Barceloneta vs. Alma 2: Anne et Valentin's Two Cat-Eyes Compared
In short: Barceloneta is a 51-19-147 cat-eye rectangle from the Metro line at $445; Alma 2 is a 47-21-141 cat-eye from the Alpha line at $385. Barceloneta is the largest Anne et Valentin frame we carry and has three colorways in stock; Alma 2 is one of the smallest and is currently special order.
Anne et Valentin make more than one cat-eye, and the two on their own best-seller ranking sit at opposite ends of the size range. Alma 2 is number two on that list; Barceloneta is number five.
They are not really competitors on shape. They are competitors on the question of how much frame you want on your face.
The two at a glance
| Barceloneta | Alma 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Best-seller rank | 5 | 2 |
| Line | Metro | Alpha |
| Size | 51-19-147 | 47-21-141 |
| Front width (approx.) | ~121 mm | ~115 mm |
| Shape | Cat-eye rectangle | Cat-eye |
| Material | Acetate | Acetate |
| Colorways | 8 | 2 |
| Price | $445 | $385 |
| In stock now | 3 colorways | Special order |
Size: a genuine gap
Barceloneta has the largest caliber of any Anne et Valentin frame we carry, at 51 mm. Alma 2 is 47 mm. The bridges run the other way — 19 mm against 21 mm — but not enough to close it: across the front, roughly 121 mm against 115 mm.
The temples matter as much and get overlooked. 147 mm against 141 mm is six millimetres, and temple length is what decides whether a frame reaches comfortably behind your ear or pulls. Barceloneta is the longest-templed Anne et Valentin frame we stock; Alma 2 is at the short end.
Put plainly: these are not two versions of the same frame. Barceloneta is the largest thing we carry from the house and Alma 2 is one of the smallest. For the rest of the small end of the range, see our small-faces guide.
Shape: rectangle-with-a-lift versus cat-eye proper
Anne et Valentin describe the Barceloneta as "a designed cat-eyed rectangle. Finesse. Structure. Its linearity and its rigor widen the gaze. Its lines synthesize a certain trendy neutrality."
The operative word is rectangle. A pure cat-eye is a curve that sweeps up and out across the whole silhouette. Barceloneta keeps a rectangle's level top line and defined corners and confines the lift to the outer corner, which is why the brand can describe it as both structured and neutral. You get the upward angle without the full retro vocabulary.
Alma 2 is the opposite instinct. Anne et Valentin call it "a sparkling cat-eye… small, classic, feminine, fresh" and say it is "suitable for small faces and fine lines." There is no rectangle here; the upsweep is the shape.
Two different lines, and it shows
Barceloneta belongs to Anne et Valentin's Metro line, which the house describes as "urban classics with a demanding level of finish, yet free of ostentatious signs," naming models after districts of big cities — Barceloneta, Basel, Belleville, Bergen, Bilbao, Boston, Bristol, Burnaby. Metro's detailing is deliberately insider: "highly structuring bridges," "pastilles at the end of their branches, like light punctuations," and "enamelled, integrated and riveted hinges, for a luxurious finish." Anne et Valentin say the frames are "designed like men's costumes revisited for women."
Alma 2 belongs to Alpha, the house's founding line — "frames designed to light up the face without overpowering it," built on "ease, lightness, just, finely drawn lines" and vibrant acetate laminations.
That difference in intent explains the $60 price gap better than the size does. Metro is the more finished, more detailed line; Alpha is the more direct one.
Colour and availability: not close
Barceloneta has eight colorways and three of them are physically on our shelf, one piece each — Olive/Tortoise (21C17), Navy (20C11) and Speckled Tortoise (20C13). That is the widest live selection of any Anne et Valentin model we carry, and we compared those three in detail in our Barceloneta colorway guide.
Alma 2 has two colorways — Tortoise and Blue (1725A) and Purple (26A47) — and both are currently special orders. Orderable, but not something you can try on this afternoon.
So which one?
Choose Barceloneta if you have a medium or wide face, if 47 mm frames have felt small on you, or if you want to compare real colorways in person before committing. It is also the choice if you want the cat-eye effect without the full cat-eye outline — the rectangle does a lot of work toward keeping it wearable at the office.
Choose Alma 2 if you have a small face, if larger frames slide or sit past your temples, or if you want the cat-eye shape undiluted. It is also $60 less.
If neither size is right, the middle of our Anne et Valentin range is covered in Alma 2 vs. Albertine vs. Angie and the full picture is in the best-sellers guide.
Both are in the Anne et Valentin collection: the Barceloneta product page and the Alma 2 product page.
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 is the difference between Anne et Valentin Barceloneta and Alma 2?
Size and geometry. Barceloneta is a 51-19-147 cat-eye rectangle from the Metro line; Alma 2 is a 47-21-141 cat-eye from the Alpha line. Barceloneta keeps a rectangle’s level top line and defined corners and places the lift at the outer corner only, while Alma 2 is a cat-eye outright. Barceloneta is $445 and Alma 2 is $385. Both are French acetate.
Is Barceloneta bigger than Alma 2?
Yes, clearly. Barceloneta is 51-19-147 against Alma 2’s 47-21-141: four more millimetres of lens and six more of temple, though a narrower bridge. Across the front Barceloneta comes to roughly 121 mm and Alma 2 to about 115 mm, so Barceloneta is around six millimetres wider overall and sits on a noticeably longer temple.
Is Barceloneta or Alma 2 better for a wide face?
Barceloneta, on the numbers. Its ~121 mm front and 147 mm temples make it the widest and longest Anne et Valentin frame we carry, while the Alma 2 is a small frame that Anne et Valentin themselves recommend for "small faces and fine lines." A frame that is too narrow will leave pressure marks at the temples and sit tight behind the ears, so on a wide face the Barceloneta is the right starting point — confirmed by a try-on rather than by the table.
Do Barceloneta and Alma 2 cost the same?
No. Barceloneta is $445 and Alma 2 is $385 at Gazal Eyecare, a $60 difference. They come from different lines — Metro and Alpha — which are priced separately even though both are all-acetate.
Which of Barceloneta and Alma 2 is in stock?
Barceloneta. Three of its eight colorways are on the shelf at Gazal Eyecare, one piece each: Olive/Tortoise (21C17), Navy (20C11) and Speckled Tortoise (20C13). Both Alma 2 colorways are currently special order.