Opera glasses are worn like jewellery from sleek and sophisticated to bejewelled with Swarovski crystals, there are opera glasses for every style. Alternatively, you might choose a decorative chain. Handles have a functional purpose in holding your opera glasses to your eyes, but also look beautiful.

Whether you prefer vintage designs or modern functions, use them anywhere you would like the experience of front row seats of concerts, performances, even sporting events. Although the principle of beautiful, functional and compact binocular or monocular opera glasses remains the same, opera glasses have been updated with modern features. Binoculars designed for the theatre were in use in 1823. Opera glasses were first mentioned as early as 1730, which were monoculars.

3X magnification is the most common, and most opera glasses either have automatic focus or focus centrally for easy adjustment. That gives the viewer a wide field of vision, extra detail from the performance, as well as minimising the shaking that is hard to avoid at higher magnification. Optimum Magnificationīecause opera glasses are designed for indoor use, good glasses should be at a magnification level of less than 5X. Opera glasses are an investment so it pays to choose wisely.

They differ from normal binoculars in that they are usually visually attractive and are specially designed for the sort of distances that usually occur between the back row of seats in a concert hall and the stage. Practical and beautiful, opera glasses have been used for centuries so theatre-goers don’t have to miss a thing, no matter where they are seated.

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