Well, like a complete idiot I left my glasses on the plane yesterday and as yet they haven't been found. So what I want is another spare pair but as cheap as humanly possible without them looking like something worn by Deirdre Barlow. I have my prescription so don't need an eye test or anything like that.

Suggestions on a postcard please...

Try Wanner Optic at Oerlikon or http://www.burri-optik.ch/

Fielmann has a good reputation, low prices, and several offices around the city.

When I left my glasses on a train from Italy to Zurich, I went to Fielmann (frames can cost as low as 50 francs). There is one on Bahnofstr. near the station.

visilab at bhfstrasse has by far the most choice, nielsen optik limmatplatz or stockerstrasse also good for individual frames. id say you can have a ok one for maybe 200 chf on offer (watch out for those lenses n frames offer xyz chf that some opticians do have) a decent one is 600-800 which id go for as i need to wear them every day and for that i wanted one i feel comfy with for time x and paid 1200chf. the insurance paid pack somewhat 300 for the lenses. keep that in mind, too.

Fielmann Fielmann Fielmann

Sorry, have to bust Fielmann's bubble here

I have heard more negative than positive about Fielmann and their services.

Three and four trips to the shop just to get an order right. That is, IMO,
pure lack of quality. But then... if you buy cheap, expect cheap

Personally, I prefer to pay a little more and get better service. The place I
use gets it right the first time, the staff is trained and knowledgeable and
will clean or do small repairs on glasses - on the spot - no matter if
purchased from them or not.

So, Dog, the decision is of course yours...

Well.. it has been said. Fielmann is cheap and the frames may not all meet your expectations. But then, it is a good price if you just need a pair of specs... additionally, you have an insurance on them - if you lose them you can get replacements (I think it was for free). Always meant to take them up on that offer to have a spare to hand, but have been too nice (not dared to) until now...

May I ask how long it took to get the glasses? I get the sense the 50franc deal is actually off-shored and takes a couple of weeks to get here.

So commensurate with the price is the turn-around time. Same-day service will probably cost at least over CHF400. Has anyone seen less?

Normally the Krankenkasse will pay towards the cost of some new glasses - mine is one pair every 2 years. Last time they gave me 300 CHF towards my bi-focals (which cost 530 CHF).
Another thing is that the way they calculate your prescription is different here to the UK method. Not quite sure what the difference is.

I've used glassesdirect.co.uk several times. they ship to my home (Ireland) within 10 days and then I have them sent over. So if it's a spare pair you're after, there is great value to be had. Wearing a rimless pair at the moment that cost me £20. I showed them to an optician here, and he was pretty impressed.
I have also been tempted by some of the outlets which ship straight to CH (e.g. http://www.framesdirect.com/) but I'm pretty set for glasses right now.

Thanks for the advice guys, I will go into town tommorrow to give them a look-see and go compare some prices etc... i'm really not fussy about an average quality pair as long as they look reasonable.

It's a pair of glasses which I will inevitably lose, so I don't really care about service as long as it's not abysmal, and I live next to the centre so it's no hassle to make a couple of trips.

Sounds ideal, I will give them a try.

This is actually a really good idea why didn't I think of it... would be much cheaper to do this!

We've been buying from Fielmann for years (both contacts and glasses) and have yet to be disappointed.
Their prices are unmatched, the choice of frames is massive and the staff are knowledgeable. I regularly paid 900-1200 Fr. for a pair of glasses - that went down to 250 when Fielmann opened in Basel. They have frames from 19 Fr. to Gucci.

You get breakage and loss insurance for free and they always print out a return form for the health insurance provider.

peter

I just got two pairs or regular glasses and 1 pair of reading glasses for 140 CHF... very impressed. The staff were helpful and an eye test was carried out on the spot. Don't think I get insurance though when buying 19 CHF frames (I bought two pairs of them, no point spenidng more as they looked good and did the job). Will use them next time!

i think you forgot to write where?

Fielmann , very good range and reasonably priced, they even have some for as low as chf 20
also with most branded ones, they have this insurance without any cost, that if you lose the frame in first year of purchase, they will give you the same frame without any cost , now that should be helpful for you

Fielmann.

Now I don't know if it is the cheapest, but I got my new lenses at Palme Optik, in Dietikon(ZH). It's a small shop, but I must say the guy is very polite and did an amazing job, I needed a visit for the prescription and it was one of the most careful I ever had. In addition, he didn't push for the most expensive glasses so he seemed quite honest.
I am nearsighted, for a couple of lenses ~4 degress, one step below the thinnest you can get, hardening, anti-reflex and all extras, I paid 315 CHF including the visit.
That's practically the same price, if not more, I would have paid in Italy so I though it was a good price. Others in zurich have always asked more. Dunno about Fielmann though.

Cheers

There is a nice howto here:
http://toshare.wikia.com/wiki/How_to...in_Switzerland