Macron's Sunglasses Steal Spotlight at Davos Summit
While world leaders gathered in Davos this week to address pressing geopolitical crises, all attention unexpectedly shifted to French President Emmanuel Macron and his distinctive eyewear. The president appeared wearing reflective, Top Gun-style aviator sunglasses, sparking a flurry of jokes, memes, and intense speculation across international media platforms.
The Speculation and Symbolism Behind the Shades
Commentators initially wondered whether Macron's sunglasses represented a deliberate political statement. Some suggested he might be avoiding eye contact with former US President Donald Trump, while others humorously speculated about boxing injuries or gym accidents. Communication expert Philippe Moreau Chevrolet interpreted the choice as symbolic, reflecting France's strained relations with the United States.
The reality proved more medical than metaphorical. Macron was actually concealing a sub-conjunctival haemorrhage – a burst blood vessel in his right eye that he described as "totally benign". Even with this explanation, the president couldn't resist cinematic references, telling French troops the condition represented "l'oeil du tigre" (the eye of the tiger), invoking the famous Survivor song from Rocky III.
French Craftsmanship in the Global Limelight
The sunglasses themselves became an unexpected ambassador for French luxury manufacturing. Produced by Maison Henry Jullien in the Jura region of eastern France, the €659 Pacific S 01 Double Gold model represents generations of artisanal expertise. Stefano Fulchir, president of iVision Tech which owns Henry Jullien, expressed astonishment when French opticians alerted him to the presidential endorsement.
"My first reaction can be summed up in three letters: wow!" Fulchir revealed. "It has not been a typical day. I feel very honoured that the president is wearing our glasses." The company's website crashed from overwhelming traffic following the Davos appearance.
Presidential Purchase and Production Details
Macron's office had contacted the company in 2024 to purchase two pairs – one as a diplomatic gift during the G20 summit and another for personal use. Notably, the president insisted on paying personally rather than accepting them as gifts. "He paid a lot of attention to whether the glasses were entirely made in France," Fulchir noted, highlighting Macron's commitment to domestic manufacturing.
The sunglasses represent premium craftsmanship, with only about 1,000 pairs produced annually by a team of ten artisans in Lons le Saunier. Using what iVision describes as an "ancient technique", gold is bonded rather than plated to the base metal for enhanced durability. The blue-tinted UV lenses come from Dalloz, another Jura-based company, completing the entirely French production chain.
Medical Perspective and Market Positioning
Medical doctor and media commentator Jimmy Mohamed offered a practical assessment, suggesting Macron wore the sunglasses primarily for "aesthetic reasons". "The glasses protect his image, but not really his eye," Mohamed told French broadcaster RTL, noting that such haemorrhages typically resolve naturally without requiring light protection.
Despite their global availability – including in conflict-affected Ukraine – the company has yet to secure a UK distributor. Fulchir positions the product as a long-term investment: "This is not ordinary eyewear; it's a luxury product that won't break after two years. It's an investment, like jewellery, like a watch."
The Davos incident has transformed a medical necessity into an international conversation about French luxury, presidential image management, and the enduring appeal of artisanal craftsmanship in a globalised world.
