Ray-Ban sunglasses and eyewear are made by EssilorLuxottica S.A., a Franco-Italian eyewear conglomerate formed in 2018 from the merger of French lens maker Essilor International and Italian frame maker Luxottica Group, with manufacturing primarily in Italy.
Ray-Ban is known as the world’s most recognized sunglasses brand, creator of the Aviator and Wayfarer styles that have been cultural icons since the 1930s and 1950s respectively, and a brand whose designs appear in more films, television shows, and celebrity photos than any other eyewear label.
Ray-Ban is a brand of EssilorLuxottica S.A., listed on the Euronext Paris exchange, which is the world’s largest eyewear company and also owns Oakley, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Vogue Eyewear, and dozens of licensed designer eyewear brands from Chanel to Versace.
Knowing who makes Ray-Ban helps buyers understand the Italian manufacturing heritage, French corporate ownership, and the eyewear empire behind a brand that Luxottica transformed from a fading American label into a global luxury icon.
This article covers Ray-Ban’s founding, the Luxottica acquisition, where Ray-Bans are made, its iconic product lines, and how Ray-Ban compares to Oakley and Maui Jim.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Ray-Ban?
Ray-Ban is owned by EssilorLuxottica S.A., the world’s largest eyewear company, formed from the 2018 merger of Essilor International of France and Luxottica Group of Italy.
Luxottica originally acquired Ray-Ban from Bausch & Lomb in 1999 for approximately $640 million. Under Luxottica’s ownership, the brand was repositioned from a declining American heritage label into one of the world’s most valuable eyewear properties.
The Del Vecchio family, founded by Luxottica founder Leonardo Del Vecchio who died in 2022, retains a controlling stake in EssilorLuxottica through their Delfin holding company. The family’s ownership gives EssilorLuxottica stable long-term control despite being publicly traded.
When Was Ray-Ban Founded?
Ray-Ban was founded in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb, the American optics company based in Rochester, New York, specifically to develop anti-glare sunglasses for United States Army Air Corps pilots.
The first Ray-Ban product was the Aviator, a teardrop-shaped metal frame with green anti-glare lenses designed to protect pilots’ eyes at high altitude. General Douglas MacArthur was photographed wearing Aviators during World War II, giving the style a military association that became a cultural icon.
The Wayfarer was introduced in 1952 and became the best-selling sunglasses in history through the 1950s and 1960s, worn by everyone from James Dean to Bob Dylan. Sales declined through the 1970s and 1980s before a product placement campaign in Risky Business (1983) with Tom Cruise revived the style dramatically.
Where Are Ray-Ban Sunglasses Made?
Ray-Ban sunglasses are manufactured primarily in Italy, at Luxottica’s production facilities in Agordo, Belluno, in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. The Agordo facility has been the heart of Luxottica’s manufacturing since the company’s founding in 1961 and is widely regarded as the center of the world’s premium eyewear manufacturing industry.
Some Ray-Ban models, particularly at lower price points, are manufactured in China through EssilorLuxottica’s Asian production operations. Ray-Ban products that carry the “Made in Italy” designation are produced at the Agordo facility and meet Italian manufacturing standards.
The country of origin for each Ray-Ban model is indicated on the inside of the temple arm. Italian-made Ray-Bans are generally considered higher quality than Chinese-made versions in terms of fit, finish, and hinge construction. The full Ray-Ban range is at Ray-Ban’s official US website.
What Are the Most Iconic Ray-Ban Styles?
The Ray-Ban Aviator is the brand’s founding style, created in 1937 for military pilots. The teardrop-shaped lenses and thin metal frame have been the defining pilot-style sunglasses template for nearly 90 years and remain one of the world’s most popular sunglasses silhouettes.
The Ray-Ban Wayfarer is the brand’s most commercially successful style of all time, with its distinctive trapezoidal frame shape that was radical in 1952 and has become timeless. The New Wayfarer updated the proportions in 2012 for a slightly smaller, more modern face fit.
The Clubmaster is a browline style that references 1950s optics fashion. The Round Metal and the Erika are additional iconic shapes. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, developed in partnership with Meta (Facebook), represent the brand’s entry into wearable technology.
Ray-Ban vs Oakley vs Maui Jim: Who Makes Each?
All three are major sunglasses brands but from different corporate structures. Ray-Ban is owned by EssilorLuxottica. Oakley is also owned by EssilorLuxottica, which acquired it from Oakley, Inc. in 2007 for $2.1 billion, making Ray-Ban and Oakley corporate siblings under the same parent. Maui Jim is privately held, headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, and known for its polarized lenses with proprietary PolarizedPlus2 technology.
The fact that Ray-Ban and Oakley share a parent company in EssilorLuxottica means they are managed as complementary brands rather than direct competitors. Ray-Ban owns the heritage fashion sunglasses space. Oakley owns the performance sports sunglasses space. EssilorLuxottica uses different distribution channels for each.
Maui Jim targets the premium polarized lens buyer who prioritizes optics quality over brand heritage or fashion, occupying a specialty position between Ray-Ban’s fashion focus and Oakley’s performance focus.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Ray-Bans Are Made
Are Ray-Bans made in Italy?
Many Ray-Ban sunglasses are made in Italy at Luxottica’s manufacturing facility in Agordo, Belluno, in the Veneto region. Some Ray-Ban models at lower price points are made in China. The country of origin is stamped on the inside of the temple arm of each pair.
Who owns Ray-Ban and Oakley?
Both Ray-Ban and Oakley are owned by EssilorLuxottica S.A., the world’s largest eyewear company. Luxottica acquired Ray-Ban in 1999 and Oakley in 2007. EssilorLuxottica also owns Persol, Oliver Peoples, Vogue Eyewear, and licenses for many designer brands.
Are Ray-Bans an American brand?
Ray-Ban was founded in the United States in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb of Rochester, New York. In 1999 it was acquired by Luxottica of Italy, making it an Italian-owned brand with American origins. Its parent EssilorLuxottica is a Franco-Italian company listed in Paris.
When were Ray-Ban Wayfarers first made?
Ray-Ban Wayfarers were first introduced in 1952. The style was designed by Raymond Stegeman for Bausch & Lomb and was the first plastic-frame Ray-Ban, departing from the metal Aviator design. The Wayfarer became one of the best-selling sunglasses styles in history and remains in production today.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.