Savile Row

Savile Row – eyewear steeped in history

Savile Row glasses are steeped in history. Savile Row Eyewear is a company with a long history, dating back as far as 1898. During the Second World War, the company manufactured lenses for gas masks and pilot’s goggles for the British Army.

Savile Row Eyewear has produced frames for many celebrities, including Denzel Washington, Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Ben Kingsley (as Gandhi) and Daniel Radcliffe (as Harry Potter). The frames have a distinct vintage style, and you’re bound to recognise some of them.

Even today, the frames are made by hand using the same old machines that have been in use all these years.

We stock glasses from Savile Row, which are available to buy both in-store and online.

Savile Row Eyewear – history

• In 1898, Max Wiseman and Co. was founded by the Victorian entrepreneur Max Wiseman.
• In 1932, Wiseman acquired two factories producing spectacles in Rathenow, Germany, and relocated them, along with their team of craftsmen, to Smeed Road in East London, the city’s historic manufacturing district. He renamed the company Algha Works.
• Algha Works supplied the RAF with pilot’s goggles several years before Ray-Ban was founded. In 1939, the company was called upon to support the war effort by manufacturing gas masks and pilot’s goggles.
• In 1940, a bomb exploded in front of the factory on Smeed Road during the Blitz. Algha Works miraculously survived.
• In 1948, Algha Works was awarded a major contract to supply spectacles to the newly formed National Health Service. The famous round spectacle shape and other original designs remain benchmarks for vintage spectacles in the industry to this day.

• In 1967, The Beatles released their groundbreaking album, ‘Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. The glasses worn by The Beatles at that time were manufactured by Algha.
• In 1971, John Lennon composed ‘Imagine’ whilst wearing his iconic gold-coloured round frames with orange-tinted lenses, a colour he found inspiring. A pair of his original frames sold for £1 million at auction, and a replica is on display at the Beatles Museum in Liverpool. Savile Row still manufactures Lennon’s original round frames.
• In 1981, the Indiana Jones film series made its debut with ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. Harrison Ford played the lead role and wore a pair of Savile Row Beaufort glasses with chestnut-coloured frames.
• In 1985, the NHS discontinued its free spectacles scheme. Only children and those on low incomes were given vouchers for spectacles, bringing the factory’s heyday to an end.
• In 1996, American Optical sold the company back to private owners. Algha Works’ unique history was preserved.
• In 2001, actor Daniel Radcliffe, star of the Harry Potter film series, wore Savile Row’s signature Warwick glasses. Daniel’s glasses grew with him – over a hundred pairs were created over the years for his role as Harry Potter.
• In 2014, Savile Row’s new production line for acetate frames was launched. All orders are still handmade to order. The name Savile Row remains the symbol of high-quality, bespoke glasses.
• In 2020, the old machines were taken to Italy to be restored by Cadore’s legendary craftsmen.
• In 2022, Savile Row relaunched its authentic range. Savile Row glasses offer unrivalled quality and attention to detail, on a par with the world’s finest eyewear.

Savile Row glasses

Selecting just a few popular models from Savile Row eyewear is no easy task. Most models are simply timeless classics. Some of those you’re sure to recognise are:

• Savile Row Beaufort
• Savile Row Round
• Savile Row Warwick
• Savile Row Panto

Official retailer

Hultins Optik has been an official retailer for many years. You can either buy your glasses online from us or visit our shop in Södermalm, Stockholm. Either way, you’re very welcome, and we hope to be of service the next time you need a new pair of glasses.