A Practical Guide to Monocles: Galleried or Non-Galleried?
Updated September 2026
A monocle is a single lens designed to provide magnification for one eye. Although it is often associated with traditional or vintage dress, it can still be a practical option for occasional close work, particularly if you do not want to put on a pair of reading glasses every time you need a little extra magnification.
Our monocles are glazed to order at a UK optical laboratory with CR39 lenses in your chosen reading strength, and are available in both galleried and non-galleried styles.
What Is a Galleried Monocle?
A galleried monocle has a raised inner rim, or gallery, on the reverse of the frame. This helps position the monocle more securely within the eye socket and generally makes it easier to hold in place.
For that reason, I would usually suggest a galleried monocle to someone buying one for the first time or to anyone who wants the easier of the two styles to position.
Our silver galleried monocle has a 38mm diameter and is supplied with a fine black cord.
What Is a Non-Galleried Monocle?
A non-galleried monocle has a flatter, simpler construction without the raised inner rim.
Instead, the outer edge of the frame is serrated to help provide grip when the monocle is held in position. It has a more traditional, pared-back appearance, although it can take a little more practice to use comfortably than a galleried design.
Our non-galleried monocles are available in Silver or Gold finishes and in a choice of 38mm or 40mm diameters.
Galleried or Non-Galleried: Which Should You Choose?
The main difference is not really one of appearance but of how the monocle sits and is held.
The galleried version is considerably easier to position because the raised inner rim helps locate the monocle against the eye socket. The non-galleried version is flatter and simpler, but relies more on the shape of the eye socket and the user's technique.
If you are unsure which to choose, I would generally regard the galleried style as the easier starting point.
A classic 38mm monocle in a polished silver-coloured finish, featuring a traditional gallery around the back of the frame. The raised gallery helps the monocle sit more securely in the eye socket and makes it easier to hold comfortably in position.
Each monocle is glazed to order at a UK optical laboratory with a CR39 lens in your chosen strength and comes complete with a fine black monocle cord.
Does Size Matter?
Our galleried monocle is available in 38mm, while the non-galleried Silver and Gold versions are available in both 38mm and 40mm.
The difference sounds small, but the two diameters can feel noticeably different when positioned against the eye socket. There is no universal “correct” size because facial proportions vary, but the choice gives a little more flexibility with the non-galleried style.
How Are the Lenses Supplied?
These are not mass-produced monocles with a fixed lens already fitted.
Each monocle is glazed to order at a UK optical laboratory with a CR39 lens in the reading strength you select. Because the glazing takes place after the order is placed, please allow 10–14 working days for despatch.
Why Does a Monocle Have a Cord?
A monocle cord is primarily practical. It attaches directly to the monocle so that when you remove the lens it remains close at hand rather than having to be put down.
Our monocles are supplied with a fine black cord, and an optional Bordeaux leather case is also available if you would like additional protection when the monocle is not being used.
Who Might Find a Monocle Useful?
A monocle is unlikely to replace a pair of reading glasses for prolonged reading, but it can be surprisingly useful for brief, intermittent close work.
That might include reading a label, checking fine detail, examining something small or carrying out a task where you only need magnification occasionally.
One of our customers, photographer Anton Browne, demonstrated exactly this kind of use in his video, “The Miracle of the Monocle”, where he explains why a monocle works well for checking camera settings and other close work without repeatedly putting on and removing spectacles.
A Small but Practical Piece of Eyewear
The monocle is certainly unusual, but it does not have to be treated purely as a novelty or costume accessory.
Its usefulness comes from its simplicity: one lens, used when needed, then removed again. Choosing between a galleried and non-galleried design is largely a matter of how easily you want it to position and which style you prefer.
If you are unsure about the style, size or reading strength, please get in touch and I will be happy to help.