Authorized Max Pittion Retailer
Authentic French heritage eyewear, handcrafted in Japan and drawn from the original Pittion archives. Every frame fully authentic, never a mass-market reproduction.
NYC's Largest Luxury Eyewear Collection
Max Pittion
Max Pittion revives a French eyewear archive that dates to the mid-twentieth century, redrawing period silhouettes with the tolerances modern manufacturing allows. Every frame is handcrafted in Japan from premium acetate, finished with the rounded profiles and warm colourways that defined the original line. Visionary Optics carries the Max Pittion collection across optical and sunglasses at our Upper East Side, Chelsea, and Carroll Gardens stores.
7,000+
Frames Across 3 Locations
3
NYC Locations
35+
Years in Business
Max Pittion Le Cagot 47 Sunglasses
Sale price$795.00
2 colors available
Max Pittion Viola 46 Sunglasses
Sale price$795.00
3 colors available
Max Pittion Viola 44 Sunglasses
Sale price$795.00
2 colors available
Max Pittion Viola 44 Optical
Sale price$795.00
1 color available
Max Pittion Victor 51 Sunglasses
Sale price$975.00
3 colors available
Max Pittion Politician 42 Sunglasses
Sale price$795.00
1 color available
Max Pittion Monstre 46 Sunglasses
Sale price$795.00
3 colors available
Max Pittion Monstre 46 Optical
Sale price$795.00
2 colors available
Max Pittion Monstre 44 Sunglasses
Sale price$795.00
5 colors available
Max Pittion Monstre 44 Optical
Sale price$795.00
1 color available
Max Pittion Le Chat 49 Sunglasses
Sale price$795.00
5 colors available
Max Pittion Hugo Crown 44 Sunglasses
Sale price$795.00
3 colors available
Max Pittion Garros 54 Sunglasses
Sale price$975.00
3 colors available
Max Pittion Dumas 44 Sunglasses
Sale price$875.00
2 colors available
Max Pittion Casse Wellington 46 Sunglasses
Sale price$795.00
1 color available
Max Pittion Balzac 44 Optical
Sale price$850.00
4 colors available
Why Max Pittion at Visionary Optics?
Max Pittion is a French heritage brand whose frames are handcrafted in Japan using old-world techniques as they were in the 1940s and 1950s. The shapes and colors are drawn directly from the original Pittion archives, built in cotton-based acetate with brass pins, five-barrel hinges, and the brand's signature Massue-style temples.
Several models pair acetate fronts with Japanese titanium temples, finished by legendary craftsmen with details like the custom MAP screw and the stamped MAX PITTION bridge cover. Each frame is named for a figure or place from French history and literature, from Balzac and Dumas to the aviator Roland Garros and the Alpine peak La Grande Casse.
Visionary Optics carries Max Pittion optical frames and sunglasses at our Chelsea and Carroll Gardens boutiques. Visit either boutique for an in-person fitting, where our opticians can pair your frame with ZEISS precision lenses.
The Visionary Optics Difference
French Heritage, Made in Japan
1940s and 1950s archive shapes built by Japanese craftsmen in cotton-based acetate, with brass pins, five-barrel hinges, and titanium temples on select models.
Carved and Articulated Design
Sculpted bridges, hand-carved rimlines, and triple-riveted brass detailing give each model its bold, unmistakable character. Chosen by only the few who know.
Expert Max Pittion Fitting
Our opticians know the line's acetate and titanium construction and pair each frame with ZEISS lenses, with many styles available for same-day pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Max Pittion eyewear special?
Max Pittion is a heritage French eyewear house whose original designs are now produced in Japan. The current collection is drawn from the brand's own archive rather than reinterpreted from scratch, so the shapes carry genuine mid-century French proportions, executed with contemporary Japanese construction. Frames are made in small quantities.
Where are Max Pittion glasses made?
Max Pittion frames are handcrafted in Japan using Japanese cotton based acetate, brass hardware, and titanium on select models. The designs originate in France, so each frame combines French design heritage with Japanese manufacturing technique.
How much do Max Pittion glasses cost?
Max Pittion pricing is unusually consistent across the collection. Most frames are approximately $795, and models that combine metal with acetate are approximately $975.
Who was Max Pittion?
Max Pittion grew up in Oyonnax, a town in the French Jura known for making combs from wood, cow horn, and later celluloid. After the Second World War he recognized what the new material could do and turned his father's comb workshop into Pittion Lunetterie, one of the finest eyewear producers in the world. He manufactured frames under license for fashion houses including Lanvin and Azzaro, led the French eyewear manufacturers association, and founded SILMO, which remains the most important international eyewear fair in the industry.
How was the Max Pittion brand revived?
Production in the Jura declined through the 1970s as manufacturing shifted to Japan, and the brand went dormant. It was brought back by Tommy O'Gara of The Light Co. working in collaboration with Bernard Pittion, Max's son. Together they returned to the original Oyonnax factory and recovered the brand's design drawings, which is why current models follow the archive rather than a modern reinterpretation.
Can I get Max Pittion frames with prescription lenses?
Yes. Every Max Pittion optical frame at Visionary Optics can be fit with ZEISS prescription lenses, and most single vision prescriptions are ready the same day. We can also fit prescription lenses into Max Pittion sun frames, and we handle progressive and specialty prescriptions.
Where can I buy Max Pittion in NYC?
Visionary Optics is an authorized Max Pittion retailer with three New York City locations: Upper East Side at 1409 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10075, Chelsea at 173 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10011, and Carroll Gardens at 315 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231. Max Pittion is stocked at our Chelsea and Carroll Gardens boutiques, and we can transfer frames to any location on request. We carry models including the Monstre, Le Chat, Victor, Garros, Le Cagot, and Balzac, and every frame is 100% authentic. We also ship nationwide, with or without prescription lenses, so you can order from anywhere in the United States.
Can't Decide? Visit Us.
Nothing beats trying frames in person. Visit any of our three NYC locations and let our experts help you find your perfect pair.