Released in 1992, the Christian Roth for Optical Affairs Series 6556 is one of those frames I could spot across the room. Two oversized round lenses, a thick ivory-white rim, and a low bridge that dips between them. It has a little ’60s mod in it, but the scale feels very early ’90s to me.
Christian Roth and Eric Domège started Optical Affairs in New York in 1984. One of my favorite details on this pair is tucked inside the temples. One side reads “Optical Affairs Christian Roth New York.” The other reads “Frame handmade in Austria” and “Series 6556.” From the front, all you see is the shape. Turn the frame over and there’s the whole story in small gold lettering.
The shape makes it
Head-on, the dark lenses make that white rim look even thicker. The three-quarter view is my favorite. You can see how rounded and polished the front is, then how quickly it gives way to a slim temple. That’s the detail that keeps the frame from looking bulky from every angle.
Fit is where I’d pay attention. Those big rounds sit low enough in the design that I’d check how much cheek clearance you get when you smile. That can make the difference between a pair you reach for and a pair you admire on the shelf. Styling it is easier. I’d wear it with a plain black tee and let the glasses do the work.
The 6556 and the 6558
The 6558 is the Optical Affairs frame most people know from Kurt Cobain. Put the two side by side and the difference is easy to see. The 6558 has a wider, more oval shape. The 6556 goes taller and rounder, which gives it a more playful look. If I had both in front of me, the 6556 is the one I’d pick up first.
The white is what does it for me. It makes every curve easy to see, especially that little dip at the bridge. More than three decades later, it’s still an iconic frame. This one stays in the archives for now.