Looking for new glasses? Set your sights on Youzi

Finding prescription glasses in Beijing isn’t necessarily difficult — after all, there’s a whole market dedicated to them — but finding good quality glasses is a whole other story. Whether you have a special prescription or want a stylish pair of frames that you won’t see hundreds of other people wearing on the subway, it can be hard to know where to start.

Enter Youzi glasses, located in a quiet office block a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of the Panjiayuan glasses market. As soon as you enter, you get the impression that Youzi is no ordinary eyewear store; the space feels more like a high-end boutique than your typical clinical opticians. The simple white walls and minimalist wood furnishing let the glasses stand out, while a touch of vintage Japanese styling matches well with the store’s focus on brands from that country. There is plenty of seating, allowing you to get comfy while trying on different styles, as well as a separate area for eye exams. 

Youzi has curated a selection of some of Japan’s top eyewear brands, including Matsuda, Masunaga, Yohji Yamamoto, and 999.9 (Four Nines). These are glasses created by people who truly understand eyewear, and the quality stands out as soon as you pick them up. For example, all of Matsuda’s glasses are handcrafted in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan, one of three largest regions producing optical frames in the world, alongside China and Italy. Their designs take up to 250 steps to complete using fine materials such as titanium and Japanese acetate. 

While these Japanese brands might not be as well known as Gucci or Oakley (which the store also stocks, alongside Linda Farrow, Wolfgang Proksch and more), the styles are timeless and infinitely wearable, a key factor for an accessory as prominent as glasses. 

It should be said that these are not cheap frames — most will set you back upwards of RMB 2000-3000 — but Youzi still has the price advantage over similar high-end chain opticians in Beijing. Those savings extend to lenses from International brands such as Nikon, Zeiss, and Essilor, which Youzi offers at up to 50 percent off the retail price and with a guarantee of authenticity.

Youzi itself has only been open for a few months, but owner Yang Yunxiang has been in the business for more than 10 years and comes from a family that has been in the glasses industry for decades. Sister brand Nice to c u (located just down the hallway) is the best-rated glasses store in Beijing on Dianping, attracting more than a thousand positive reviews. 

Those years of know-how give Youzi the edge in terms of service — there’s no need to worry about being hassled into buying extras you don’t need. The in-house optometry team take the time to diagnose and prescribe the right lens for you, while cutting-edge screens measure the size and depth of your face to get the perfect fit. You can even link your eye test results to their official WeChat account so you can access them at any time. After-sales service is also a pillar of the store’s philosophy, and if you experience any discomfort in the first 30 days after you buy your glasses, you can return to the store to have the lens or frames altered for free.

Scan the QR code above to follow Youzi’s official WeChat account. The Beijinger readers who show this article when they go to the store can receive a complimentary eye exam conducted using imported equipment.

Youzi Glasses
Daily 10am-7.30pm. 603, 6/F, Longhui Mansion, Panjiayuan, Southeast Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District (130 2192 1721)
柚子眼镜：朝阳区潘家园龙辉大厦（北京眼镜城边）6层603

READ: Seeking Customized Glasses and Eye Care? Look No Further Than Nice to cu

Images courtesy of Youzi Glasses