American Optical Vintage Hinge Wellington Tortoise-New Custom Green Lens Sunglasses

Vintage American Optical AO-Hinge Wellington Tortoise Custom Green Sun Lenses

Condition

Collectors condition. Professionally serviced, polished, and renewed, preserving the frame’s vintage character and distinctive AO monogram fittings.

Fashioned with brand-new custom sun lenses by Second Chance Customs.

Frame Details

• Brand: American Optical
• Style: AO-Hinge Wellington
• Era: Circa 1950s–1960s
• Color: Brown tortoise with warm amber highlights
• Shape: Wellington
• Keyhole bridge
• Signature interlocking AO monogram front fittings
• Silver-tone temple accents
• Substantial seven-barrel hinges
• AO FLEXI-FIT temple markings

The tortoise pattern brings depth and warmth to the sculpted front, while the exposed metal fittings give this frame its unmistakable American Optical identity.

Lenses — Second Chance Customs

Brand-new custom solid-green sun lenses, professionally fitted with backside anti-reflective coating to help reduce reflections from light entering behind the lenses.

The green tint complements the amber and brown tones of the vintage frame.

Size & Fit

• Lens width: 46mm
• Bridge width: 22mm
• Temple length: 152mm

A compact lens size paired with a generous keyhole bridge and longer temples. Personal fitting is recommended for the best alignment and comfort.

Why We Love Them | Era & Relevance

An important American Optical collector style, recognized by vintage eyewear specialists as the AO-Hinge Wellington. Its defining feature is the interlocking AO monogram integrated into the front hinge fittings—a small detail with considerable visual presence.

Specialist archives identify comparable keyhole-bridge examples with the 1950s–1960s and describe tortoise as an especially scarce variation within this family.

This pair combines that collectible design with professional servicing and fresh custom lenses. Warm tortoise, green lenses, substantial hinges, and a beautifully balanced silhouette make it a compelling piece of American eyewear history to wear today.

Authentication

Authenticated by Second Chance Authenticators, our independent authentication division. Examined for maker identification, construction, identifying markings, vintage characteristics, and condition.

Includes a RECORDED Certificate of Authenticity and QR-linked registry record documenting the frame’s identifying details, Collectors condition grade, and replacement custom lenses..

SecondChanceAuthenticators.com

What’s Included

• American Optical AO-Hinge Wellington frame
• New Second Chance Customs green sun lenses with backside AR
• Second Chance Eyewear protective case and cleaning cloth

Notes

Authentic vintage frame with newly fitted custom lenses. The era is attributed through comparison with documented specialist examples.

Photographs show the actual pair. Custom prescription lenses or readers are available upon request.

Available online and by appointment. Please review our posted return policy before purchasing.

RETURNS

WE DO NOT OFFER RETURNS ON LUXURY ITEMS OR LIMITED EDITION ITEMS. BY PURCHASING, YOU ACCEPT THESE TERMS OF FINAL SALE

Our Promise

Thoughtfully selected eyewear, carefully inspected and accurately represented. Vintage character preserved, with personal assistance from Second Chance Eyewear.

See the World Through a New Lens®.