24 May 2026
There’s something very satisfying about discovering something before everyone else does – and in a world that’s moving as fast as ours is, it’s a rare treat.
To have something brought to your door to launch as a world first… that’s golden ticket stuff.
And now, tucked away (we were going to say ‘quietly’ but that’s so not us) in The Quadrant, EYES on St Albans has become the very first stockist in the world to showcase the complete new collection from Ransome & Jenkin.
Yes – in the world.
The new collection has just landed in store and already feels like one of those “if you know, you know” moments in independent eyewear.
Designed with a distinctly British character but handcrafted in the Dolomites in Italy, the collection blends understated confidence with beautiful detailing, rich materials and that unmistakable feeling of quality that’s difficult to explain until you actually put a pair on.
Because good eyewear really does feel different.
There’s a weight balance to premium acetate. A smoothness to the finish. Hinges that move properly. A comfort that makes frames feel less like something perched on your face and more like something that belongs there.
At EYES, that tactile side of eyewear matters just as much as how frames look.
“We can tell within seconds whether something has been properly made,” says Jez Levy from EYES on St Albans. “The materials, the polish, the way the frame moves in your hands – it all makes a difference. Ransome & Jenkin immediately stood out to us because the collection feels exceptional before you even get to how good it looks.”
And visually, the collection sits perfectly alongside the eclectic personality EYES has become known for.
While the recently launched JL Spex collection leans into bold colours, rebellious energy and rock’n’roll confidence, Ransome & Jenkin brings a quieter kind of luxury. Refined shapes.
Thoughtful detailing. Frames that don’t need to shout to get noticed. But get noticed – oh they will!
It’s another sign that independent eyewear is continuing to move away from “safe” and increasingly towards personality, craftsmanship and individuality.
More customers are now looking for frames that feel like them rather than simply choosing whatever happens to be on a supermarket-style display wall.
That’s one of the reasons independent opticians are thriving creatively. They’re able to discover and support smaller designers long before the big chains catch on.
And in this case, St Albans has become the first place anywhere to see the entire Ransome & Jenkin collection together under one roof.
Not London. Not Milan. Not Paris.
Marshalswick.
Which feels very EYES on St Albans somehow.
Of course, there’s still plenty of the usual “spex, hugs and rock’n’roll” atmosphere in store too. Coffee is almost always flowing, music is never far away, and Jez is still styling frames for customers with styles they’d normally never pick for themselves.
Because sometimes the perfect frame isn’t the one you planned to choose. Sometimes it’s the one that surprises you. We think Ransome & Jenkin might.
