It accounts for 32% of the eyeglass world market size that was $167 billion, +18% vs. 2018, reported by Euromonitor 2023. Such a style falls in line precisely with face ratio optimization: an increase in width of the frame from the usual long-time interval of 130mm to contemporary mainstream 150mm (±2mm allowance) captures 60-65% of face transverse space and reduces visibility of the nose bridge width by 12% (Journal of Optometry study). For example, Gucci’s Oversized Square in 2022, with a 160mm diagonal frame, sold more than 480,000 pairs in the first quarter of the market, driving the brand’s eyewear business profit margin to 41%, justifying customers’ affinity for the “facial reconstruction effect.”
From the point of view of optical engineering, the curvature radius of the big large eyeglass frames‘ lens is increased from the standard 600mm to 800mm, and the edge aberration is reduced to 0.12 diopter (the standard in the industry is ≤0.25D), improving the field of view clarity by 23%. Hoya’s thin lens technology thins the thickness of the lens to 1.2mm (3.5mm for mainstream products), reduces the weight by 58%, and meets the structural strength requirements of large-size frames (bending strength ≥90MPa). Luxottica Group indicates that, for product lines using such technology, customer re-purchase levels jumped from 35 percent to 52 percent, and returns declined 19 percent.
According to social media monitoring platform Brandwatch, the content engagement rate (CTR) of using #largeeyeglassframes on Instagram reached 6.7 percent, which is 2.3 times more than normal frames, and traffic came in at 73 percent from female audience members between the ages of 18-34. According to TikTok’s top tutorials, tutorial makeup with big-frame glasses gets watched an average of 240,000 times, which is 41% more than tutorials using small-frame glasses. Warby Parker, an American chain retailer, found through the use of AR virtual trial technology that shoppers choosing large-frame models reduce decision time by 37% and increase conversion rates by 28%. This has a direct correlation with the “immediate small face effect” – visual cognitive models from MIT Media Lab have determined that large frames can reduce jaw line vision by 15-20%.
Advancements in technology on the supply side are also critical: the Shenzhen, China, eyewear belt uses computerized injection molding technology to reduce the production cycle of big-size frames from 14 days to 6 days, and increase the yield rate from 82% to 95%. 2023 industry data indicate that the raw material cost of the titanium alloy frame decreased by 21%, yet the retail price still maintained a 19% premium band, propelling brand gross profit rate over 55%. Green guidelines such as California Proposition 65 compelled producers to regulate nickel releases below 0.2μg/cm²/week, thus plating enhancements have boosted the product life cycle to 4.1 years from 2.3 years.
Clinical research reveals a hidden need: The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) tracked 5,000 users and saw that 78% of the people wearing larger frames believe they can properly hide fine lines and dark circles under the eyes, equivalent to saving $300 every year in concealer makeup costs. The color-shifting lens developed by South Korea’s LG Group and integrated with the big frame shape can boost the UV blocking ratio to 99.9%, and the outdoor color-shifting response time is as fast as 0.3 seconds (1.2 seconds for normal products), and it has become the fastest-selling individual product in Amazon’s glasses category in 2023 (a growth rate of 137% in the quarter). From the perspective of market opportunities, Grand View Research predicts that large-frame glasses’ penetration ratio in functional glasses will reach 44% by 2028 and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) will remain at 9.8%-11.2%, which will continue to revolutionize appearance level economy and optical technology integration paradigm.