A pair of half-rimmed yellow gold “evening glasses”, for example, feature an emerald-encrusted serpent’s tail that wraps around the wearer’s ear and dangles an apple of deep-red tourmaline, while on the other arm, a serpent, studded with cognac diamonds, pink sapphires and gold cabochons, stares solemnly skyward.

These one-of-a-kind pieces are among Pietrus’ most luxurious frames, priced at almost HK$200,000, while more affordable options, categorised under his diffusion line – FDL Editions, introduced last summer – go for HK$6,600 and upwards. “I want the spirit of jewellery to be just as present as the eyewear,” says Pietrus. “Jewellery comes before eyewear in Francis de Lara.”

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With A-list approval from the likes of Pharrell Williams, Bella Hadid and Migos, jewelled sunnies are quickly becoming the most hotly discussed accessory of the season, and Pietrus isn’t the only designer bringing precious expression to these statement styles.

Fendi haute couture spring/summer 2024

For Fendi’s latest spring/summer 2024 couture collection, shown in Paris, Delfina Delettrez Fendi, a fourth-generation member of the family and the artistic director of the house’s jewellery division since 2021, showcased a new series of dazzling fine jewellery eyewear.

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Dubbed Singular Vision, each pair is cast in 18k white gold and set with diamonds as part of the brand’s growing concept of a “couture ensemble”, which involves not just the garments but the accessories, too. To ensure each frame was precisely tailored to the model’s contours, their faces were scanned for precise measurements, from which the frames were then sculpted to each individual, spun in gold and adorned with diamonds.

DiorFantastica square sunglasses

French fashion giant Dior also turned up the sparkle at its cruise 2024 show, which showcased sunglasses trimmed with Swarovski crystals. Stand-out designs include the DiorFantastica frames, which come in a classic square silhouette with dark grey lenses embellished with Swarovski butterflies in mid-flight.

Swarovski, who has long put the sparkle into everyday dressing, also boasts its own line of crystal sunglasses. Taking inspiration from its successful Mesmera jewellery range – a collection known for its juxtaposing of gem cuts and sizes – the frames are available with gold or mirrored platinum lenses surrounded by a mixture of stone cuts that can be clipped on and off for versatile styling.

Beyoncé wears Tiffany & Co. sunglasses. Photo: Parkwood Entertainment
Meanwhile, at Tiffany & Co., the New York jeweller has unveiled a limited-edition run of cat’s eye sunglasses as part of its Victoria line of eyewear. Adorned with 172 handset crystals, inspired by Tiffany’s legendary diamond cuts, the frames are finished in gold plating with platinum mirrored lenses. They even have the approval of cultural icon and style sensation Beyoncé, who wore a custom-made version of the frames during the Amsterdam leg of her Renaissance world tour.

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With many worthy options at a variety of price points, bejewelled sunglasses are increasingly becoming a must-have for the perfect accessories capsule. “I see fashion designers experimenting more with luxury eyewear, and incorporating jewellery elements. Why? Partially because there are so many ideas and products out there and eyewear has been a growing part of the market in the last decade and so new forms have to be made for people to pay attention to and consume,” Pietrus concludes.

“The consumer is getting more demanding for new ideas and innovation, and creative eyewear is a response.”