Tortoise Sunglasses

Tortoise sunglasses are frames featuring a mottled pattern traditionally made up of brown, amber, honey, caramel and darker markings.

Modern versions recreate the distinctive tortoiseshell appearance using contemporary frame materials, giving you the look without the use of natural tortoise or turtle shell.

Yes. In modern eyewear, tortoise sunglasses, tortoiseshell sunglasses and tortoise shell sunglasses are commonly used to describe the same general patterned finish.

You'll see all three terms used when shopping online, so don't worry if different brands describe a similar looking frame differently.

No. Modern tortoiseshell describes the appearance and pattern of the frame, not the use of natural shell.

Today's frames recreate the familiar mottled effect using modern eyewear materials.

The name comes from the appearance of historical decorative shell material, which had characteristic mottled brown, amber and golden markings.

That appearance became so closely associated with eyewear that the name remained even after modern materials replaced natural shell.

Today, when you see 'tortoiseshell' on a pair of sunglasses, it's describing a colour pattern rather than what the frame is actually made from.

Havana sunglasses are generally part of the tortoise colour family.

The term is commonly used for warm mottled frames featuring combinations of brown, amber and caramel. Depending on the eyewear brand, Havana may describe anything from a fairly light honey-brown pattern to a much deeper dark Havana.

Because the terminology isn't completely standardised, it's better to look at the actual frame colour than rely on the name alone.

Tortoiseshell is the broader term for the mottled pattern, while Havana is commonly used to describe particular warm brown and amber interpretations of it.

In practice, two very similar pairs might be called 'Havana' by one eyewear brand and 'tortoise' by another.

'Demi' is another term you'll sometimes encounter for patterned eyewear in the tortoiseshell family.

It can be used for frames with mottled or mixed brown colouring rather than one completely solid shade. As with Havana, naming conventions vary between manufacturers.

If you're searching for demi sunglasses, it's worth looking through tortoise and Havana collections too.

Although both use irregular markings, they're different patterns. Traditional tortoiseshell blends amber, brown, honey and darker areas together in a more organic, mottled way. Leopard print is designed around more recognisable spots or animal print markings.

Some contemporary frames blur the boundaries, but classic tortoise is generally much more blended.

Almost any. Tortoise works particularly well when you can see enough of the frame to appreciate the pattern, which is why you'll often find it across square, rectangular, cat eye, round, oversized and Wayfarer inspired sunglasses.

A fine frame keeps the pattern subtle, while a chunky rim gives the different colours much more room to show.

Tortoise frames are commonly paired with brown, grey and green sunglass lenses, although other combinations are possible. A brown lens keeps the overall look warm and tonal, while grey creates more contrast between the frame and lens.

When choosing, consider the actual properties and suitability of the lens as well as how the colour looks with the frame.

We aim to represent every frame as accurately as possible, but patterned materials can naturally vary. The exact position of lighter and darker markings may differ slightly, and tortoiseshell can also look different under natural and artificial light.

Rather than seeing that variation as a flaw, it's part of what makes a patterned frame different from a solid colour.