Anthony Sinclair have reissued the Cool-Ray N135 sunglasses, the model that Sean Connery wears in Thunderball. Until Daniel Craig became Bond, the Cool-Ray N135 sunglasses completely defined what I thought James Bond’s sunglasses should be. Thanks to Connery, they are still the ultimate example of how cool Bond can look in a pair of sunglasses. None of us will ever be as cool as Sean Connery, but these sunglasses can help us feel one step closer.
These sunglasses have a wayfarer shape that’s more angular and rectangular than a standard wayfarer-style frame but rises at the temples. The look is streamlined and elegant but slightly aggressive, making them the perfect sunglasses for Sean Connery’s James Bond. The lenses are grey and polarised, reducing glare and improving clarity. Like the original, these have two rivets on each side and two rivets at the front of the temples.
The new iteration of the Cool-Ray N135 is not a 100% replica of the original, but it’s extremely close and captures the essence of the original much better than any of the other sunglasses available that are directly inspired by the Thunderball sunglasses. While the original reads ‘Styled by Cari Michelle’ on the left temple, these sunglasses instead read ‘Styled by Anthony Sinclair’. This updated version refines the style and, more importantly, the quality of the original sunglasses without sacrificing what gives the original sunglasses their unique character. The subtle improvements to these sunglasses make them an appropriate choice not just with a camp-collar shirt and swimwear, but also with a suit and with everything in between. I especially admire the fin-like shape of the temples.
The lens width is 52 mm, the bridge width is 20 mm and the temple length is 145 mm. The size of these sunglasses is slightly wide but not oversized and the short lens height ensure they don’t look overwhelming.
These sunglasses are the most comfortable I have in my collection, and no other glasses fit me so perfectly out of the box.
These Cool-Ray N135 sunglasses are only available in the black colourway that Bond wears in Thunderball, but I hope they’ll be offered in another colourway in the future as black looks rather harsh against my complexion. I’d love to have these in a dark havana colour that looks better against my skin but isn’t too far from the original black colour. The original was made in a number of different colourways, so there’s precedent for more to be offered today.
These sunglasses are now available from Anthony Sinclair.
In these photos I am also wearing pink and blue gingham seersucker shirts inspired Sean Connery’s shirts from Thunderball. While mine are from the 2019 season, the same shirts and others have just been re-released under the Mr. Fish brand and are now available from Anthony Sinclair.
Photos by Janna Levin Spaiser
Which size are you wearing for the seersucker shirts?
They’re a medium but I had them altered.
Very nice sunglasses and Gingham Seersucker Shirts!
Matt,
Have you ever shortened a blazer/suit jacket’s length? Eyeing a double breasted blazer that is 30.75 inches down the back seam from base of collar to hem, wondering if shortening it to 29.75 would destroy the silhouette if its already cut seemingly long.
I have, but it didn’t turn out so well. It can be done, depending on the jacket’s design.
Should be much more straightforward on double breasted because there’s no cutaway to worry about.
Shortening is a fairly common post-finish alteration for even bespoke double breasted jackets because sometimes the finished coat ends up looking like a much bigger mass due to the straight bottom.
That’s also some tailors actually * make* their double breasted coats an inch shorter than single by default as part of the house style. This was standard practice at A&S for instance.
Kamal beat me to the punch. I’ve marked double breasted jackets for alterations and they definitely are easier to shorten and have look right. Beyond a certain point though, they will still look unbalanced.
This is great news and the glasses look great. Love the review. Love the outfit choices on what to wear with it too.
Thanks, Steve!
Are they less angled than the originals? Connery’s appear to turn up more at the temples to my eye, giving a cat eye shape. Don’t get me wrong, I actually think you look better in them than Connery did.
I don’t think these are any less turned up than the original. I thought they might be more turned up.
Great post Matt. I am an officially certified sunglasses nut with over 30 pairs in rotation and several more about to go on eBay! One of my favourite posts on your entire blog was the rundown on every pair of shades worn by Bond in the films. TB is my favourite film and this pair is among many reasons why. Yours look like a well made replica and suit you very well too.
My own experience with iconic shades has not been so successful:
Masons Harry Palmer – too big
Oliver Peoples Cary Grant NXNW – too big
Steve McQueen Persol 649/714 – too big
Skyfall Tom Ford – didn’t suit me
DAD Vuarnet – didn’t suit me
I have Oliver Peoples Jaye which look very similar to the TB shades but I was disappointed that the ‘Bordeaux bark’ – supposedly a red tort colour – just looks almost black so I rarely wear them and they are likely to go on eBay too.
More recently I became a devotee of Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses and have acquired numerous pairs, including two pairs of the Ashcroft model which appear to be a slightly more chunky version of the TB shades in an angular ‘sixties spy’ frame. Among all the JMMs this is my favourite shape, I just wish they were offered in more adventurous colours, but black and brown tort are usually on offer.
What timepiece do you sport in conjunction with these ensembles Mr. Spaiser?
I’m wearing my old Omega Speedmaster Day-Date.
. . . and now I’m wearing my green eyeshade!
Cool sunglasses! A good fit on you but imho I think a more brown or tortoiseshell style would suit you better. Which leads me to the query as to why certain Bond fans ,which will not be named here, are so pushed to immediately purchase whatever the Bond actor once wore or used in a film as though it will work for them or imbue them with some sort of Bondian vibe!? I can understand being inspired by certain styles but only in as much as it suits me as opposed to cosplaying ! Case in point when DiCaprio wore the glen check Thunderball suit in catch me if you can he looked like a teenager in his dad’s suit and nothing like Sean Connery???!!! Comical actually! I mean what’s next for some of you? his underwear!!!!! Without prejudice.
The Catch Me If You Can Suit fails because it looks ready to wear. The shoulders are too large and too wide, and the sleeves are too long. Had an English tailor made a suit for DiCaprio in the same style and fit as Connery’s he wouldn’t look like he’s playing dress up.
For all its problems, the Catch Me If You Can suit is still better than the one a Bond fan site commissioned which had none of the in-universe excuses.
Extreme low rise with an elongated waistcoat to match, high buttoning point, what look like Brioni level stiff shoulders, a very trim chest, etc.
Is it bad I know exactly who you’re talking about?
Ha, I mean the guy did an international media tour with major outlets explaining how he’s wearing “the exact suit from Goldfinger” so it’s not like I’m talking about something secret!
James, we all know…
Kamal, I actually disagree with you. Some Brioni shoulders actually are surprisingly soft. I own a couple of suits and jackets, with various amount of padding, some having a rather straight line, others being more natural, even one sport coat with no padding whatsoever, yet being well made the line is always still strong without looking stiff. I think it only looks stiff on people with pretty muscular shoulders. It would look poor on Connery for example. But the stiffness effect is an unjustified critic I think. Only with heavy cloth does it look a bit too thick. I am however talking about the classic old Brioni, before it was bought by Kering. I only own stuff from the 1980s to the 2000s from them (would not say no to a vintage 60s or 70s Brioni blazer though !).
I have no idea to whom you are all referring, though I hope they’ve gotten a more flattering suit for them since then.
Great review. Used mine a few times and love them too