aviator-large-metal

The Ray Ban Aviator is the foundational model of the Ray Ban brand under Bausch & Lomb. Its origin is tied to high altitude aviation and the need to reduce glare without losing visual clarity. Before becoming a cultural icon, it was an optical solution. The broad lens shape, lightweight metal frame, and double bridge answered a specific function: to cover the pilot’s field of vision, protect against intense light, and preserve a clean reading of the surrounding environment. Within the B&L archive, the Aviator works as the starting point for an entire family of models. Shooter, Outdoorsman, Caravan, The General, and other related variants all derive, directly or indirectly, from that early metal frame language.