Anne et Valentin Albertine: Pantos Shape, Keyhole Bridge, Three Colorways Compared
In short: The Anne et Valentin Albertine is a 45-20-142 French acetate pantos with a keyhole bridge and high hinges, $385. Tortoise and Pink (21A33) and Purple (25A30) are in stock at Gazal Eyecare, one piece each; Brushed Brown (0930) is available to special-order.
Of the eleven models on Anne et Valentin's own dealer best-seller ranking, the Albertine is number three — and it is the one with the most colorways physically on our shelf. Two of its three are in stock right now, one piece each.
Anne et Valentin describe it like this: "ALBERTINE, the pantos frame that flutters without taking off. Fluid curves, aerial lines. Librarian chic, with a touch of retro. Just a touch. A whisper. A hint. Its secret ingredient? Maybe the discreet keyhole bridge that modernizes it. Or those high hinges that stretch its silhouette."
Two of those details are things you can actually verify with the frame in your hand: the keyhole bridge and the high hinges.
Where the three colorways stand
| Colorway | Color code | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Tortoise and Pink | 21A33 | In stock — 1 piece |
| Purple | 25A30 | In stock — 1 piece |
| Brushed Brown | 0930 | Special order |
Tortoise and Pink (21A33) is the warm one. Pink worked into a tortoise laminate reads as a softening of the tortoise rather than as pink, which is the point — you get the warmth without announcing it.
Purple (25A30) is the solid one, and on a pantos the effect is different from the same colour on a cat-eye. Round shapes carry saturated colour more quietly because there is no angular corner for the eye to catch on.
Brushed Brown (0930) is the special order of the three. A brushed finish gives a matte, slightly textured surface instead of the usual polish, which is the most understated way to wear this shape.
The keyhole bridge, in plain terms
A pantos is a round-ish shape with a slightly flattened top line — a shape with a long optical history and, in the wrong hands, a strong period costume risk. The keyhole bridge is what Anne et Valentin use to keep the Albertine out of that territory, and it is worth understanding rather than glossing over.
On a standard saddle bridge, the acetate arches smoothly over the nose and rests along the top of it. On a keyhole bridge, the acetate is cut away in a shape like a keyhole, so the frame bears on the sides of the nose and leaves an open notch above. Two consequences follow. Visually, it puts a small vertical accent in the middle of the frame and lifts the whole front a touch. Practically, it changes where the weight lands, which is why keyhole bridges sometimes hold position on a nose where a saddle bridge slips.
The "high hinges" Anne et Valentin mention are the second detail. Placing the hinge higher on the end piece visually stretches the frame horizontally, which is how a 45 mm eye size avoids looking cramped.
The numbers, and why they matter
45-20-142. A 45 mm caliber, a 20 mm bridge, 142 mm temples, in acetate, produced in France. About 110 mm across the front before the end pieces.
That is one millimetre more bridge than the Angie and one millimetre longer in the temple, on the same 45 mm eye. Small differences, but a millimetre of bridge is genuinely noticeable on a frame this size. Our catalogue lists the Albertine as unisex, which is honest — the pantos is one of the few silhouettes that genuinely reads either way.
Where it sits in the collection
Albertine is an Alpha frame: all-acetate, made in France, $385, and named with an A like every other model in that line. It also appears in our small-faces guide, and we compare it directly against its two closest Alpha relatives in Alma 2 vs. Albertine vs. Angie.
Worth knowing: the 21A33 laminate on this Albertine is the same acetate Anne et Valentin use for the Tortoise/Pink Ayo, and 25A30 turns up on the Ayo as well. Colour codes travel across the Alpha line, so a colour you like on a shape that does not fit may well exist on one that does.
Price and availability
The Albertine is $385, and two of its three colorways are on the shelf as single pieces. It ranks third on Anne et Valentin's own dealer best-seller list — the full ranking is in our Anne et Valentin best-sellers guide.
All three colorways are on the Albertine product page, and the rest of the house is in the Anne et Valentin collection.
More on Anne et Valentin
- The Anne et Valentin Design Story: Why French Frames From Toulouse Look Like Nothing Else
- Anne et Valentin Collections & Frames: How to Choose Your Pair
- Anne et Valentin: Acetate vs. Metal Frames — How to Choose Between the Two
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Anne et Valentin Albertine measurements?
Anne et Valentin publish the Albertine as 45-20-142: a 45 mm caliber, a 20 mm bridge and 142 mm temples, in acetate, made in France. That is roughly 110 mm across the front before the end pieces.
Which Albertine colorways are in stock?
Two of the three. Tortoise and Pink (color code 21A33) and Purple (25A30) are both in stock at Gazal Eyecare, one piece each. Brushed Brown (0930) is available to special-order.
What is a keyhole bridge and why does Albertine have one?
A keyhole bridge is a bridge shaped like an old-fashioned keyhole: instead of a smooth arch resting on the top of the nose, the acetate is cut so the frame sits on the sides of the nose with a notch of open space above it. Anne et Valentin call it the Albertine’s "secret ingredient" and say the "discreet keyhole bridge" is what modernizes the shape. Practically, it adds a small vertical line at the centre of the face and changes how the weight is carried — which can be an advantage if a standard saddle bridge tends to slide on you.
Is Albertine a men’s or women’s frame?
Our catalogue lists the Albertine as unisex, and the pantos shape is one of the genuinely gender-neutral silhouettes in eyewear. At 45-20-142 it is on the small side, so the real constraint is face width rather than the label.
How much is the Anne et Valentin Albertine?
The Anne et Valentin Albertine is $385 at Gazal Eyecare, the standard price across the Alpha acetate line.