The world’s oldest independent eyewear company, CW Dixey & Son, has announced a new eyewear collection. It is inspired by a gift the company created for Emperor Qianlong of China in 1793 – a blue enamel and solid gold telescope adorned with pearls.
The new collection draws on this old historical artefact but reworks it for the 21st century, representing a different direction for the company. Heavy frames, modern shapes and the use of acetate give the collection a contemporary feel. It contains eight new models, each available in three different colours.
The Imperial Blue Frame (1) exhibits a striking blue front that changes hue with exposure to light, with an underlying pearl grey interior. A keyhole bridge adjoins the off-round frames and the company’s motif of two white spots are displayed on the tips. And the glasses are produced to the highest standards: designed in the UK and made in the Jura region of France using Mazzuccelli acetate and pin hinges. This dedication to quality is why the company has such an illustrious history, making glasses for clients ranging from Churchill to Napoleon.