Ray-Ban
EssilorLuxottica · United States
Ray-Ban is an eyewear brand created by the American optical company Bausch & Lomb in 1936 and owned by the Italian group Luxottica, now EssilorLuxottica, since 1999. It is best known for its Aviator and Wayfarer sunglasses. Through its partnership with Meta it has also become the leading name in camera and AI-enabled smart glasses.
| Origin | Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, New York |
|---|---|
| Owner | EssilorLuxottica (Luxottica since 1999) |
| Headquarters | Milan, Italy |
| Iconic models | Aviator, Wayfarer, Clubmaster |
| Smart glasses partner | Meta |
| Website | ray-ban.com |
What is Ray-Ban?
Ray-Ban designs and sells sunglasses and optical frames worldwide. Its classic models, the Aviator and Wayfarer, are among the most recognised eyewear designs ever made, alongside lines such as the Clubmaster and Erika. The brand is managed from Milan by EssilorLuxottica, the world's largest eyewear company.
History
Ray-Ban grew out of work by Bausch & Lomb in Rochester, New York, with the US Army Air Corps on anti-glare sunglasses for pilots in the late 1920s and 1930s, which led to the Aviator. The Wayfarer followed in the 1950s, and the Clubmaster in the 1980s. In 1999 the Italian group Luxottica, founded by Leonardo Del Vecchio, acquired Ray-Ban from Bausch & Lomb for a reported 640 million US dollars. Luxottica merged with Essilor in 2018 to form EssilorLuxottica.
Products and positioning
Ray-Ban is a premium mass brand: widely distributed and accessible in price, but with strong heritage. Its range includes:
- Sunglasses, including polarised and prescription versions
- Optical frames
- Custom sunglasses configured online
- Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses
Ray-Ban and technology
In 2021 Ray-Ban launched Ray-Ban Stories, developed with Facebook Reality Labs, with a built-in camera and speakers. Later generations under the Ray-Ban Meta name added Meta AI features, and in September 2025 Ray-Ban and Meta announced the Meta Ray-Ban Display, described as their first glasses with an in-lens display. The official Ray-Ban website now gives the Meta collection its own section.
Business model and distribution
Ray-Ban is sold through opticians and other wholesale accounts, EssilorLuxottica's own retail chains, Ray-Ban stores and e-commerce. Luxottica introduced a minimum advertised price policy for wholesale customers in 2016.
Why it matters
Ray-Ban is the anchor brand of the world's largest eyewear group and the most visible test of whether fashion accessories can become everyday computing devices. Its Meta partnership has made smart glasses a mainstream retail category.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Ray-Ban?
Ray-Ban is owned by EssilorLuxottica. Luxottica bought the brand from Bausch & Lomb in 1999 and merged with Essilor in 2018.
Is Ray-Ban an American or Italian brand?
Ray-Ban was created in the United States by Bausch & Lomb in Rochester, New York. Since 1999 it has been owned by Luxottica, and the brand is now managed from Milan, Italy.