of NN-NNN. For example, in the frame pictured above the model number is 03-365. If you have this frame, you may know it as the Oakley Fives 4.0 frame. However, it is always good to double-check the model information if it is available on the frame. You also see the eye size is 54mm and the bridge size is 20mm.

The newer Oakleys follow the format OONNNN or OXNNNN. A lot of people mistakenly read the start of the model number as zeroes, but the OO or OX is referring to the brand Oakley. The numbers following afterward is the model number. For the frame Forehand, you can see that the Oakley model number is OO9179. The 26 after the dash is actually the color code, it is not part of the model number. The placement and format of the size information are the same. For the Servo XL frames, the name is located on the opposite temple arm than the model information. The model number is OX1066. Again, the numbers after the dash is the color code. This particular frame does not have the eye or bridge size, but it does show the temple length which is 145mm.

Which Costa Del Mar Frames Do I Have?

On a Costa Del Mar frame, the patent number can be found on the inside left frame of the temple. In the picture above you can see the US Pat. D615,579. The model name, located in the same left arm is Howler. The HO 10 is actually the frame and color code.

Which VonZipper Frames Do I Have?

VonZipper uses names to identify their different models of frames. The name of a particular model can be found inside of the VonZipper frame. Sometimes the placement of the names can be further down the temple, closer to the end of the temple arm. As shown below, Lesmore is located all the way towards the end. Apart from the name of the model, VonZipper does not have additional information like the sizes or the model number.

Which Spy Optics Frames Do I Have?

The name of the model is easy to spot inside the Spy Optics’s Frames, this one is named Rocky. The series of numbers towards the end of the temple arm is the model number. The eye and bridge size, located on the other side, is separated by a square with the same format of eye size to the left and ridge size to the right. In the end, separated by a dash, is the three-digit number that is the temple length. The temple length here is 130mm. 

Which Maui Jim Frames Do I Have?

The letters MJ in the models stand for Maui Jim, and then it is followed by a three-digit number. Some Maui frames have just the model number while others have the model name as well. The one shown above has the model number of MJ214 and the model name of Pearl City. After this, you have the US patent information. On the other arm of the temple, you can see the model number again, MJ214 and then 01A that is located after the dash is actually the color code. The eye size, 63mm is slightly larger than normal, but these are bigger frames. After the square, you can see the bridge size which is 17mm and the temple length of 125mm.

In this other model of Maui Jim, you can see the patent information on the left arm. On the right arm, you can see the model number, MJ-126 and the color code is 02.

Which Arnette Frames Do I Have?

Arnette has a combination of words and numbers for the different models of frames that can be found inside the temple. Most Arnette frames have a model name followed by either ANXXX or NNNN. For example, the ANXXX format can be seen below in AN4037 frames. The number following this, 217/83, is the color code. 

The NNNN format can be seen with Rage XXL Arnette frames. The model number is 4175 and after the dash, you can see the color code which is 41/81. The eye and bridge size for these frames is 60 and 18 respectively and these lenses are category three polarized.

Summary

• When buying replacement lenses it is important to learn the frame name, model number, and lens size. It is important to note that even if a frame is the same in size, the fit may still be different based on the brand and model.
• The frame type usually consists of the frame name and model number. The placement and identification vary by frame.
• The eye size is the horizontal, width, measurement of the lens. The eye size usually ranges from 40mm to 62mm and is typically located in front of a small square.
•  Bridge size is the number behind the small square. It measures the distance between the two lenses and the size can range from 14mm to 24mm.
• The temple length is the measurement from the front hinge to the back tip of the temple. The measurement for this ranges from 130mm to 160mm.
• Some lenses include a color code on the inside of the frame. It’s a series of numbers, sometimes separated by a forward slash. It is usually located after the model number.
• There are five different categories of lenses. Most of the lenses at Fuse are category 3. The category of the lenses can be listed on the frame by a number ranging from 0-4 followed by the letter P or N, which stands for polarized and non-polarized respectively. 
• This article referred to eight different types of brands and broke down the meaning and placement of the numbers on the frame. The brands’ name included Ray-Ban, Oakley, Costa Del Mar, Vonzipper, Spy Optics, Maui Jim, Arnette. Refer to a particular section for specifics.