Best sunglasses for men and what each price buys

Frames cost more when makers switch to glass lenses and frames made in Italy. Past $1,000, you pay for the Chrome Hearts name.

I would skip the $4,500 pair unless you collect Chrome Hearts.

Quick facts

• On within: 16 pairs of sunglasses catalogued on 9 November 2026 across two shops.
• Price floor: $150 CAD for pre owned Gucci frames at Utopia.
• Certified protection: 100% UVA and UVB blocking on $159 Weareeyes frames tested by Intertek.
• Glass lenses: $239 CAD to $350 CAD for Barberini Platinum Glass from Clean Waves.
• Top price: $4,500 CAD for Chrome Hearts glasses.
• Founding year: 1988 for Chrome Hearts in Los Angeles, compared to 1917 for Balenciaga in San Sebastián.

Under $200: the protection is already there

Independent boutique Due West at 431 Queen St W in Toronto opens Monday to Saturday from 11 to 7. On the racks, Weareeyes frames provide category 3 lenses tested and certified by Intertek for 100% UVA and UVB protection.

Stainless steel frames like the WEAREEYES Omikron Sunglasses cost $159 CAD, marked down from $185 CAD. If you prefer plastic, the WEAREEYES RA Sunglasses sell for $195 CAD in cellulose acetate with nickel free hinges. Both include a case and cleaning cloth.

You can also find older luxury names in this bracket when buying secondhand. The Gucci GG 1559/S Sunglasses run $150 CAD pre owned, where the price pays for a name that began in Florence in 1921.

Between $200 and $490: glass lenses and better frames

Past $200 the lenses and frames change: glass lenses from Clean Waves, gold plated titanium from Linda Farrow. The Clean Waves Type 05 Sunglasses drop from $320 CAD to $239 CAD at Due West. They are made in Italy with injection moulding to cut waste, and use Barberini Platinum Glass lenses alongside a pouch made from Parley Ocean Plastic.

For a lower frame, the Clean Waves Type 03 Low Sunglasses cost $350 CAD with the same Barberini glass lenses. The Linda Farrow Oval Eye Sunglass is marked down from $860 CAD to $345 CAD, combining 18 to 22 carat yellow gold plated titanium with Japanese acetate. (the Linda Farrow is handmade, per its listing).

At $490 CAD, the Ksubi The Kondor Sunglasses bring an oversized aviator shape handmade in 7 mm acetate with skeleton metal temples. Ksubi started in 1999 on Sydney's Northern Beaches, and its lenses are nylon, not glass. Pre owned options include the Balenciaga BB0096S Dynasty Rectangle Sunglasses at $400 CAD, paying for a name whose founder opened his first workshop in San Sebastián in 1917.

Past $200 you pay for glass lenses and better frames, not more protection.

Over $1,000: Chrome Hearts

Utopia at 132 Cumberland Street in Toronto opens daily from 12 to 8, and says every item it sells is guaranteed 100% authentic. Of its 36 Chrome Hearts frames, 17 are listed as pre owned, used or worn once.

Richard Stark and John Bowman founded Chrome Hearts in a Los Angeles garage in 1988, joined by sterling silver jeweller Leonard Kamhout. Entry level frames here begin with the pre owned Chrome Hearts Stains VII Sunglasses at $1,000 CAD. From there, prices jump to $2,400 CAD for The Beast II Sunglasses and $2,800 CAD for the Low Rider Sunglasses.

Top tier pricing reaches $4,500 CAD for the Chrome Hearts "Duck Butter" Glasses. Our note on what Chrome Hearts glasses cost has the full price range. You are buying the name, not clearer vision.

What to check on the listing

Check the ultraviolet rating before looking at frame geometry. A proper listing explicitly states 100% UVA and UVB protection, just as Weareeyes notes Intertek certification on its products. If a listing skips ultraviolet details, do not guess.

Next, read the lens category and the lens material: Weareeyes lists CR39 category 3, Clean Waves Barberini glass, Ksubi and Linda Farrow nylon.

When buying pre owned pairs, check the listed condition and authenticity claims. The Yorkville shop marks pre owned pairs on the page and guarantees each item authentic. Look for clear descriptions of surface wear before committing four figures to older frames.

Common questions

What are the best sunglasses for men?

The best sunglasses for men provide category 3 darkness and certified 100% UVA and UVB protection without inflated branding markups. Everyday frames like the stainless steel Weareeyes Omikron at $159 CAD list 100% UVA and UVB protection. Paying more only makes sense when you want glass lenses or handmade frames.

Are expensive sunglasses worth the money?

Expensive sunglasses are worth the money only if you care about mineral glass lenses, gold plating, or collectible silver hardware. Up to $350 CAD, you pay for Barberini glass and frames made in Italy. Above $1,000 CAD, you pay for the Chrome Hearts name rather than eye protection.

What's the best sunglasses brand for men?

Weareeyes is the most practical brand for daily wear, while Clean Waves and Linda Farrow are the step up in lenses and frames. Weareeyes keeps certified category 3 protection under $200 CAD with stainless steel and acetate builds. If you want substantial weight, Ksubi uses 7 mm acetate, while Chrome Hearts is the collector's name.

Every business above is independent, was verified open as of August 2026, and nobody paid to be here. If one has closed or moved, tell us at hello@shopwithin.co and we will fix it.

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