What comes to your mind when I say Ferrari?
Probably a red sports car with that famous black and yellow logo? Makes sense, that’s what the brand is most famous for.
But did you know they also make accessories, along with other non-vehicle-related merchandise?
One of the most affordable ways to enter this world of luxury sports cars is with a pair of Ferrari sunglasses.
How Did Ferrari Start Branching Out?
I won’t give you a deep dive into the Ferrari brand. But I’ll share the basics that every fan probably knows, and every newbie should learn before investing in Ferrari sunglasses.
Enzo Ferrari started making sports cars in Italy in 1947, shortly after WWII ended, during a boom in industry, invention, and fashion. Italian style was all the rage. It was elegant, premium, and effortlessly suave.
Ferrari tapped into these elements and infused his cars with a uniquely Italian style. Through the ’60s and ’70s, he dominated the world of racing. He won numerous championships, including the Formula One World Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This winning streak and constant innovations in racing cars, eventually also in commercial sports cars and supercars, led to Ferrari becoming one of the biggest luxury brands in the world.
The recent Ferrari brand expansion
Over the last few decades, the Ferrari brand has built an empire that sells everything from Mahjong sets to classic baseball caps (yes, I’m not kidding about the Mahjong).
Ferrari sells its merchandise to eager fans in stores across the world. Through this merchandise, the brand has become more accessible to the masses. Ferrari has also used its luxury position to license its name to other companies. This includes Lego, the watch brand Movado, and the eyewear brand Oakley.
They even earn royalties from a theme park in Abu Dhabi (UAE), which is quite literally called Ferrari World. It’s like Disneyland for car lovers, young and old alike.
It’s currently estimated that Ferrari’s merchandise is making as much (or in the same realm) as the cars! We’re taking over $1 billion alone so that people can get a piece of the Ferrari pie. It’s also a huge jump from their 2014 non-car revenue of around $500 million.
So, back to Ferrari sunglasses. They have a special place in the brand’s portfolio, ahead of keychains or hats. Why? Because they evoke the sleek, classic appeal of the cars. And Enzo Ferrari himself loved sunglasses. So what better accessory for driving an Italian sports car than a pair of Italian sunglasses?
Who Makes Ferrari Sunglasses?
From 2007 to 2016, the Italian manufacturer Marcolin had the license to create Ferrari eyewear. This is one of the biggest global manufacturers. It also has licenses with other major brands, including Tom Ford and Max Mara.
Since 2016, the brand has been manufactured under the eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica. If you haven’t heard of them, you should. They not only have licenses to produce for brands including Versace and Prada, but they also own Oakley and Ray-Ban.
It’s fitting that one of the biggest car companies in the world joined forces with the biggest eyewear manufacturer to create some incredible collections.
Latest Collections
One of Ferrari’s latest collections was released in 2024: the Scuderia Ferrari collection. It’s an example of how Formula 1 is infused into the Ferrari sunglasses, as the collection features aerodynamic shapes and ergonomics to ensure performance.
The materials are high-quality, durable, and resilient, which mirrors their ethos for cars. While this collection featured some mask-shaped sporty sunglasses, many styles are less “I’m ready for the racetrack,” and more, “I’m ready to jump in my 1 million dollar car.”
There has also been collaboration between Ray-Ban and Ferrari within the Scuderia Ferrari collection. These Ray-Bans for Scuderia Ferrari RB3776M have an appearance that infuses the two brands. They’re sporty yet refined, and they could be worn with a T-shirt and jeans or a suit.
The Ferrari Scuderia FZ6012U sunglasses are another sporty style. They feature a lightweight frame and a wraparound shape to help shield you from UV rays.
These red sunglasses are part of the classic Ferrari sunglasses collection; you can see the difference. They’re a little less ‘sporty’ and a little more classic. But of course, they feature the staple red color synonymous with the brand.
Are Ferrari Sunglasses Worth It?
It’s normal to be apprehensive about eyewear from brands that aren’t well-known eyewear specialists. This is also the case for major clothing brands like Prada and Calvin Klein; after all, sunglasses and dresses are not the same thing, and neither are cars and shades.
However, the key point is that Ferrari sunglasses are manufactured by EssilorLuxottica. The manufacturer is known for producing high-quality sunglasses at its factories in Italy and beyond. They also have talented in-house designers, and they sometimes collaborate with brands to ensure that the style and spec are up to scratch.
According to reviews, they are as good as many modern sunglasses; some may feel more expensive than others, and that’s because they are.
The Cost
Some Ferrari sunglasses start around $100, while premium models with gold plating and special hardware can cost $1,000 or more. The Ray-Ban collaboration is also more affordably priced.
The short answer is they’re worth it if you love the brand and style. How much you’re willing to pay for a pair of Ferrari sunglasses depends on your budget, though.
TL;DR
Ferrari sunglasses are among the most sought-after products under the Ferrari brand, as they evoke the style of a sports car.
- The Ferrari brand started out in Italy under founder Enzo Ferrari in 1947 and became famous for its epic sports cars.
- The brand quickly became associated with luxury Italian style and good taste. In the 2000s, they started partnering with Marcolin to manufacture eyewear.
- It’s actually part of their larger brand strategy. It’s reported that their merchandising empire now makes as much money as their cars!
- Now, EssilorLuxottica manufactures Ferrari eyewear and has recently collaborated with its own brand, Ray-Ban. The styles are sporty yet elegant.
- Prices range from $100 to upward of $1,000 for some styles. It all depends on the collection and the materials, but you can get a piece of Ferrari for a lot less than one of their winning red sports cars.
