Quince Sunglasses Review: Are They Actually Worth It?
This honest Quince sunglasses review is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links.
Sunglasses have always felt like one of those categories where you either spend a little and get something that looks cheap, or spend a lot and spend the rest of the season terrified you’ll sit on them or lose them. I’ve lost enough pairs to the bottom of my bag and the floor of my car to know I’m not a “nice sunglasses” person at this stage in motherhood. Maybe I have one pair I save and then a few pairs that can float between beach bags + the car?
Anyway, so when I added two pairs of Quince sunglasses to a cashmere order last year, my expectations were somewhere around “fine for $50.”
They’ve turned out to be a lot better than fine. After living in them through a Southern California spring, tossing them around like I do with everything else, and holding them up directly against my husband’s actual Oliver Peoples, I have opinions. Here’s my honest take on whether Quince sunglasses are worth it.
What Are Quince Sunglasses?
If you’re new here, Quince is the brand known for selling elevated basics, think cashmere, silk, and leather, at a fraction of what you’d pay for comparable quality elsewhere. I’ve owned more than 20 Quince pieces over the last four years (you can read my full Quince review), so the sunglasses were a natural addition to the collection.
The sunglasses are acetate frames with polarized CR-39 lenses, and they run right around $50 a pair (they usually have a deal going that its $80 if you buy two). Acetate is the same plant-based material used in most high-end frames, which already puts them a step above the plastic injection-molded sunglasses you find at the same price point.
The Two Pairs I Own
I bought both of these for myself, and they’re different enough that they cover two completely different vibes.
Brixton in Clear Taupe with Brown Lens
This is the round one, and it’s the pair I keep reaching for. It’s a classic keyhole-bridge round frame in a soft clear taupe with a warm brown lens. It’s the more delicate, lightweight of the two. When I first opened these the lightness made me second-guess the quality. I generally expect better quality things to be heavier/sturdier.
That instinct was wrong. After wearing this pair for months, the light weight is the whole point. It sits comfortably for hours and I have zero complaints. More on how this one stacks up against a designer pair in a minute.
Tuscon in White Tortoise with Green Lens
This is the more substantial frame, a rounded square in a pretty white tortoise with a green-tinted lens. It has more presence on the face, a little more of a statement. The white tortoise is the kind of neutral-but-interesting pattern that goes with everything but doesn’t read boring.
Between the two, the Tuscon feels chunkier and more fashion-forward, while the Brixton is the everyday classic.
Quality: How They Actually Hold Up
Here’s where I can speak from real wear, because I have not been gentle with these.
The frames. Both are solid acetate with a smooth finish and clean hinges. Nothing about them feels flimsy or hollow the way cheap sunglasses do. The hinges have stayed tight after a couple of months of daily handling.
The lenses. They’re polarized, and they perform. I live in bright Southern California sun and drive in it constantly, and I have zero complaints about glare, distortion, or color shift. The polarization does its job. Looking through them is clean and true, no weird warping at the edges.
The wear and tear. Full transparency: one pair has a few scratches on the lens. That is entirely my fault. I do not put them back in the case. I toss them in my car, drop them in my bag, and generally treat them the way a mom of four treats anything that isn’t nailed down. If you actually use the case they come with, you won’t have this problem. I am simply not that person.
The packaging. This genuinely surprised me. Each pair arrives in a box with both a hard case and a soft pouch. For $50 sunglasses, the unboxing punches well above the price. It’s the kind of presentation that makes them feel far more expensive than they are, which is exactly why I think they’d make such a good gift.
Fit and Comfort
Both pairs sit well on my nose bridge and stay put without pinching. Neither one feels heavy, even the more substantial Tuscon. The Brixton in particular is so light I forget I’m wearing it.
The only thing I don’t love is that each frame only comes in one size. I wish I could order them in a narrower size. The Brixton is a little large for me but that hasn’t stopped me from wearing it a few times a week for the last six months.
How Quince Sunglasses Compare to Designer
This is the part everyone actually wants to know, so let me give you two real comparisons with higher end sunglasses we own.
Versus Oliver Peoples. My husband owns the Oliver Peoples Finley Esq. in black, which is a rounded panto frame very similar in shape to my round Brixton. So I’ve held them side by side more than once. The verdict: the Quince pair is a pretty good dupe. On the face, the Oliver Peoples don’t look significantly better. Where you notice the difference is in your hand. When you pick up the Oliver Peoples, you can feel that they’re higher-quality sunglasses. But here’s the thing: the Oliver Peoples are roughly ten times the price, and they are not ten times the quality. For most people, most of the time, the difference does not justify the gap. The Oliver Peoples also do come in different sizes so you can get a more customized fit. If you’re taking great pair of a single pair of sunglasses, they’re a great splurge pair …but if $500 eyewear is not in your budget, these are great.
Versus Karen Walker. I also own a pair of Karen Walker sunglasses, and those are bigger, more substantial frames, so the styles don’t really compare. I’d say the Karen Walker quality edges out the Quince, but I suspect a lot of that is simply because they’re a heftier, more substantial pair, so there’s more sunglasses there to feel premium. It’s not a fair fight stylistically, so I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Pros and Cons
What I love:
- Polarized lenses that perform in bright sun
- Real acetate frames, not cheap plastic
- Lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear
- Packaging that makes them feel (and gift) like a much pricier pair
- Classic, logo-free styling (LOVE that there are no logos anywhere on these)
What to know:
- The lighter frames can feel less premium out of the box, even though they wear beautifully
- Lenses will scratch if you don’t use the case (ask me how I know)
Are Quince Sunglasses Worth It?
Yes. For around $50, these are one of the easiest yeses of everything that Quince carries (also, the mongolian cashmere tee). The Brixton is my personal favorite.
If you’ve been curious about Quince but didn’t want to commit to a cashmere coat or a leather bag to find out if the hype is real, the sunglasses are the perfect entry point. Low cost, g good quality, and they arrive in packaging nice enough to hand straight to someone as a gift.
Quince Sunglasses FAQ
Yes. Both pairs I own have polarized CR-39 lenses, and they perform well in bright sunlight with no noticeable glare or distortion.
The frames are acetate, the same plant-based material used in most high-end eyewear, and the lenses are polarized CR-39.
For the price, the quality is impressive. They feel far more expensive than they are, and in my direct comparison they held up well next to a pair of Oliver Peoples that cost roughly ten times more.
Yes. Each pair arrives in a box with both a hard case and a soft pouch. The packaging is one of the best parts and makes them gift-ready.
Most styles run around $50, which is a fraction of what you’d pay for comparable acetate, polarized designer frames. They are often running a bundle deal where you can get two pairs for $80 (which is what I did).
