Shuron Ronsirs: Not What they Used to Be

[53Effie]

Just a quick comment. I just received a pair of new Revelations today and they seem to be of good quality. They are as substantial as several pair of other glasses purchased locally that I have been wearing alternately. I had Shuron make the progressive lenses in plastic with anti-glare and anti-scratch coating and they got the prescription just right as well. I like them fine so far. I'll check back if any issues develop. I have really never handled any vintage Shurons; so, I can't make that type of comparison. I would add also that customer service was quite good. They were willing to spend time with me to get things right. So far, a good experience. We'll see how they hold up in light of what I have read above.

[MisterGrey]

Sir,

I'm very interested in your experience with your recent Revelations purchase. If I may ask, how tight did you find the hinges upon receiving them, and how would you gauge the pliability of the bridge? Also, if the brows are not black, how translucent would you say the plastic is? I do not mean to sound interrogative, I'm just genuinely curious so that I have a point of comparison so the shipment that I was in receipt of (we actually have another coming today or tomorrow).

I must agree, though, that Shuron's customer service department is excellent. In the past I've primarily dealt with a Mr. Rivers who I found to be exceptional in his courtesy and efficiency. Like I said, other than the browlines, all of the Shuron glasses I've handled have been of excellent quality, if not of a superior quality to other manufacturers' frames; this, combined with their longevity and reputation, is why I am surprised/concerned.

[53Effie]

Good morning. My Revelations are black briar, so the are not transparent at all. The hinges are indeed pretty snug. I compared the bridge to another frame I have that has a tube shaped bridge rather than a flat surface. The Shurons are just slightly more flexible. There are no gaps on mine around the edges as you mentioned in your first post. Hopefully, they will be durable. They are comfortable and I like the style.

[shindeco]

I've been wearing modern Ronsirs for tha past 3 years and have always been disappointed in their flimsiness. I keep my eyes open for a suitable replacement but no luck ...yet. Thanks for being a reputable voice to the company!

[MisterGrey]

Tomorrow's one week since I sent the e-mail. No response; though Shuron is usually quick to respond to inquiries at least with a notice of receipt. As I've been having difficulty with my e-mail server this previous week, would it be too soon to attempt to re-send through the company website? I don't want to come across as aggressive.

In re: suitable counterparts for the Ronsirs, there's always the Ray-Ban Clubman I and II, though I have limited experience with them and am still ambivalent about their nosepads. Anyone have any insight/input on wearing them as eyeglasses instead of suns?

I really wish POMY had not discontinued the browline frame I mention above; it was originally marketed as a women's sunglass frame, though there's nothing feminine about it. It's incredibly sturdy with a good, solid bridge and frames, tough, beautiful looking brows, and spring hinges, for those who like them. I've put forth some effort to try and contact a manufacturer about them, but it would appear that they're simply just another Wal-Mart brand name, and so I've given up hope on ever getting hold of anyone. I'll be very sad the day they inevitably bite the dust.

[Edward]

Re Rayban Clubmasters.... I have a couple of pairs of those somewhere, from when I used to wear contacts frequently. Nice sunglasses. I prefer the Shurons, though - not least for the range of sizes available (Rayban, to the best of my knowledge, only do two overall widths, no other variables). FWIW, a number of opticians over the years have advised me that Raybans aren't worth paying for if you plan to install prescription lenses, as a significant proportion of what you pay for with the Bans is the quality of the lenses. Course, you could always go used - I've seen plenty of lenseless pairs on eBay...

[MisterGrey]

Re Rayban Clubmasters.... I have a couple of pairs of those somewhere, from when I used to wear contacts frequently. Nice sunglasses. I prefer the Shurons, though - not least for the range of sizes available (Rayban, to the best of my knowledge, only do two overall widths, no other variables). FWIW, a number of opticians over the years have advised me that Raybans aren't worth paying for if you plan to install prescription lenses, as a significant proportion of what you pay for with the Bans is the quality of the lenses. Course, you could always go used - I've seen plenty of lenseless pairs on eBay...

As far as Ray-Ban plastics go, they're my go-to choice for patients who want plastic eyeglasses and are planning on being rough/active with them. Of the current big-brand names on the market now in eyeglass frames, Ray-Ban is, by far, the toughest of the lot, and can take a licking. I say this from personal experience with my Ray-Ban Wayfarers, which only now after ~5 years of continuous use are in need of replacement. Even that's due to my own irresponsible attempts to adjust without the use of a heater. My only concern about the Clubmasters are the rather large, oddly-shaped nosepads, which cannot be interchanged with smaller styles by virtue of their construction; and I have no experience with adjusting the nosepieces of Ray-Bans, and don't know how "friendly" they are.

[tonypaj]

I have only a slight comment here. I wear daily a pair of turtle Ronsirs with Sidewinder temples. They match fine, the temples are the size of the notch on the side of the frames.

Last year I bought a black pair of Ronsirs and black Sidewinder temples, trying to get a backup non matching stuff. Well, they do not match, as the little notch on the side of the black pair of Ronsirs is smaller than on the turtle ones, for whatever reason, whereas the Sidewinder temples are the same size in both colors. As a result, I have a perfect pair of turtle mongrel glasses, and a less than ideal non-mongrel ones in black.

[WideBrimm]

Mr Grey, have you considered Art-Craft Optical as an alternative to Shuron? They have also been around a very long time, and probably manufacture most of the same vintage styles as does Shuron. http://www.artcraftoptical.com/. Their alternative to the Shuron Ronsirs would be Clubman Art-Rim frames. http://www.artcraftoptical.com/produ...ks/clubman.htm.

I've been wearing the Art-Craft Rimway style for some 20 years, and they are very well made. Top quality.

[MisterGrey]

Mr Grey, have you considered Art-Craft Optical as an alternative to Shuron? They have also been around a very long time, and probably manufacture most of the same vintage styles as does Shuron. http://www.artcraftoptical.com/. Their alternative to the Shuron Ronsirs would be Clubman Art-Rim frames. http://www.artcraftoptical.com/produ...ks/clubman.htm.

I've been wearing the Art-Craft Rimway style for some 20 years, and they are very well made. Top quality.

Sadly, it would appear that they no longer actually manfacture that frame-- they've apparently only got some odds-and-ends lying around the factory that they will sell as replacement/backup parts.