You know that here at WCL we love a great pair of sunglasses and we are suckers for leather goods and watches that make a statement. There's something profoundly satisfying about sunglasses that refuse to whisper when they could make a statement. Hearing the name Jacques Marie Mage thrown in when talking about eyewear—and most recently also supple leather goods and jewelry—is as powerful as hearing the name Cartier when talking about watches and jewelry. And just like the leather cases accompanying their frames, their leather goods are also ‘Made in Italy’. Below the Elston Trifold Wallet in Camel Leather in a limited production of 250 pieces.
A Brand Born from Obsession
Jacques Marie Mage emerged from the singular vision of Jérôme Mage, a French-born designer who relocated to Los Angeles and founded the brand in 2014. The brand represents a unique marriage of French and American design sensibility intertwined with Japanese handcrafting excellence—designed in Los Angeles and handcrafted in Japan.
Mage is said to harbor a collection of 1,000 vintage sunglasses, along with over 50 suits from Saint Laurent dating back to the 70s from what we’ve gathered. This obsessive collecting instinct became the foundation of his design philosophy. When he launched Jacques Marie Mage, the industry was skeptical considering the bold designs and price point. Today, the unique vision of its founder has made Jacques Marie Mage one of the most coveted eyewear brands in the world.
From the quality of the product to the packaging, and from the limited production series to the plant-based acetate they use, JMM is everything you ever wanted from an eyewear brand. The bold designs, unique colors—like the Wine color we have here—and the exquisite ‘Made in Italy’ leather cases accompanying the frames, make Jacques Marie Mage a brand that definitely stands out from your run-of-the-mill eyewear brands. Not to mention that they are also advocates for American wildlife preservation.
The Jacques Marie Mage 'Alfred' Sunglasses in Wine are made in a limited production of only 200 pieces and their sculptural frame with sleek silhouette and incredible volume details, features that exposed wirecore that the brand is very well known for.
The Craftsmanship
What strikes you first about the Jacques Marie Mage ‘Alfred’ is its architectural confidence. The bold rectangular frame doesn't apologize for taking up space on your face; it transforms that real estate into something purposeful. The wine—bloodstone—colorway elevates this design from merely striking to genuinely memorable—suggesting a wearer who understands that true luxury lies in the unexpected choice. The attention to detail is simply remarkable.
Each pair represents a rigorous 300-step process that takes nearly 18 months from start to finish. The frames are handcrafted by artisans in Osaka at the Sabae-Fukui Prefecture in Japan—the birthplace of Japanese eyewear—with each frame crafted by a single artisan.
The Jacques Marie Mage ‘Alfred’ aren’t just eyewear, they are a commitment to a certain way of seeing, literally and metaphorically. It's for those who understand that the best accessories don't just protect your eyes from the sun; they protect your sense of self from the ordinary. The blue lenses with anti-reflective coating and UV protection safeguard your eyes the right way while the frames convey that you are not average.
Wearing the ‘Alfred’ frames is an exercise in intentionality. These aren't sunglasses you throw on reflexively—they're sunglasses you choose, deliberately, as part of a larger statement about how you move through the world. They suggest someone who reads more than they scroll, who values craft over convenience. Someone who wants to make a statement by wearing the best, the ‘If You Know, You Know’ type of person.
The Jacques Marie Mage ‘Alfred’ isn't just eyewear—it's a commitment to a certain way of seeing, literally and metaphorically. It's for those who understand that the best accessories don't just protect your eyes from the sun; they protect your sense of self from the ordinary. These frames don't merely complement an outfit—it anchors it, grounds it in a kind of intellectual gravitas that feels both timeless and entirely contemporary. Pretty much like wearing a Cartier Santos 100 XL DLC, which means that you’re not wearing a watch to impress others or flex craving attention, you are wearing the watch to please and satisfy yourself.
Sticker Price USD 870 for the Alfred Sunglasses and USD 650 for the Elston Trifold Wallet—Cartier Santos not included.
