Windsor eyeglass spectacle frames of the type worn by Harry Potter in movies of the  same name, were the most popular type of frame in the Western World from the late 1800's until the invention of nose pads in the 1920's. Loosely, Windsor frames are characterized by completely round lenses and "saddle" bridges, and have been worn by the famous and not-so-famous for nearly one hundred fifty years. Long before Harry Potter showed up at Hogwart's or your local cinema, legendary Western icons including  Gandhi and John Lennon wore this type of spectacle.

Windsors come in many configurations. The most seen today, and the one used by Daniel Radcliffe, is the classic metal wire-rim variety, with black, cordovan, or tortoise shell wrap around the eye wires. This general configuration can have trim on the temples, eye wires, and bridge in any combination. The original antique frames made by real world giants like American Optical were generally 1/10th 12K gold filled. Some were solid 10K or 14K gold.

Plastic or zyl versions came in around the turn of the century and persisted in some form until around 1940. These were made in many colors and two general qualities: dime-store glasses that had "pins" holding the temples on, driven through drilled holes in the plastic, and quality frames that were screwed together with stainless steel hinges.

Whether plastic or metal, Windsors were a dominant style for over seventy years. With the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on July 15, 2009, demand for Windsor spectacles like Harry's will soar.  There are official Harry Potter glasses, available for under $5.00. As you would expect, they are Chinese imitations of Windsor spectacles, and not suitable for prescription lens use. Think Haloween costume. You are likely to find these mass-marketed frames on Muggles.

You can still buy original Windsors on the Internet and in the growing number of vintage frame stores springing up in major cities. You might even find a store on Diagon Alley [grin]. In vintage shops, quality Windsors fetch anywhere from $500 - $3,500 depending on materials, age, condition and other factors. On Ebay, you can find them for $20.00 and up, but beware - many if not most of the cheap ones will have major defects. Most commonly, skin oils and acids get between the lens and frame and eat away the metal over time. This is impossible for even wizards to see in pictures, and unless you are buying from vintage opticians, it is unlikely the seller will even be aware that the frame may be nearly "eaten through". Other common issues are worn plating, stripped screws, and acid-etched temples.

At Clearlight Optical, we sell quality Windsors, guaranteed to hold your new lenses in style. Our guaranteed LensReady round Harry Potter Windsor spectacles are sold on Ebay auction with no reserve . Completed auction prices range from $77.00 to about $300.00. Many vintage stores purchase from us in both the U.S. and Europe. Our Windsors have been selected by major motion picture studios from New York to Los Angeles, and by customers in 36 countries. (I cannot lie. We have not yet shipped to Hogsmeade.)