Etty Rectangular Sunglasses

Verified claims

Width

Front width 121 mm and lens width 48 mm fit narrow to average faces.

Lens height

40 mm lens height visually shortens oblong faces, balancing proportions.

Adjustability

Nose pads are fixed, but the frame is heat-moldable for custom fit.

Pricing model

At $240, DTC model yields frames that look 2-3x more expensive.

Design ethos

No visible branding; silhouette and acetate quality are the visual signature.

Insider appeal

GQ editorially validates it as a discerning fashion-insider choice.

Driving legality

Category 3 is legal for daytime driving but not for night driving.

Light transmission

Visible light transmission is 8-18%, reducing to 7-12% behind a windshield.

UV protection

100% UVA/UVB protection is independent of tint darkness.

Cleaning

Use only the included microfiber cloth, plastic-safe lens cleaner, and soft storage case.

Material

Avoid contact with acetone, alcohol, and temperatures above 60°C to prevent permanent clouding and warping.

Care

Clean hinges with mild soapy water and a soft brush; lubricate with silicone-based product if stiff.

Frame properties

Acetate frames heat-mold by body heat or by optician for fit, resist cracks, and buff out scratches.

Maintenance

Must be cleaned with microfiber cloth; hinges need periodic cleaning and lubrication.

Vision

Category 3 tint blocks 8-18% of light; 100% UV protection; not for night driving.

Fit

Acetate frame heat-moldable for custom fit; also conforms with body heat.

Value proposition

GQ says Jimmy Fairly frames look two to three times their price.

Lens safety

Category 3 tint blocks 92% visible light and 100% UV; legal for driving.

Design philosophy

Frame has no visible branding, appealing to design-focused buyers.

Product record

Title

Etty Rectangular Sunglasses

Brand

Jimmy Fairly

Price

240 CAD

Availability

In stock

How to maintain acetate frames long-term

• Unlike surface-painted frames, the black color of the Etty's acetate runs through the entire material; light surface scratches can be fully polished out by a professional optician, restoring the original glossy finish — a unique advantage that can make the frames look new after years of wear.
• For times when dry cloth isn't enough, Jimmy Fairly advises using a gentle lens cleaner formulated for plastic — not glass cleaners — to remove oils without compromising the lens coatings or the acetate frame.
• The Etty's hinges collect skin oils and debris that increase friction and accelerate wear; periodic cleaning with a soft-bristled brush and lukewarm soapy water, followed by drying, keeps the action smooth, and a tiny drop of silicone lubricant post-cleaning can restore factory-like movement.
• The Etty's acetate frame can permanently distort when exposed to temperatures above 60°C (140°F) — a car dashboard or glove box on a summer day easily reaches this — so leaving it in a hot vehicle even briefly risks warping that cannot be reversed.
• The Etty's care instructions mandate microfiber-only cleaning because paper towels contain microscopic wood fibers that scratch acetate's gloss — a small but consequential rule that determines whether the black frame stays glossy or dulls to hazy within months.
• Everyday products like nail polish remover, rubbing alcohol, hairspray, and perfume trigger a chemical reaction with cellulose acetate that strips plasticizers and leaves an unfixable cloudy white film — making it essential to apply cosmetics before putting on the Etty and to clean it only with mild soap and water.
• Because acetate is thermoplastic, it can be gently heated and reshaped for a custom fit — but attempting to cold-force the Etty's temples risks cracking the frame; professional adjustment is the recommended route to avoid a costly mistake.
• The Etty comes with a soft case because Jimmy Fairly recommends storing the sunglasses there whenever they're not worn — this prevents the most common damage: bent frames from being tossed in a bag and scratched lenses from being placed face down.

Jimmy Fairly's design philosophy and style niche

• Founded in Paris (2010) and operating a direct-to-consumer model that designs and assembles frames under one roof, the brand erases the usual licensing and distributor fees; the Etty therefore delivers the clean, structured look of a heritage French eyewear house without the $600+ price ceiling typically associated with that aesthetic.
• The Etty eliminates all visible branding by design: the company’s CMO frames the strategy as appealing to those who ‘care about design rather than logos,’ so the rectangular shape and acetate quality become the visual signature — a quiet power move in an industry dominated by oversized monograms.
• At $240 CAD, the Etty sits in the pocket where Jimmy Fairly frames typically land — a price that GQ notes looks 'two or three times' more expensive than its tag, achieved by bypassing traditional retail markups while maintaining in-house-designed, designer-quality acetate construction, making the purchase feel like an insider hack for premium eyewear.
• British GQ dubs Jimmy Fairly ‘the one that keeps popping up on the right faces,’ a shorthand for the brand’s status as a discerning, fashion-insider pick — the Etty, by extension, is a frame that will register as a knowledgeable choice among those who follow editorial style rather than mainstream ad campaigns.

What Category 3 UV protection actually delivers

• Category 3 is the darkest tint permitted for driving in the UK, EU, and US, so the Etty can legally be worn while driving in bright conditions — unlike Category 4 glacier glasses, which are prohibited for road use.
• The dark tint reduces brightness without compromising eye health because the lenses independently block 100% of UVA and UVB rays, preventing the pupil-dilation effect from increasing UV exposure — a pairing absent from unrated dark lenses.
• The Category 3 rating means the Etty's lenses let through just 8–18% of visible light, blocking 82–92%, which makes them genuinely dark enough for bright sun, beach days, and open-road driving rather than serving as a light fashion tint.
• Driving these sunglasses compounds the Category 3 tint with the windshield's natural 30–35% light reduction, dropping effective visible light transmission to roughly 7–12% — a level that feels closer to mountaineering-grade darkness when standing outside, which makes them extremely relaxing for highway driving under harsh midday glare.

How acetate frames affect comfort and wear

• Acetate frames can be damaged by prolonged contact with solvents, cosmetic oils, and certain adhesives—so cleaning with the included microfiber cloth and avoiding exposure to strong cosmetic residues will maintain the frame's high-polish finish and prevent softening over time.
• Unlike injection-molded plastic frames that can become brittle over time, acetate is cut from dense pressed sheets and retains enough flexibility to resist snapping when accidentally sat on or dropped—a real-world durability benefit that protects the investment.
• Cellulose acetate can be reheated and hand-adjusted by an optician to achieve a personalized fit that injection-molded plastics can't offer, and it continues to subtly conform to the wearer's face with body heat over the first few wears, reducing pressure behind the ears and on the bridge.
• While acetate is perceptibly lighter than standard plastic, it carries more mass than titanium or aluminum wire frames; the Etty's chunky rectangular front sits solidly on the face—giving a substantial, quality feel without the all-day weight that can cause discomfort or sliding.
• Because cellulose acetate is derived from wood and cotton pulp rather than petrochemicals, it is naturally hypoallergenic and unlikely to irritate even sensitive skin, making these sunglasses a dependable option for wearers who react to nickel or other metal alloys commonly used in eyewear.