Cartier's first pair of glasses were a diamond-encrusted lorgnette, a pair of opera glasses custom-made for a French princess in 1887, 40 years after the company was founded.
Cartier glasses are a status symbol in the city, and for more than 30 years, they've remained a staple of fashion and culture. They're referred to as Carties, Cardis, 'Ye's, or Sticks. The most fashionable designs are the Woods, made with Bubinga lumber, and Wire Frames, with lenses fixed in a thin gold rim. At the top of Cartier eyewear hierarchy are the "All White Buffies".