Which Is the Oldest Eyewear Brand in India?

Lawrence & Mayo, established in 1877, is widely regarded as the oldest eyewear brand in India. Its first Indian showroom opened at Government Place in Calcutta the same year Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India, and the family-run business has operated continuously ever since, close to 149 years of precision eyecare.

When people ask which is the oldest eyewear brand in India, one name consistently rises to the top. Few Indian retail brands of any kind can trace an unbroken history back to the 19th century, yet Lawrence & Mayo has done exactly that. This is the story of the country’s most enduring optician.

The Oldest Eyewear Brand in India: Lawrence & Mayo

The title of the oldest eyewear brand in India belongs to Lawrence & Mayo. The company set foot in India in 1877, opening its first office and store at Government Place in Calcutta, now Kolkata, just months after the Delhi Durbar that named Queen Victoria Empress of India.

Founded in 1877

That founding date places Lawrence & Mayo far ahead of the modern optical chains most Indians know today. As trade coverage of India’s eyewear titans shows, the market is now crowded with national players, but almost none share this depth of history.

A Company Born in British India

Lawrence & Mayo arrived during the height of British India and grew alongside the nation itself, weathering the World Wars and the Partition while keeping its standards and identity intact.

Where the Story Began

Two London Families

Lawrence & Mayo traces its roots to two London families, the Lawrences and the Mayos, who were jewellers and watchmakers by tradition. Their businesses spread from London to Calcutta, Bombay, Karachi, Rangoon, Colombo and beyond.

A Reputation Built Early

In India, the firm quickly built a reputation as both a fine optician and a maker of precision survey, scientific and meteorological instruments, even earning a gold medal for its instruments in 1905.

Optician to Royalty

Recognition came early. In 1892, Lawrence & Mayo was appointed Ophthalmic Optician to the Commander-in-Chief in India, and over the years queens, viceroys and barons chose it as their personal optician. In 1923, Queen Mary was seen wearing the house’s “glare protectors” at the Wimbledon finals. You can read the full story in our 149-year legacy.

A Timeline of Firsts

Year	Milestone
1877	First Indian showroom opens at Government Place, Calcutta
1892	Appointed Ophthalmic Optician to the Commander-in-Chief in India
1923	Queen Mary wears the house’s “glare protectors” at Wimbledon
20th c.	First retailer to introduce contact lenses in India
20th c.	First to introduce computerised eye-testing in India
2019	The luxury Lawrence & Mayo Boutique is established

More Than Just Old

Longevity alone does not explain the brand’s reputation. Lawrence & Mayo became a genuine pioneer of Indian eyecare, with a record of firsts that few rivals can match:

→ The first retailer to introduce contact lenses in India
→ The first to bring computerised eye-testing to the country
→ An early adopter of progressive and coloured lenses
→ The platform on which many international eyewear houses chose to launch in India

Continuity of Standards

Just as notable is how it grew. As a wholly family-owned business operating on a strict no-franchise model for more than 140 years, every showroom answered to the same ownership and the same commitment to quality. That continuity, rare among eyewear brands anywhere, is a defining thread of the brand’s heritage.

The Legacy Lives On in the Boutique

In 2019, that heritage evolved into a dedicated luxury vertical, the Lawrence & Mayo Boutique. Building on nearly a century and a half of expertise, the boutique curates the world’s finest eyewear houses and pairs them with precision eyecare in a handful of India’s most prestigious addresses.

Did you know? The boutique brings the oldest name in Indian eyewear into the present, offering modern luxury shoppers the same trust that royalty relied on more than a century ago.

So while the history reaches back to 1877, the experience is thoroughly modern. To see how India’s oldest optical name presents luxury eyewear today, explore the Lawrence & Mayo Boutique →.

Which Is the Oldest Eyewear Brand in India? The Short Answer

If you are looking for the oldest eyewear brand in India, the answer is Lawrence & Mayo, established in 1877, family-run ever since, and still setting the standard for heritage, trust and precision in Indian eyecare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the oldest eyewear brand in India?

Lawrence & Mayo, established in 1877, is widely regarded as the oldest eyewear brand and optical retail chain in India, and has operated continuously as a family-run business ever since.

When was Lawrence & Mayo founded?

Lawrence & Mayo was founded in 1877, opening its first Indian showroom at Government Place in Calcutta, now Kolkata, making it close to 149 years old.

Where was Lawrence & Mayo first established?

Its first Indian store opened at Government Place in Calcutta in 1877. The brand’s roots trace back to two London families of jewellers and watchmakers.

What is Lawrence & Mayo known for?

It is known for precision eyecare, serving royalty and dignitaries, and pioneering firsts in India including contact lenses and computerised eye-testing.

Is Lawrence & Mayo still operating today?

Yes. It operates more than 100 showrooms across India and runs a dedicated luxury vertical, the Lawrence & Mayo Boutique.

What was the first optical shop in India?

Lawrence & Mayo is widely credited as one of the first modern opticians in India, opening in Calcutta in 1877.