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With two opticians in the store at all times and a boggling selection of high-end eyewear from Tag Heuer and Chanel on the shelves—not to mention sleek, sophisto designs from Gruen’s own designers— this cool, minimalist chain promises that its customers will see well, and look great, too. (Tart-tongued clerks don’t mince words if the frames you’re trying do you no favors. Trust your eyes to their practiced eye; they have, indeed, seen it all.) Beyond frames, contact lenses in a bevy of colors are also standard fare. Special requests for specs suited to red-carpet entrances or high-rolling pashas—crusted with diamond dust or gilded with real gold—don’t daunt Gruen’s pros; start to finish, most glasses can be made the same day, although rimless styles and frames in precious metals can take several days to produce. — Susan Avery