Versace Havana glasses bring the warmth and depth of tortoiseshell to the Italian house's optical range, offering a frame colour that is rich, characterful and endlessly flattering. Named after the mottled brown-and-amber pattern first associated with real tortoiseshell, Havana is one of the most sophisticated finishes in eyewear — softer than black, warmer than a solid colour, and quietly luxurious. This focused collection of seven frames, priced from around £135 to £170, gathers Versace's Havana optical styles in one place, all sold as genuine authorised stock by Ardor Eyewear, glazed to prescription in the UK and shipped free nationwide.
What "Havana" means in eyewear
Havana describes a marbled, multi-tonal pattern that blends browns, ambers, caramels and sometimes honey or near-black flecks in an organic, tortoiseshell-like swirl. Historically it imitated genuine tortoiseshell; today it is created in high-quality acetate, giving all the beauty of the pattern with none of the ethical concerns. No two Havana frames are ever identical, because the pattern runs through the material — which means your frame is, in a small way, unique to you.
On a Versace frame such as the VE3381U, VE3382, VE3383, VE3384, VE3387U or VE3391U, that warm acetate is paired with the brand's signature hardware — the golden Medusa at the temple and the engraved Greca border — so the gold detailing picks up and echoes the amber tones in the pattern. The result is a frame that feels coordinated, considered and distinctly Versace. To see how Havana sits against other finishes, browse the full prescription glasses range or the wider designer eyeglasses UK edit.
Why Havana is such a flattering choice
There is a reason tortoiseshell has never gone out of fashion. Its warm brown tones are more forgiving against the skin than stark black, softening the face while still providing definition around the eyes. Because the pattern contains a spectrum of browns and golds, it harmonises with a huge range of complexions, hair colours and wardrobes — it is genuinely one of the easiest frame colours to wear. Havana also carries a timeless, slightly scholarly elegance; it reads as classic and refined rather than trend-led, which makes it a smart choice for a frame you intend to wear for years.
Shapes in this collection
Although Havana is a colour rather than a shape, the frames here span several silhouettes so you can match the finish to your face:
- Rectangles and squares — the most versatile shape, and particularly handsome in Havana for a smart, professional look.
- Round and pantos — Havana suits rounder frames especially well, lending a vintage, intellectual character.
- Browline and combination styles — where the tortoiseshell brow contrasts with a lighter lower rim or metal detailing.
Each of the frames in this range — the VE3381U through VE3391U — showcases the acetate's colour depth, with the pattern subtly shifting across the front and temples.
Choosing the right Havana frame for your face
Fit and shape matter as much as colour. As a quick guide:
- Round faces gain definition from rectangular or angular Havana frames.
- Square faces are softened by round or oval Havana styles, or rectangles with gently rounded corners.
- Oval faces can wear virtually any shape in the range.
- Heart-shaped faces suit lighter, rounder frames that balance a narrower chin.
To confirm sizing, find the three numbers printed inside the temple arm — lens width, bridge width and temple length in millimetres — and compare them with a pair you already wear comfortably. Acetate frames can also be gently heat-adjusted by an optician for a personalised fit after delivery.
Acetate craftsmanship
Havana frames are made from acetate, a plant-derived plastic prized precisely because it carries multi-tonal patterns like tortoiseshell so beautifully. The colour is part of the material itself rather than a surface print, so it will not wear away, and the acetate can be polished to restore its shine over time. It feels warm and comfortable against the skin, and Versace finishes these frames with sprung or metal-cored hinges and engraved gold-tone hardware. Every pair we ship is a genuine, boxed Versace product with its case and cleaning cloth.
Prescription options at Ardor
All Havana frames in this collection accept prescription lenses, glazed in-house in the UK. Choose from:
- Single vision for distance or reading.
- Varifocals for seamless all-distance correction — see our varifocal glasses for details.
- Bifocals with a defined reading segment.
- Blue-light lenses for screens.
- Photochromic lenses that darken outdoors, plus tints.
Prescription orders take around 7–10 working days for glazing, with free UK delivery. For reading-only needs, our reading glasses collection is simpler, and you can also shop by category via women's prescription frames and men's eyeglasses.
Men's, women's and unisex appeal
Havana is one of the most unisex finishes in eyewear. Its warm neutrality means it suits men and women equally, and the shapes in this collection are chosen more for their versatility than for any gendered styling. Larger rectangles and browlines lean towards a bolder look, while rounder, mid-sized frames feel softer, but every one is defined by fit and proportion rather than by a label — making Havana a genuinely inclusive choice.
Styling your Havana Versace glasses
Because Havana is warm and earthy, it pairs naturally with autumnal and neutral wardrobes — camel, olive, cream, burgundy and denim all sit beautifully against tortoiseshell. It also complements warm-metal accessories, so gold jewellery and watches echo the gilt Medusa hardware nicely. Unlike a stark black frame, Havana softens tailoring without losing its polish, making it as at home in the office as at the weekend. If you like to coordinate your eyewear wardrobe, tortoiseshell optical frames pair naturally with the Havana styles in our Versace sunglasses collection.
The heritage behind the pattern and the brand
Tortoiseshell has a long history in eyewear, prized since the 19th century for its warm, luminous, one-of-a-kind pattern. Genuine tortoiseshell is no longer used, and rightly so, but the look endures through beautifully crafted acetate that recreates the marbled amber-and-brown effect without any ethical compromise. That heritage gives Havana frames their timeless, slightly scholarly character — they feel established and refined in a way that trend-led colours never quite manage.
Layered over that is the Versace story. Founded in Milan in 1978 by Gianni Versace, the house is famous for glamour, classical motifs and the golden Medusa emblem. On a Havana frame, the warm gold-tone Medusa and Greca detailing harmonise naturally with the amber tones in the acetate, so the brand's signatures feel integrated rather than added on. It is a genuinely elegant marriage of a classic material and a glamorous house — and it explains why tortoiseshell remains one of the most requested finishes across designer eyewear. The same pattern appears in tinted form across our Versace sunglasses collection if you want to coordinate optical and sun styles.
Havana compared with black and colour frames
If you are deciding between a Havana frame and the alternatives, the differences are worth spelling out. Against a black frame, Havana is warmer and softer — it provides definition around the eyes without the hard contrast of black, which suits people who find black a little stark against their skin. Against a solid colour, Havana is far more versatile, because its blend of browns and golds coordinates with almost any outfit rather than tying you to one palette. And against a bright metal frame, Havana feels more substantial and characterful, giving the face a fuller, more expressive frame.
In short, Havana is the choice for anyone who wants warmth and personality while keeping the everyday versatility of a neutral. It is a particularly good option for a first designer frame, because it flatters so widely and never dates. To see how it sits beside every other finish, browse our broader eyesight glasses frames collection and the curated designer eyeglasses UK edit.
Caring for tortoiseshell acetate
Havana acetate keeps its lustre with simple care. Clean the lenses and frame with the supplied microfibre cloth and a lens spray, avoid leaving the glasses in prolonged heat such as a sunny car dashboard (which can warp acetate), and store them in their case when not worn. Remove the glasses with both hands to keep the hinges aligned, and have an optician retighten screws and refresh the fit periodically. Over the years, a quick professional polish can restore the acetate's original glow.
Why choose Ardor Eyewear
Ardor is a UK authorised stockist, so every pair of Versace Havana glasses is guaranteed authentic and arrives in official packaging. We offer free UK shipping, in-house prescription glazing across single vision, varifocal, bifocal, blue-light and photochromic lenses, and a 14-day returns policy with return postage paid by the customer. To compare Havana against every other finish and shape, our eyesight glasses frames collection brings the full designer range together in one place.
Reading your frame measurements
Colour draws you to a Havana frame, but fit keeps you wearing it. Each pair carries three numbers inside the temple arm, in millimetres, that describe its dimensions. The quick guide below explains what to look for.
| Measurement | Typical range | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Lens width | 48–56mm | Overall frame width and how prominent the glasses appear |
| Bridge width | 15–20mm | How the frame rests on your nose and whether it slips |
| Temple length | 140–150mm | How securely the arms sit over your ears |
Compare these against a pair you already wear comfortably to find your size quickly. Because Havana frames are made from acetate, an optician can gently warm and reshape them for a personalised fit after delivery — useful for fine-tuning the bridge or the angle of the arms. If you would like to browse the same shapes in other finishes before deciding, our prescription glasses collection groups them together.
Who chooses Havana, and when
Havana tends to appeal to wearers who want a frame with warmth and character but the everyday versatility of a neutral. It is a favourite for professionals who find black too severe, for anyone building a first designer frame that will not date, and for those with warm or golden colouring who look especially good in amber tones. Because it reads as classic rather than trend-led, a Havana frame suits people who want to invest in a pair they will wear for years rather than a season.
It also works across occasions with almost no effort. The warm brown tones look natural at the office, relaxed at the weekend, and refined in the evening, so a single Havana frame can genuinely cover your whole week. Pairing it with our blue-light lens option makes it a practical everyday choice for screen work, while varifocal or single-vision lenses turn it into a discreet all-day frame. For more inspiration on building a coordinated look, explore our designer eyeglasses UK edit.
Frequently asked questions
What does Havana mean on Versace glasses?
Havana is a warm, marbled tortoiseshell pattern that blends browns, ambers and caramels in the acetate. It imitates traditional tortoiseshell but is made from ethical, high-quality plastic, and no two frames are exactly alike.
Are these frames genuine Versace?
Yes. As an authorised UK stockist, Ardor Eyewear supplies only 100% authentic Versace frames, each delivered new with its official case and cleaning cloth.
Can I add my prescription?
All frames in this collection accept prescription lenses — single vision, varifocal, bifocal, blue-light or photochromic — glazed in the UK before dispatch.
Who does Havana suit?
Havana is highly versatile and flatters most complexions and hair colours thanks to its warm brown tones. It is a unisex finish worn equally by men and women, and it softens the face compared with a stark black frame.
What do they cost?
Frames in this collection range from around £135 to £170 before prescription lenses, with the final price depending on your chosen lens type and coatings.
How long will my order take?
Prescription orders take roughly 7–10 working days for glazing before dispatch, and UK shipping is free on all orders.
Can I return them?
Yes, within our 14-day returns policy. Return postage is paid by the customer, and prescription lenses are made to your specification.
