When you lord over a vast jewelry empire—including dozens of brand stores and myriad worldwide wholesale accounts—you can get a little forgetful. Such is the case with Italian jewelry designer Roberto Coin, who shared this little-known fact with JCK this week during the 2012 Baselworld fair. As a result of this absentminded behavior, Coin loses anywhere from 20 to 30 pairs of prescription eyeglasses a year. He leaves them in hotels, cabs, restaurants, and a variety of other places he’s passed through on his international travels. His solution to the dilemma? Design his own.

“I decided to make my own so I would never run out,” he explains.

Five unisex styles in 14k gold, some with diamonds, will be available in Roberto Coin boutiques in fall 2012. The glasses are so new that suggested retail prices haven’t yet been finalized, and they will eventually be produced in silver, and made available to wholesale accounts.

“We like to challenge ourselves to see where we can go in industry, and to continue to make investments for consumers who appreciate our jewelry,” he says. “But I’m also challenging myself—because I’m always looking for new glasses.”

New unisex eyeglasses in 14k gold will ship to Roberto Coin boutiques in fall 2012. The designer’s handwritten message accompanying the frames: “If you can read, you can see how much I love you.”

JCK