Before Ray-Ban: Bausch & Lomb

The origins of the brand date back to 1853, when opticians Baucsh and Lomb set up their research and ophthalmology companies. Their goal: to create sun glasses to make the first sunglasses. In 1927, Lieutenant John A. Macready, on returning from his ballooning across the Atlantic, asked them to design protective panoramic protective glasses. Three years later, the group developed the glass RB 3, which filters ultraviolet and infrared. The Ray-Ban brand is about to be born.

American drivers in 1955. Credits: Getty

The creation of the Ray-Ban brand and the Aviator model

The Ray-Ban brand was born in 1937, with the release of the Aviator model, created especially for the fighter pilots of the US Air Force. Its name comes from the English "ray banished" which means "that banishes the rays of sun". The Aviator model was revised and improved during the Second World War and adopted unanimously by the US military and Hollywood stars, but it was especially in the 1980s, thanks to Michael Jackson, that he became a cult. Accompanied by jeans and chewing gum, the Ray-Ban extend beyond the American borders and conquer Europe.

Michael Jackson at the Superbowl in 1993.

The Wayfarer, legendary model of Ray-Ban

In 1952, Ray-Ban launched the Wayfarer, an innovative model that breaks with traditional metal glasses and revolutionizes the design of glasses. Carried by the charming Audrey Hepburn in "Diamonds on Canopy" in 1961, they are also adopted by Bob Dylan, or Ray Charles. They became cheesy in the 1990s - a period of crisis for Ray-Ban - they are restored to the day by Chloë Sevigny, who redoubles the branding of the brand. They are still found today on the nose of mannequins and fashionistas worthy of the name.

Audrey Hepbrun in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. Credits: Getty.

Clubmaster, Ray-Ban at the Malcolm X

Directly inspired by Malcolm X, the Clubmasters were born in 1986 and, like the other models of the brand, are very popular with the public and American stars. However, the reputation of Ray-Ban faded in the 1990s, as it seems that quality is no longer the rendezvous. It was not until the acquisition by Luxottica in 1999 that the Ray-Ban brand came back strong and became the must-have of Hollywood stars and fashionista.

To celebrate the return of the Clubmaster, the Bowery Ballroom in New York hosts, in 2008, the concert Ray-Ban Remasters. Diane Kruger, Joshua Jackson and the entire Gossip Girl team are present for the occasion.

Diane Kruger. Credits: Getty