Tortoiseshell frames have stood the test of time without ever losing their charm. Timeless, elegant, and available in a wide range of tones, they appeal to fans of both classic style and modern flair. But to get the best result, it’s important to choose the right shade and shape based on your face, skin tone, hair… and personality.

Whether you're a private customer looking for your next pair of glasses or an optician wanting to better advise your clients, this article will help you make the right choice.

Why Choose Tortoiseshell Frames? 👇

Tortoiseshell is known for its rich range of shades: amber, honey, dark brown, caramel, cognac—even mixed with blue, green, red, and more.

Once made from real turtle shell (now banned), tortoiseshell is now reproduced using high-quality materials like acetate or bio-acetate.

Key Advantages:

✔️ A color palette that suits many skin tones
✔️ A sophisticated yet approachable look—never too harsh
✔️ A natural, warm touch that softens facial features
✔️ Discover this frame style that easily suits all complexions

How to Choose the Right Tortoiseshell Shade for Your Skin Tone

🔸 Fair to Rosy Skin: Go for Warm and Contrasting Shades

Jelly, pastel, or rosy skin tones glow with frames in honey, cognac, or golden caramel shades. These tones add warmth without hardening the face. Avoid very dark tortoiseshell, which can dull your complexion.

Try: light honey tortoiseshell, golden amber, soft caramel, khaki tortoiseshell.

🔸 Medium to Golden Skin: Classic Tortoiseshell Is Your Best Friend

If your skin is beige, golden, or lightly tanned, you're in luck—almost every tortoiseshell tone will suit you. Mixes of browns, blacks, and warm highlights will naturally enhance your radiant complexion.

Try: dark brown tortoiseshell, tobacco or cognac tones, Havana tortoiseshell, tortoiseshell with blue accents.

🔸 Deep to Dark Skin: Embrace Bold, Luminous Shades

Darker skin tones look stunning with deep tortoiseshell frames featuring red, burgundy, or even emerald highlights. This creates a bold and chic contrast.

Try: black tortoiseshell with gold touches, auburn tortoiseshell, mahogany brown, or olive tortoiseshell.

Face Shape: A Key Factor ✅

While color is essential, don’t overlook the frame shape. Here’s a quick guide based on face shape:

• Round face → Choose square or rectangular shapes to add structure

• Square face → Go for oval or butterfly shapes to soften features

• Oval face → Most shapes work—experiment based on your style

• Long face → Choose wide, rounded frames to create balance

• Heart-shaped face → Opt for slim, slightly rounded frames

Tortoiseshell is available in all these styles, making it a truly versatile choice.

Match with Your Hair and Eye Color

👁 Blue / Green Eyes
→ Golden tortoiseshell, light amber, or green highlights to bring out the iris.

👁 Brown / Hazel Eyes
→ Dark tortoiseshell, Havana, or burgundy—rich tones that deepen the gaze.

💇‍♀️ Blonde Hair
→ Go for honey or caramel tones to avoid too harsh a contrast: discover our honey tortoiseshell model!

💇‍♂️ Brown or Black Hair
→ Classic or very dark tortoiseshell for a chic and refined look.

🧡 Red Hair
→ Cognac, mahogany, or tobacco tones—tortoiseshell harmonizes warmly with these hues.

Discover our men’s glasses model that blends style and elegance—perfect for every occasion.

And What About Style? Let Your Personality Speak

✅ Classic-chic: choose a fine tortoiseshell frame in natural tones
✅ Creative: try colorful or marbled tortoiseshell
✅ Discreet: go for a minimalist shape with soft, slightly translucent tortoiseshell
✅ Bold: opt for oversized or cat-eye shapes in deep, statement-making tortoiseshell

For Professionals: Advising with Color Theory

As an optician, knowing the basics of color theory helps you guide clients toward aesthetic and comfortable choices. Offering a quick test based on skin tone, eye and hair color can make all the difference.

Also, make sure to stock various tortoiseshell shades: light, dark, warm, cool, marbled… This helps customers envision themselves with the frames and increases your sales opportunities.

Tortoiseshell: A Classic That Works for Everyone 🔎

Tortoiseshell isn’t just a style—it’s a subtle balance of nature, warmth, elegance, and personalization. With its wide range of tones, it enhances every face, every gaze, every style.

👓 Are you a private customer? Take the time to discover your ideal shade based on your complexion, eye, and hair color.
👔 Are you a professional? Highlight this timeless model by guiding your clients to flattering and confident choices.