The Essilor logo is associated with vision, optical technologies, and trust in lens quality. It evokes associations with precision, attention to human vision, and the everyday comfort expected from eyeglasses and other optical products. For doctors, optical store specialists, and customers, the emblem is associated with professional expertise, meticulous work, and an understanding of real vision needs.
Essilor: Brand overview
In 1849, two workshops, Essel and Silor, appeared in France. They became the foundation of a future global manufacturer of optical products. Essel specialized in lens production. Silor produced eyeglass lenses. In 1972, the companies merged and formed Essilor. This opened the way for the development of modern vision correction technologies.
In 1959, Essel introduced the first organic lenses, Orma 1000. They later became a standard in the optical industry. In 1983, the progressive lens Varilux Orma was introduced. In 1988, the Crizal coating was launched to protect lenses from scratches and glare. In 1991, Essilor established a presence in the U.S. market through a joint venture with PPG Industries. In 1993, the company was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
In the late 1990s, the company developed a network of laboratories and international partnerships. In 2000, new-generation Transitions photochromic lenses were released. In 2007, the Eyezen series appeared. These lenses were designed for users of digital devices.
By the 2010s, the company had become a leader in lens manufacturing. In 2017, it merged with the Italian company Luxottica, producer of Ray-Ban and Oakley. This created the EssilorLuxottica group. The merger was completed in 2018. The combined company gained access to the world’s largest retail network and its own eyewear brands.
In 2020, a partnership began with Facebook, now known as Meta. The collaboration resulted in the creation of Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses. In 2022, the Varilux XR Series lenses with artificial intelligence elements were introduced. Today, EssilorLuxottica operates in more than 150 countries and manages 18,000 stores. The company remains one of the leading players in the global optics market.
Meaning and History
What is Essilor?
It is a French manufacturer of optical products that holds leading positions in the global lens and eyewear markets. The company produces prescription, sunglasses, photochromic, and multifocal models under the brands Varilux, Crizal, Eyezen, Xperio, Transitions, and Foster Grant. Professional laboratories use their equipment for precise optical processing and adjustment. The production network includes dozens of factories and hundreds of laboratories in different countries.
1800s – 1920s
The company Société des Lunetiers appeared under this name long before Essilor, with an identity characteristic of the era at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The logo reflected the aesthetic preferences of the time and resembled an artistic print or engraving. It was dominated by elegant decorative elements, neat curls, and refined calligraphic details.
The inscription “SOCIÉTÉ DES LUNETIERS” was centered. It was curved and set in a large, bold serif font. The symbolism of the letters was emphasized by their elongated forms and the ornamental design of the capitals. The letter terminals transitioned into elegant floral motifs and rounded hooks, giving the typeface a more artistic appearance.
Above the main title was the line “Maison Fondée en 1840,” indicating the year the company was founded. Between the main inscription and the year was a stylized coat of arms.
Below the name was the company’s address, written in cursive: “6. Rue Pastourelle.” On the same level as the word “PARIS,” the word “PARIS” stood out. It was set in large letters, with the first letter “P” flowing dramatically into a decorative curl, emphasizing the logo’s overall artistic style.
The lower part of the logo was complemented by inscriptions in various styles and fonts: “Lunettorio,” “DESIROUS,” “MAXHEMAIOUOO,” “Juxs n Tadetliane.” These words served a decorative function, emphasizing the composition’s complexity and richness, a characteristic of the symbol’s design.
1920s – 1900s
A new phase in Société des Lunetiers’ development was reflected in the brand’s updated logo. Its design centers around three components: the letter S, the symbol, and the letter L. These elements are arranged sequentially along the horizontal axis.
The letters on either side of the logo represent a simplified version of the initial letters of the company’s name, namely the S and L from Société des Lunetiers. A minimalist style without the usual serifs and flourishes was applied to them.
The symbol in the center is an abstraction that combines optical symbolism with ancient signs. Two smooth, mirror-image arcs cross a vertical line. The upper arc curves upward, resembling a lens or the hemisphere of a pair of eyeglasses, while the lower arc, pointing downward, serves as a support. The figure evokes associations with both ancient symbols and the human silhouette.
1900s – 1962
The Société des Lunetiers logo underwent a redesign, taking on a more modern look. The new version retains the original structure, set within an oval framed by a rich, dark turquoise outline. The interior is filled with a lighter shade of the same color, creating a calm background for the elements in the center.
The center of the oval is occupied by the letters S and L, as well as a symbol between them. The letters have become bolder. A sans-serif font reminiscent of early variations of the well-known Akzidenz-Grotesk is used for them.
The central symbol has not changed from the previous version. Its shape, formed by a vertical line and two arcs, simultaneously resembles a human silhouette and eyeglass lenses, reinforcing the brand’s connection to optics.
1962 – 1969
ESSEL also left its mark on the history of corporate identity, culminating in its merger with Société des Lunetiers and the emergence of the new company Essilor. Its logo emphasized the company’s focus on optics and vision correction.
The focus was on the brand name “ESSEL,” written in a bold, black serif font. The typeface is similar to Clarendon and Egyptian. The visual emphasis is on the pair of letters in the second part of the word. The second letter S and the final L were enclosed in neat, thin circles resembling eyeglass frames. This image evoked associations with the company’s activities, hinting at the ability of lenses to magnify and expand the field of vision.
The logo sets ESSEL apart from other eyewear and lens manufacturers. Later, after merging with Société des Lunetiers, the company continued under a new name.
1972 – 1996
The history of the Essilor brand began with a significant event: the 1972 merger of Essel and Silor. The new company, Essilor, launched a new era with a concise, well-thought-out symbol that emphasizes its connection to optics and vision.
The brand name was placed at the top of the logo. Simple lowercase letters were used in a sans-serif font, creating a clean, modern look. The simplicity of the lines gave the word “essilor” a smooth and calm appearance.
The central idea of the entire identity was embodied in a stylized eye. It was rendered with thick, smooth lines forming a closed oval, within which the outline of an eye could be discerned. The letter “e” was centered. The thickness of the letter’s lines corresponded to the thickness of the symbol’s outer contour.
With the new logo, Essilor defined its field of activity, drawing on the experience of Essel and Silor, and emphasizing its specialization in optics. The brand acquired an image associated with high-quality vision and eye care.
1996 – 2009
The latest update to the Essilor logo continues the previous design direction while developing a new style. The new version retains the previous stylized eye symbol, adding a few fresh touches and a different emphasis.
The symbol at the top of the composition draws the most attention. It is rendered in white and set against a rich blue-turquoise background. The figure’s lines are smooth and precise, forming the shape of an eye, within which the letter “e” is harmoniously inscribed. The smoothness of the lines reinforces associations with comfort and eye care.
The company name is placed below. It is written in uppercase letters. The font is bold, without sharp angles, and the ends of the characters are slightly rounded, echoing the lines of the symbol. The text is dark gray, emphasizing the company’s stability and professionalism.
The updated logo retained Essilor’s visual foundation while refreshing its image. The color palette and smooth shapes evoked trust in the brand, which specializes in improving vision quality.
2009 – 2018
In 2009, the logo changed once again, reaffirming the brand’s commitment to continually developing its image. The new version retained the recognizability of the previous logo while incorporating several fresh details, giving it a stronger stylistic identity.
The eye symbol is now set against a bright blue background. Inside the symbol, the letter “e” is prominently displayed in white, featuring smooth, rounded lines. Changes were made to the shape of the eye’s outline. Its lines were slightly adjusted, becoming softer and more refined.
The name “essilor” is written in lowercase letters and placed below the eye symbol. The font has been updated, and a new sans-serif typeface is now used, similar in character to Neo Sans or ITC Avant Garde, emphasizing the company’s modern image. The text is rendered in a dark gray shade.
With the new logo, the company has further solidified its image as an innovative and reliable company that cares about users’ vision and comfort.
2018 – 2023
In the updated logo, the brand retained the recognizable eye symbol, placing the composition within a square on a bright blue background. The color is rich and pure, evoking associations with clear vision.
A white silhouette of an eye is located at the top of the square. Inside it is the letter “e,” also in blue.
Below the symbol is the brand name “essilor.” It is written in lowercase white letters. A sans-serif font similar in style to Gotham Rounded was used, with rounded shapes that add fluidity and openness to the logo.
2023 – today
The modern Essilor logo continues the brand’s history, renowned for its lens manufacturing and vision correction products. At its core, the familiar eye shape remains, rendered in a bright, energetic shade of blue. In the center is the letter “e.” It is associated with the pupil, emphasizing the company’s ophthalmological specialization.
The lower part of the logo features the brand name. The lowercase letters are sans-serif and set in a simple, light typeface. Its form resembles well-known typefaces such as Futura, Avenir, or Poppins. The color of the text matches that of the upper symbol.
The blue tone, closer to electric blue, creates richness and energy, reinforcing associations with clarity of perception and visual quality.
2015 – 2018 (corporate)
The Essilor corporate logo, used from 2015 to 2018, emphasized minimalism and simplicity. At its core is the word “ESSILOR,” rendered in uppercase letters and stretched horizontally. The letters use a clean, simple typeface similar to the well-known Futura or Gotham Rounded. The letterforms are smooth, gently rounded, and understated. The text is gray, a calm and versatile shade.
A thin line runs beneath the text, visually connecting all the letters from the first to the last. It is executed unusually. The line widens in the center and tapers smoothly at the edges, forming neat, pointed ends. It adds delicacy and a sense of completeness to the logo without disrupting the design’s overall austerity.












