The Legends Return: Cazal’s 50-Year Anniversary Drop

Few eyewear brands have ever dared to be as radical, defiant, and fiercely authentic as Cazal—a name with a thrill-deep shadow in the corner of its crooked smirk. From the retro-futuristic architecture with facets arching like airfoil panels of a steampunk pulse engine to the gold-tipped temples that wrap around them like liquid metal, this label never played it safe—and we’re better for it. Today, Cazal is celebrating 50 years of unapologetic eyewear by relaunching some of its most iconic designs, bringing back the legends that helped shape an entire visual culture. Get ready to rediscover your favorites—now sleeker, edgier, and still not giving a dime!

Cazal isn't one to ask for an invitation to enter and wait at the door nicely—it barges in, fully iced, sharp enough to cut armored glass, and leaves the rest gasping to keep up. With frames that often look like relics from parallel dimensions, straight from a time traveler’s vault, Cazal fuses crude, monumental, machinery-inspired shapes with streaks of radiant 24K shimmer and ethereal filigree details, achieving that instantly standout, glamorously rebellious aesthetic without shifting so much as a muscle. Asymmetric silhouettes that deconstruct conventional geometry, quirky angles and double bridges that seem to levitate between worlds, audaciously layered materials—from foggy matte acetate to gleaming brushed metal—blend like a visual mixtape, crackling with fuzzy, wired-up static. There is probably no risky design experiment or shocking fashion statement the brand hasn't served to us on a jet-glazed obsidian platter over these fifty years. Propelling you on a high-voltage ride up and down the rollercoaster of towering elegance and raw, fierce energy, Cazal transforms frames into emblems that carry the same transformative power every time you put them on.

The story of Cazal begins in the 1970s with visionary designer Cari Zalloni, a man who thought eyewear should do more than help you see; it should make people look—more than once. Born in Athens and raised in Austria, Zalloni had an eye for the unconventional and a taste for the theatrical, perfect for the job. When he co-founded Cazal (a fusion of his name: CAri ZALloni), he shook up the eyewear world with a philosophy that was equal parts craftsmanship and chaos—and addictively so.

By the 1980s, Cazal frames had become cultural currency. Hip-hop icons, breakdancers, and style renegades in New York adopted the brand as their unofficial crown. Models like the 607 and 951 became instant classics—the kind of shades that could silence a room with their sheer audacity. While others stuck to minimalism, Cazal doubled down on maximalism—with temples like gold bars, lenses like tinted shields, and details only a few could pull off.

Even after Zalloni’s passing in 2012, his bold spirit lived on. The brand didn’t water itself down; it got sharper, more refined, yet just as defiant. Collaborations, limited editions, and subtle evolutions of beloved shapes kept the loyal fanbase fed. Through decades of shifting trends, Cazal is still Cazal: original, ostentatious, and untouchable—no matter how wild the detours. Now, with the 50th-anniversary reissue, the brand invites a new generation to step into the legacy—with frames that salute old-school street-style royalty while staring down the hype-rippled barrel of tomorrow.

• Sculptural Geometry: Bold? Try ballistic. Cazal detonates timeworn design doctrines with its own disruptive, beautifully anarchic geometry. Jagged edges, defiant slants, and chiseled contours that could have been smuggled out of some off-grid steampunk workshop—every piece feels like a micro-structure built straight onto your face.
• Gold-Plated Finishes: Genuine 24K gold plating isn’t just for the chain around your neck—lots of Cazal designs gleam with golden elements that play off the rugged fronts and gritty metal inlays, rocketing the luxe factor into overdrive. A Midas punch, if you will. The kind that knocks any expectations flat.

• Mixed-Material Mastery: Acetate, titanium, stainless steel—Cazal doesn’t settle for one. Frames often combine materials with different textures and finishes, creating a layered effect that’s both complex and cool. The contrasts aren’t subtle, and that’s the point.
• Distinctive Temples: Whether carved, engraved, or patterned, Cazal temples are never an afterthought. Some are wide like cuffs, others carry signature logos, and many are pieces of art in their own right. Side views have never been so strikingly upfront.

• Hinge Innovation: No one does hinges like Cazal. Forget the basics—these frames come equipped with spring-loaded flex temples that bend comfortably beyond ninety degrees, giving you a fit that stays snug and stable without losing its shape. Moving as boldly as you do, Cazal hinges are engineered to match your pace, no matter where it sweeps you off to.
• Limited Edition Cred: Many Cazal models are produced in tight quantities or special anniversary runs. Once they’re gone, they’re gone—each pair drops like legendary loot. Vintage Cazals? To collectors, they’re grail-level.

The cult classic is back—and here to stay. Cazal’s 50-year anniversary frames have landed at Eurooptica, and they’re ready to be tried, admired, and bagged like a prize. Come rediscover the OGs—rethought, retooled, and revved up for now—and choose your own power look. Our style-savvy assistants will help you find the perfect match, whether you’re after that retro hip-hop swagger or next-level cyberpunk sharpness. Visit us at 280 Columbus Ave., Upper West Side, or 1249 3rd Ave., Upper East Side in New York City and snag your legend. Time to go bold—or go home!