Ray-Ban RB2132 New Wayfarer Sunglasses

If your considering buying the Wayfarer by Ray-Ban, you already know it as a cultural staple, worn by everyone from Dylan to The Blues Brothers. But, as cool as the shades are, be careful when it comes to fit. The "New" Wayfarer is substantially smaller then the old style, as well as being a tad more modern, not dominating the face as the old kind do.

The "New" style also comes in two sizes, 52mm and 55mm. I received the 52 only to find them to be a bit too small (I am an average size male), once I returned them for the 55 I was more then satisfied. So in conclusion I would recommend the new style Wayfarer to those wanting the signature look of the style, but with perhaps a bit less obtrusive frame. 55mm is average size, while 52mm would be for females or even some children.

This is one thing I have in common with Jack Nicholson ... a love for the way the Ray-Ban Wayfarer's look and fit. I first found an old used pair of Wayfarers at a garage sale for 25 cents back in the late 70's. They fit so well and the price was right. I loved them. Later I learned that John F. Kennedy, Bob Dylan (on his first tour in England), and Jack Nicholson wore this model.

I lost them in the 90's and couldn't find a current model that were quite the same. It seemed all the models at that time were bigger and rounder, so I didn't replace them. Then the "New Wayfarer" model came out and although they call it new, it reminds me of the old pair I had ... size, look, fit. So I bought a pair and am love'n them again. I use them for sailing, driving, hiking, rafting, travel, etc.

These sunglasses actually block the wind better than some biking sunglasses I bought. I also prefer the non-polarized green lens to the polarized lens that came in those same biking sunglasses. When I ride into the shadows, the polarized lens blocked out too much light and it was hard to see the pavement. The green lens let's in more light allowing me to see better in shadows, yet without being too bright in sunny spots.

The 55mm New Wayfarer in classic tortoise (color 902) with the green lens is my cup of tea, although Dylan wore the black color. They stay on so well I don't need a strap to keep them on during vigorous movement. And your eyelashes don't hit the lenses when you blink.

Great gear!

I ordered 3 pairs: black, polarized, 55mm; tortoise, non-polarized, 52mm; tortoise, non-polarized, 55mm, so I was able to compare the sizes, colors and polarized feature of these glasses. Here we go.

1. Authenticity: All of the 3 pairs were sold by Amazon.com, and they all seemed genuine to me. Not even a doubt. Solid and clear. I did notice that the black pair was missing the engraved "RB" on the back of the left lenses. I don't know why.

2. Polarized: The polarized feature doesn't bother me at all in reading LCD screens, nor does it improve the view much (it cuts out a little more light, but not much difference).

3. Sizing: I am a small guy and have narrow face. The 52mm is definitely for children: a bit tight (even for me) and looks like a toy; The 55mm looks great, although i feel they can be loose sometimes (look good, but wear loose). I strongly recommend 55mm if you have to get these, unless you are buying for your kids.

4. Looks: They both look great, but I prefer the tortoise ones that are a little bit different but not too special. Another thing to note is that other people can see your eyes more easily through the ordinary lenses than the polarized lenses.

5. comparison to the OriginalWayfarer (2140): later I got a pair of 2140 (Original Wayfarer, 54mm, tortoise color) for my cousin. The Original Wayfarers are a bit more expensive, but feel they are of better quality: stronger metal hinge, thicker and heavier plastic. Size-wise, the Original Wayfarers are between the 55mm and 52mm New Wayfarers. Style-wise, the Original Wayfarers have a larger angle pointing forward.

Try them out in store and buy them here! great quality and price. Just make sure they are "sold by Amazon.com" after you make the selection (there are many different sellers on Amazon). Cheers~~~

BTW Amazon says free returns on these, and they didn't even ask a word when I returned two pairs and paid for return shipping. Great customer service.