Albert Bensimon, managing direction of Shiels designs, is a lover of the classics. The line’s latest eyewear is inspired by none other than Emperor Nero himself. Nero is said to have been the first person to wear sunglasses. The glasses were made out of emeralds cut into lenses, designed to block out the sun while he watched gladiator matches.
This version is pretty one-of-a-kind. In fact, they are one of a kind, because at $200,000, most people aren’t going to be buying them for daily use. The frames are made of gold accented with diamonds, and the glasses must be protected by security guards around the clock while they’re on display.
The glasses are featured in the Shiels Carillion window in Perth currently, but inquiries have been made by an unnamed celebrity who wants to make them their own.