Picking a transition lens color used to be simple: gray or brown. Now there is more to choose from. Transitions GEN S is the current everyday lens, and it comes in eight colors, from classic gray to a brand-new ruby. [1] That makes the color two choices in one. One is the shade your lenses turn in the sun. The other is the look they give your face. This guide walks you through the full set, and how to match a color to you.

The two questions your color choice answers

Before you fall for a shade, it helps to know what the color controls. A transition lens color is really two choices at once. The first is the tint you see outdoors. Every Transitions lens is clear inside and turns colored once the sun hits it. [1] The second is the look, or how the frame reads on your face when the lens goes dark. Transitions GEN S covers both across eight transition lens colors. Each one is made to stay true to tone, so the shade looks right in any light. [1] That is why the same lens can feel sporty in graphite green and dressy in amethyst.

The eight transition lens colors, grouped

Transitions GEN S comes in eight colors, and they fall into two groups. The three classic tints are gray, brown and graphite green. These are the sunglass shades most people already picture, and gray, brown and green are the colors photochromic (light-responsive) lenses have traditionally come in. [4] The style colors are where the range opens up: sapphire, amethyst, emerald, amber and the newest one, ruby. [1] All of them look clear inside. The color shows only once the sun brings it to life.

Here is the full palette at a glance, with the look each one leans toward.

What the tint does once you step outside

Walk into daylight and the lens reacts to UV light, going from clear to a full tint in seconds. [4] With Transitions GEN S, the gray lens reaches sunglass-level darkness, known as category 3, in about 25 seconds. It then fades back to clear in under 2 minutes. [2] Transitions calls it the fastest lens of its kind in the clear-to-dark class. [2] One point is worth knowing before you fix on a color. Those speed and darkness figures are tested on the gray lens. They shift a little with the color you pick, the lens material and the heat. [2] Whatever color you choose, the lens still filters 100% of UVA and UVB rays as it works. [3] So the color is mostly about the view and the look, not your sun coverage.

Choosing your color by look

Think about the frame the lens is going into. A color that pops on a bold acetate Ray-Ban can look busy on a thin metal Oakley, so let the frame lead. For an everyday pair you want to wear with anything, the three classics are the safe bet. Gray in particular slips into any frame and keeps colors looking natural. [4] If you treat eyewear as an accessory, the style colors are your room to play. Amethyst and sapphire add a cool pop, while amber and the new ruby bring warmth to the face. Skin tone helps too. Warmer skin tones often suit amber and brown, cooler ones sapphire and amethyst. Because Transitions colors are made to stay true to tone, the shade you choose is the shade you get. [1]

Choosing your color by how you spend your day

If you want one easy pair for the commute, errands and the office, gray is the proven all-rounder. It is neutral enough that nothing about the view feels off. Would you rather have a warmer, softer picture, the kind that takes the edge off a bright, cloudy day? Brown and amber lean that way. Graphite green sits in the middle, a dark tint with a quieter feel.

This is where color stops being the real question. If you need lenses that go very dark, or that darken at the wheel, the choice shifts from palette to lens type. Standard photochromic lenses stay lighter in the car, because the windshield blocks most of the UV that sets them off. Transitions XTRActive is built to darken in the car and to go deeper in bright heat. [5] And if your days run on strong, steady sun, a dedicated pair of polarized prescription sunglasses still beats any everyday transition lens.

How to pick your transition lens color

Here is a simple way to land on the right color without second-guessing it.

1. Pick the frame first. Choose the eyeglasses you love, then treat the lens color as the finishing touch.
2. Decide how bold you want to look. Classic gray, brown or graphite green for a tint that goes with everything, or a style color like sapphire, amethyst, emerald, amber or ruby to make the eyewear part of your outfit.
3. Match it to your light. Gray for true, neutral color, or brown and amber for a warmer view on bright days.
4. Check your daily needs. If you drive a lot or want the darkest tint, look at XTRActive instead of a lighter everyday color. [5]

Once you have those four answers, every shade falls into place. Explore the full range on our transition lenses page, and find the color that fits your face and your day.

Sources

[1] Transitions Optical — Transitions GEN S is available in eight exclusive colors, including the brand-new Ruby, with all colors made to be true to tone, fully clear indoors and colored outdoors (trade.transitions.com).

[2] Transitions Optical — Transitions GEN S gray lenses reach category 3 darkness in about 25 seconds and fade back in under 2 minutes, the fastest in the clear-to-dark photochromic category; figures are tested on gray lenses and vary by color, material and temperature (trade.transitions.com).

[3] Transitions Optical — Transitions GEN S lenses filter 100% of UVA and UVB rays (trade.transitions.com).

[4] AllAboutVision — photochromic lenses (also called light-adaptive or variable-tint lenses) commonly come in gray, brown and green, darken on exposure to UV light, and in driving-specific versions can enhance contrast in a vehicle (allaboutvision.com).

[5] Transitions Optical — Transitions XTRActive is the darkest photochromic lens in the car and reaches a category 3 level of darkness in hot temperatures (transitions.com).