Gunnar, a well-known and beloved brand of computer glasses, has continued to expand their legendary offerings, and their Blizzard licenses have expanded, too. Geeks who care about preserving their vision or who get headaches without protective glasses can now order two new Overwatch designs: Ultimate Edition and D.Va Tokki Edition. These designs draw inspiration from the Grandmaster badge and the characters D.Va and Tokki. Read on to learn how much they cost, the features offered, and more.
Gunnar
For those unfamiliar with the company, Gunnar is an online retailer which sells eyewear for UV and blue light protection. Their glasses have a base price of the frames fitted with treated non-prescription lenses to protect your eyes. They partner with many brands to offer a wide range of protective designs, and this article will be looking at a more niche release for Overwatch players and fans. Many licensed products are available, including Assassin’s Creed, Fallout, and Call of Duty. All of these designs can be upgraded to prescription lenses for an appropriate increase to price, and the prescription lenses are then treated with a protective coating.
Overwatch Ultimate Edition
The Overwatch Ultimate Edition glasses are based on the Overwatch Grandmaster Badge. Amber and brown are the dominant colors. The square frames mean that there is no disruption to your field of view, whether you’re using a monitor or television. This does have a minor trade-off in peripheral vision obstruction, but it’s worth it for the full-field of visual protection. If you tend to lose time while looking at your screen, these can seriously reduce the strain on your eyes.
I will note that these glasses are subtly branded, like most of Gunnar’s licensed products, so you’re not wearing a sign which screams “Grandmaster.” There are three instances of the Overwatch logo present: one on the right lens and one on each temple. It’s recognizable, but understated, appropriate for a large range of situations. The actual Grandmaster badge is not present, only the colors.
D.Va Tokki Edition
The D.Va Tokki Edition glasses are cat-eyed frames with pink, white, and blue coloring reminiscent of the titular character and her mech. The cat-eye shape to the frames give a taller field of view, which is useful if you have a taller set up or multiple monitors. The asymmetry between top and bottom means that your keyboard, desk, and other low-field items will be obstructed. If you want superior clarity and utility, these glasses are an excellent choice. The D.Va Tokki design has an additional leather-like fold-over case which is not included with the Overwatch Ultimate Edition.
The branding on these glassses is also more prominent, with the temples reading “MEKA” and D.Va (the stylized pink version). The arms of the glasses are anchored from the front, which leaves two visible bunnies prominent on the top of the frames. The case is further branded, featuring a bunny motif inside (because Tokki’s name translates to Bunny in Korean), and a single bunny and the Overwatch and Gunnar logos are featured on the outside.
Accessories
Each of these designs has a branded cleaning cloth and fabric drawstring pouch. The frames and their covers work well enough together, but I’d still prefer something more substantial for travel. The cloths and pouches feature characters from Overwatch, including Echo, Tracer, Mei (with Snowball), Reinhardt, Winston, and Mercy.
Prices and Pink Tax?
The Overwatch Ultimate frames start at $69 USD, and the D.VA Tokki start at $125 USD. At first glance, it may seem like there’s a heavy Pink Tax at play here, and I can only address parts of this, as there is justification for a slightly higher price-point. The accessories are nearly identical apart from a single (arguably unnecessary) case, so it’s not the things that come with the frames that make the D.Va frames more expensive. In fact, it’s the frames themselves. The D.Va Tokki frames are acetate, which is a more expensive, durable, and flexible material compared to the polymer the Overwatch Ultimate frames are made of. Additionally, the D.Va Tokki frames also feature flexible spring hinges. These upgrades explain some of the increased cost of the D.Va Tokki frames, but there is still a scent of a Pink Tax, so let’s talk about that.
In the frames’ descriptions, the Overwatch Ultimate’s cleaning cloth and pouch are listed as “Custom” items, while the D.Va’s nearly identical accessories are listed as “Collectors” items. The D.Va frames are also given a 24-month warranty (double what the Overwatch Ultimate has), presumably because the acetate is the more durable material. However, it’s still disconcerting that the more versatile Overwatch Ultimate frame style is made from the less durable materials, while the more fashion-appealing ones are made from materials that would last longer. While I’m all for companies pricing their items according to the value, at the end of the day, the only overtly feminine design in the 6-product lineup of Blizzard-licensed products has 25-50% markup compared to the other products in the lineup, including masculine designs which are also made of acetate. This is a pretty soft-ball case of Pink Tax. While this isn’t so egregious as to call for cancellation of the brand, it’s important to recognize that even with a superior product, brands need to be aware of who is most affected by their pricing choices and design markups. This also doesn’t mean the D.Va glasses are necessarily overpriced, just that (when taken in context) it appears slightly exploitative.
The GeekDad Pick
Considering everything, the preferred frames are the D.Va Tokki Edition, as the design and materials are superior. Namely, this comes down to acetate and spring hinges, which mean a more durable product. I’ll admit to having some bias for this color combo, since the D.Va colors are so closely matched with the Trans Pride flag, and I am a member of the trans community. Even non-Overwatch fans might prefer this design for the cute aesthetic and durability. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from buying the design they prefer, however, and if you want a lower price-point item, there are often sales which bring frames down to a more affordable price point.
TL;DR:
The Gunnar Overwatch glasses are durable, functional, and beautiful options for anyone looking to protect their vision from blue or UV light. The D.Va Tokki Edition glasses feature a blue and pink cat-eye design, and the Overwatch Ultimate Edition frames feature brown and amber elements matching the Grandmaster Badge. The Overwatch Ultimate frames are $69 (currently $64 on Amazon), and the D.Va Tokki frames are $125 (currently $97 on Amazon), and both can be ordered as prescription glasses for an additional fee through the Gunnar website.
