Excellence
The founding collection. Layered wood veneer and natural slate stone, hand-shaped and finished. Species like Bog Oak, Smoked Cherry, Walnut Burl, and Silver Oak paired with slate in Black, Anthracite, Autumn White, and Red.
Authorized Retailer, 100% Authentic
Rolf
Rolf Spectacles is a family business, founded in 2009 by Roland Wolf and his family in the Tyrolean Alps, and its frames are made by hand in Austria. Rolf handcrafts its frames from wood and stone. Each frame is joined with the patented FlexLock hinge, which uses no screws and no metals.
Visionary Optics is an Authorized Retailer of Rolf eyewear in New York. Styles in stock can be tried on at our New York stores in the Upper East Side, Chelsea and Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, and we ship nationwide.
Rolf's 3D-printed, plant-based line has its own page: Rolf Substance.
7,000+
Frames Across 3 Locations
3
NYC Locations
35+
Years in Business
HANDCRAFTED IN AUSTRIA · SINCE 2007
A Different Kind of Eyewear
Evolved
A broader palette of rare species. Smoked Larch with its caramel-brown tone, Steamed Robinia from Europe, Tineo from Patagonia. Includes the Twisted sub-line, where veneers are rotated 90° for grain patterns that never repeat.
Fusion
A 3D-printed plant-based frame body carrying delicately engraved real wood veneer inlays. The warmth of wood with the lightness of bean-based bioplastic.
PLUS X AWARD 2024
Built by Hand, Built to Last
Every Rolf frame closes with the patented Flexlock® hinge. No screws. No soldering. No metal. The frame is wood or stone, and the hinge needs only two rubber rings.
It’s lighter than acetate, kinder to sensitive skin, and built to last decades rather than seasons. Each frame is signed by the craftsman who shaped it.
No two pieces of wood or stone are identical. Which means no two Rolf frames are identical either.
SILMO D'OR 2009 · RED DOT AWARD · PLUS X AWARD 2024 · CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE EYEWEAR
Rolf Traction Optical
Sale price$1,195.00
2 colors available
Rolf Bristol Optical
Sale price$1,195.00
Rolf Genie Optical
Sale price$1,195.00
1 color available
Rolf Excellence Optical
Sale price$1,195.00
2 colors available
Rolf Firedome Optical
Sale price$1,195.00
2 colors available
Rolf Traveller Optical
Sale price$1,195.00
1 color available
Rolf Tickford Optical
Sale priceFrom $3,995.00
3 colors available
Rolf Minor Optical
Sale priceFrom $1,195.00
2 colors available
Rolf Lark Optical
Sale price$1,195.00
2 colors available
Rolf Facel Optical
Sale price$1,395.00
1 color available
Rolf Dixi Optical
Sale price$1,195.00
1 color available
Why Rolf at Visionary Optics?
Rolf is an Austrian family business founded in 2009 in the Tyrolean Alps, building eyewear from natural materials — wood, stone, horn, titanium, and plant-based castor bean. Their patented hinge system joins these materials without screws or metal parts, an engineering signature that distinguishes every Rolf frame.
Visionary Optics carries Rolf optical frames and sunglasses at our three NYC locations, with a curated selection spanning the wood, stone, and Substance collections. The stone frames are unique to Rolf and unique to each wearer — natural color variation means no two pairs are alike.
Prefer to try before you buy? Visit any of our three NYC locations for an in-person fitting. Many frames are available for same-day pickup with ZEISS single vision lenses.
The Visionary Optics Difference
Authorized Rolf Retailer
Award-winning Austrian eyewear handcrafted in the Tyrolean Alps since 2009 — every frame fully authentic, sourced direct from the maker.
No Screws, No Metal Hinges
Rolf's patented hinge system joins wood, stone, and horn without a single screw — a quiet feat of engineering hidden inside every frame.
Wood, Stone & Tyrolean Craft
From vibrant wood to 'tamed stone' — each pair handcrafted in Austria, with stone frames truly one-of-one in color and structure.
Expert Rolf Fitting
Our opticians know Rolf's wood, stone, and Substance collections, and pair each frame with ZEISS precision lenses for crystal-clear vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Rolf eyewear different?
Rolf frames use the patented FlexLock joint, with no screws and no metals. Wood and stone frames are joined with the same joint, which uses no screws and no metal hinges. The system was developed over years of engineering R&D in the Tyrolean Alps, and it is what makes Rolf's natural-material frames structurally sound enough for daily wear.
Where is Rolf eyewear made?
Every Rolf frame is handcrafted in Tyrol, Austria, where the brand was founded in 2009 by Roland Wolf and his family, and the workshop is still family-run. Its awards include the Silmo d'Or and several Red Dot Design Awards, and in 2025 it won the CSE Award for the second year in a row.
What materials does Rolf use?
Rolf's natural materials are wood and stone, with horn used as well. The Rolf Substance collection is 3D-printed from a plant-based material made from castor beans. Every stone frame shows its own natural color and texture, so no two are alike.
How much do Rolf glasses cost?
Rolf optical frames and sunglasses typically range from approximately $600 to $2,000 in the U.S., depending on materials. Wood and titanium frames sit at the lower end of that range; stone frames and limited-edition combinations cost more due to the rarity of materials and additional production steps. The Rolf Substance 3D-printed collection runs approximately $595 to $825, making it the most accessible way into the brand.
What's the difference between Rolf and Rolf Substance?
Rolf is the brand's main collection, with frames in natural materials such as wood and stone. Rolf Substance is a separate collection of 3D-printed frames made from castor-bean bioplastic, a plant that does not compete with food crops. Both share Rolf's screwless FlexLock hinge, and Substance is the more recent line.
Are Rolf stone frames really unique?
Yes. Rolf made what it calls the world's first pair of glasses made of stone. Each pair is made from a thin, carefully selected stone layer (Rolf calls this 'tamed stone'), and because every piece of stone has its own natural color, texture, and structural variation, no two Rolf stone frames are ever identical. The stone is bonded with Rolf's proprietary technique to make it light enough and durable enough to wear as eyewear, while preserving the natural character of the material.
Where can I buy Rolf eyewear in NYC or online?
Visionary Optics is an Authorized Retailer of Rolf at all three of our New York City locations: Upper East Side (1409 3rd Avenue), Chelsea (173 7th Avenue), and Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (315 Court Street). We carry both the main Rolf collection and Rolf Substance. Our opticians can walk you through differences between materials and fit, and we fit Rolf optical frames with ZEISS prescription lenses, most ready the same day. 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.