Collection: folding glasses

Folding glasses are the clever, travel-ready answer to a problem every eyewear lover knows well: how to carry a quality pair of frames safely when you are on the move. Engineered to collapse down to a fraction of their open size, folding frames slip into a jacket pocket, a handbag or a compact case without the bulk of conventional eyewear — and at Ardor Eyewear they come from some of the most respected names in the business. This collection is led by Persol and Ray-Ban, two houses with genuine heritage in folding design, and every pair is 100% authentic, supplied by us as an authorised UK stockist.

Whether you want a folding sunglass for holidays and commuting or a folding optical frame for your prescription, this edit covers both, with prices from around £110 to £295. Below we explain how folding frames work, the iconic models that defined the category, who they suit, and how to glaze them with your prescription through our UK service.

What are folding glasses and how do they work?

Folding glasses use additional hinges — typically at the bridge and along the temples — that let the frame collapse into a much smaller footprint than a standard pair. Where ordinary sunglasses fold only at the temples, a true folding design adds a hinge in the centre of the front so the two lenses come together, and often extra hinges on the arms so they tuck in tightly. The result folds down to roughly half the size, fitting a slim, pocketable case rather than a bulky one.

The engineering behind good folding glasses is precise: the hinges must open and close thousands of times without loosening, and the lenses must align perfectly each time the frame is set up. This is why heritage makers like Persol and Ray-Ban dominate the category — decades of metalwork and hinge expertise go into frames that feel reassuringly solid despite all that movement.

Iconic folding glasses models at Ardor

Two designs sit at the heart of this collection. The Ray-Ban Wayfarer Folding (RB4105) takes the most recognisable silhouette in eyewear history and reworks it to fold flat, keeping the bold, angular front that has been a style icon since the 1950s. The Ray-Ban Clubmaster Folding (RB2176) does the same for the browline classic, pairing retro intellectual charm with genuine portability.

From Persol — the Italian house famed for its hand-finished acetate and patented hinges — the PO0714 Folding is a benchmark of the genre, while the PO3375S, PO3345S and the optical PO3375V bring Persol's understated, sophisticated styling to folding form. You can explore the full Italian range in our Persol sunglasses collection, and the wider classic line-up in our Ray-Ban sunglasses edit. Because this collection includes both sunglasses and a folding optical frame, it sits neatly between our sunglasses and glasses ranges.

Who should buy folding glasses?

Folding frames suit anyone whose lifestyle keeps them moving. Frequent travellers value the way a folding pair tucks into hand luggage or a coat pocket; commuters appreciate slipping them away on the train without a large case; and anyone prone to misplacing or sitting on their sunglasses will find the compact case far easier to keep to hand. They also make an excellent second pair — a reliable spare that lives permanently in a bag, glovebox or desk drawer.

Because the category includes both sun and optical styles, folding glasses work equally well for prescription wearers who want a portable everyday frame and for sun-seekers who want quality UV protection that travels light. They suit men and women alike, with the Wayfarer and Clubmaster shapes being genuinely unisex classics.

Choosing the right folding frame for your face

The same face-shape principles apply to folding glasses as to any eyewear. The Wayfarer shape, with its strong, slightly angular front, flatters rounder and oval faces by adding definition. The Clubmaster browline draws the eye upward and suits heart-shaped and oval faces particularly well. Persol's softer, rounded designs are a good match for square and angular faces that benefit from gentle curves.

As with all frames, check the measurements inside the temple — lens width, bridge width and temple length in millimetres — and aim for a total width close to the widest part of your face. If you are new to folding designs, remember that the extra hinges sit flush when open, so a well-made folding frame looks and wears almost identically to its standard counterpart.

Materials and the hinge engineering that matters

Folding glasses are made from the same premium materials as standard frames — hand-polished acetate for warmth and colour, and stainless steel or other metals for the hinges and temples. The difference is in the joinery. Quality folding frames use precision metal hinges that lock positively into place, so the frame feels stable on the face rather than floppy, then release smoothly when you want to fold it away. Persol's reputation rests partly on exactly this kind of hinge craftsmanship.

Look after the hinges and a folding frame will last for years: avoid forcing them, fold along the natural points, and have them serviced if they ever feel loose. The reward is a frame that combines designer styling with genuine everyday practicality.

Prescription folding glasses at Ardor

Many of the frames in this collection — including the Persol PO3375V optical model and several of the sun styles — can be glazed to your prescription. We offer single vision, varifocal and bifocal lenses, along with tinted, photochromic and polarised options for the sunglasses. A folding frame with varifocal lenses makes an outstanding travel companion, giving you full prescription vision in a pocketable package; see our varifocal glasses for more on these lenses.

Adding a prescription is simple: choose your lens type and enter your details at checkout, and our UK lab will glaze the lenses to order, typically within around 7–10 working days, with free UK delivery. For prescription sun protection, our prescription sunglasses and polarised sunglasses services cover everything you need.

A short history of folding eyewear

Folding eyewear is far from a modern gimmick — the idea of frames that collapse for portability dates back centuries, to folding pince-nez and lorgnettes carried by the well-dressed. The modern era of designer folding glasses arrived when houses like Persol and Ray-Ban applied their hinge expertise to the problem, most famously with the folding Wayfarer, which let one of the world's most iconic silhouettes slip into a shirt pocket. Persol, founded in Turin in 1917, built its reputation on patented hinges and meridian flex systems, making it a natural pioneer of folding frames. That heritage is exactly why the category is dominated by makers with deep engineering credentials rather than fashion newcomers.

Today, folding designs occupy a respected niche: they appeal to travellers, professionals and anyone who values a frame that is as practical as it is stylish. Owning a folding pair is a little like owning a well-made travel watch — the engineering is part of the pleasure.

Comparing folding glasses with standard frames

Feature	Folding frames	Standard frames
Portability	Excellent — folds to roughly half size	Good — folds at temples only
Case size	Compact, pocketable	Larger, bulkier
Hinges	Extra hinges at bridge and temples	Temple hinges only
Best for	Travel, commuting, second pairs	Everyday primary wear
Look when worn	Virtually identical to standard	Standard

The key takeaway is that a well-made folding frame gives up almost nothing in appearance while gaining a great deal in convenience. When open, the additional hinges sit flush and largely disappear, so onlookers rarely notice that a frame folds at all — you simply enjoy the practicality when it is time to put them away.

Lens tints for folding sunglasses

The sun styles in this collection accept the same range of quality tints as our standard frames. Grey lenses keep colours natural, brown and amber lenses lift contrast for driving, and gradient lenses flatter the face while shading the eyes. For a versatile travel pair, photochromic lenses adapt between bright and dull conditions automatically, which is ideal when you are moving between destinations and changing light. Polarised lenses, meanwhile, cut glare on the road and near water — a sensible choice for a frame you will take on holiday. All designer lenses provide full UV protection as standard.

Why buy folding glasses from Ardor Eyewear

Ardor Eyewear is a UK authorised stockist, so every pair of folding glasses is 100% genuine and arrives with the brand's official case — including the compact folding case these frames are designed around. We offer free UK shipping, a 14-day returns policy with customer-paid return postage, and in-house prescription glazing. With heritage folding designs from Persol and Ray-Ban available in one place, you can buy with complete confidence in authenticity and quality.

Travelling with folding glasses

Folding glasses come into their own the moment you leave the house. Their compact case fits an inside jacket pocket, a small handbag compartment or the front pocket of a backpack, so you are never weighing up whether to bring your good sunglasses on a trip. For air travel, a folding pair tucks into hand luggage without taking up the space a rigid case demands, and it is far less likely to be crushed than loose frames in a bag. Drivers appreciate a folding pair that lives permanently in the glovebox or door pocket, ready for sudden bright spells, while cyclists and walkers value being able to stow them quickly when the sun goes behind cloud.

If you split your time between two homes, a holiday property or a regular commute, a folding frame makes an ideal dedicated second pair — always with you, never forgotten. Many owners find that the convenience changes how often they actually wear their sunglasses, simply because carrying them is no longer a chore.

Folding glasses as a gift

The combination of designer pedigree and clever engineering makes folding glasses a thoughtful gift. The heritage of Persol and Ray-Ban gives the present genuine prestige, while the practicality means it will be used rather than left in a drawer. Classic shapes such as the Wayfarer and Clubmaster suit a wide range of tastes and faces, taking much of the guesswork out of choosing for someone else. Because every pair arrives in its official compact case with full documentation, a folding frame from Ardor Eyewear presents beautifully and carries the reassurance of guaranteed authenticity.

Caring for folding frames

Always fold and unfold along the designed hinge points rather than forcing the frame, and store it in its folding case when not in use — that is what keeps the lenses aligned and the hinges true. Clean the lenses with lukewarm water and the supplied microfibre cloth, and keep the frame out of hot cars, where heat can affect both acetate and hinge tension. If a hinge ever loosens, an optician can usually tighten or service it to restore that satisfying, positive click.

Frequently asked questions

What are folding glasses?

Folding glasses are frames designed with extra hinges at the bridge and temples so they collapse to roughly half their open size, fitting a compact case or pocket. They are available as both sunglasses and prescription optical frames.

Are folding glasses as sturdy as regular frames?

Yes, when they are made well. Heritage makers such as Persol and Ray-Ban use precision metal hinges that lock firmly when open, so the frame feels stable on the face and folds smoothly when you put it away.

Can folding glasses take prescription lenses?

Many can, including Persol's folding optical models and several sun styles. We glaze single vision, varifocal and bifocal lenses, plus tinted, polarised and photochromic options, at our UK lab.

Which folding glasses models do you stock?

Our collection features the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Folding and Clubmaster Folding alongside Persol designs including the PO0714 Folding, PO3375S, PO3345S and the optical PO3375V.

Are they suitable for both men and women?

Yes. Classic shapes such as the Wayfarer and Clubmaster are genuinely unisex, and Persol's range includes styles that suit a wide variety of faces and tastes.

Are these genuine designer products?

Yes. Ardor Eyewear is an authorised UK stockist, so every folding frame is 100% authentic and supplied with the maker's official case and documentation.

How long does delivery take, and can I return them?

Non-prescription folding glasses ship quickly with free UK delivery, while prescription orders take around 7–10 working days for glazing. We offer 14-day returns on unworn items in original condition, with return postage paid by the customer.