Opera glasses developed from a series of other inventions. All this started in 1608 when the Dutch optician Hans Lipperhey created binoculars consisting of two parallel telescopes. Their magnification capability was a (very impressive for the time) x3. Within one year the Italian mathematician and philosopher Galileo Galilee made massive improvements to the techniques and types of lenses used in telescopes, thereby increasing the magnification ability to x30.
Binoculars gave a much wider field of view than telescopes, but since they had 2 convex lenses, the picture that you saw was inverted. It wasn\'t until 1617 that Anton Schyrle added an additional lens to re-invert the image. In 1758 John Dollond of England invented the achromatic (color free) lens and thereby solved the problem of color distortion.
One of the final important developments in binocular technology happened when the Italian gunnery officer Ignazio Porro invented prismatic binoculars, thereby once again increasing the field of vision dramatically and making much larger magnification possible.
Opera glasses are mentioned for the first time in London newspaper advertisements dating back to 1730. These were not binoculars, but small Galilean telescopes. They were both used decoratively and to watch opera with. The bodies were often inlaid with gems, mother of pearl, ivory, enamel and other types of decorations.
We find references to binocular opera glasses for the first time in Vienna during 23. They were still really not much more than two tiny telescopes connected by a bridge. You had to focus the telescopes individually by expanding the tubes.
These very soon became as much a fashion item as an optical instrument. The designs became more elaborate and had to be worked on by painters, goldsmiths and other artists to create the ultimate fashion accessory. Theater goers not only used this to watch the stage, but also to scrutinize other people in the audience - presumably to see who else had opera glasses!
Within a few years the design was improved to make it possible to simultaneously adjust both lenses. This led to an immediate increase in the popularity of this type of glasses. They also turned into much appreciated gifts - as is apparent when looking at the inscriptions encountered on many opera glasses dating from that period.
Nowadays there is a wide array of opera glasses available. You can get them in virtually any color you want. They come in many different styles and materials. Strangely enough, monoculars are still popular, as are opera glasses with handles or reading lights. You even get them fitted with a jealousy glass - so you can watch another person in the audience without being seen!
Before you attend any performance make sure that you have a good pair of opera glasses. Here you can check out Opera Glasses with handle, flashlight, chain and more!
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