Facebook Pixel
Our Story
 

About Us

 

Cutler and Gross was founded on the principle that when it comes to eyewear, it’s not just about how we see the world, it’s about how others see us. For over 50 years now, we have been at the forefront of optical design - as trailblazers, disrupters and pioneers whose legacy has been much imitated, but never surpassed.

 

 

A brand built on friendship, it was established by opticians Mr Cutler and Mr Gross in 1969. Thanks to word of mouth, what began in London’s Knightsbridge as a small but innovative bespoke service soon became a fully-fledged mecca for artists, rock stars, writers and royalty. Together, the pair created the perfect balance between taste and technicality, quickly cementing their reputation as industry leaders in eyewear.

 

By making glasses fashionable, they altered the faces of generations. With every carefully sculpted curve, line or shape, their elegance, character and magic have the power to transform people. Cutler and Gross didn’t just make glasses – they were optical architects in pursuit of a product so intrinsically iconic that no external logo or branding was necessary.

 

Made in Italy by experienced craftspeople who champion the art of making every frame individually, our methodology breaks the mould – in more ways than one. Hand-crafted excellence, the finest raw materials and a seemingly endless enthusiasm to manufacture styles that celebrate the clarity of vision has made sure Cutler and Gross remains as relevant today as ever.

 

Our Founders

 

Graham Cutler and Tony Gross combined forces in 1969 in a bid to help change the face of 21st century eyewear. Sons of doctors, the pair met whilst studying to become ophthalmic opticians at Northampton College in the early 1960s. Whilst medical credentials were deep in the pair’s DNA, it was a mutual interest in the culture of fashion, art and design that was the catalyst behind starting their own optical brand.

 

The alliance of Tony Gross’ flamboyance and flair and the meticulous, detail-driven characteristics of Graham Cutler became the perfect foundation for the opening of the first ever Cutler and Gross store in 1971. Located at 16 Knightsbridge Green, London, it soon became a mecca for those seeking spectacles that promised to offer the wearer so much more than 20:20 vision.

“If you buy a handcrafted pair of glasses or sunglasses, you want to see the tiny inaccuracies, the straight, raw edges of the plastic, the pins - they give character, make them unique to the wearer. The Cutler and Gross customer has always been an individual. Eccentric maybe, but a rare breed, certainly.”

- Graham Cutler

Their hand-made, bespoke frames were the natural choice for many a discerning customer, who valued the Cutler and Gross commitment to quality, fit and good design. Modern-day attitudes to eyewear were transformed forever thanks to their pioneering approach that fused elegance, creativity and cutting-edge craft without compromise. It’s a philosophy that has endured for over half a century and continues to shape the Cutler and Gross collections to this day.