They may seem frivolous to outsiders, but Cartier glasses are a status symbol in Detroit, and have been for more than 30 years. As a staple of fashion and culture, Cartier glasses go for an average of $2,650 a pair. For a while, the most fashionable designs were the Woods, made with Bubinga lumber, and Wire Frames, with lenses fixed in a thin gold rim. Today, at the top of Detroit's Cartier eyewear hierarchy are the "All White Buffies," immortalized by local rapper Rich Ken on a song of the same name. The whiter the Buffs, the more coveted the frames. According to the Detroit Police Department, between 2012 and 2016, Cartier glasses figured in 9 homicides, 17 non-fatal shootings, and 2,158 robberies. The history of violence associated with the glasses is not lost on Cartier owners, but that does little to dissuade patrons captivated by the allure of what they mean. Cartier glasses are seen as a moniker of success. In a place where nearly 40% of the population lives below the federal poverty line, sending the message that you're above that marker has value. It's a chance to show the world that you've elevated yourself out of those conditions, and a pair of Cartier glasses will do the trick. For close to a century, Cartier products were almost exclusively worn by monarchs and aristocrats, but when Motown took over Motor City, entertainers put Cartier on the map in Detroit. Cartier glasses have the uncanny power to make you feel like someone you’re really not — they're real-life rose-colored glasses.
