Costa Del Mar

What Costa Del Mar does

Costa Del Mar, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, is a premium polarized sunglasses brand specializing in eyewear for fishing and water sports. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Luxottica of America Inc., part of the Luxottica Group (now EssilorLuxottica) conglomerate, alongside sister brands Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Persol. Costa's core technology is its patented 580 lens system, available in glass (580G Lightwave) and polycarbonate (580P) variants, which selectively filters harmful high-energy blue light and harsh yellow wavelengths while enhancing red, green, and blue color contrast. Supporting innovations include C-Wall molecular bond coatings, Hydrolite rubber grips, Waypoint digital Rx technology, and Bio-Resin frames. The company also offers the Untangled Collection made from NetPlus recycled fishing nets sourced through a long-running partnership with Bureo.

Costa generates revenue primarily through one-time unit sales of polarized sunglasses priced $197-$382, supplemented by prescription sunglasses and eyeglasses ($141-$225 base frames plus tiered Core/Pro/Elite lens packages), apparel and accessories, Transitions Gen S light-adaptive lenses, and ancillary services such as frame engraving and warranty/repair plans. Distribution is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer through costadelmar.com, retail through Luxottica-owned Sunglass Hut stores, and wholesale through authorized dealers and prescription eyewear partners in the US and Canada, with international shipping extending the geographic footprint selectively.

The brand targets recreational and professional anglers as its core customer, with adjacent segments in water sports enthusiasts (kayaking, boating, surfing), prescription eyewear buyers, and outdoor lifestyle consumers. Costa markets through content (Costa Stories), a Crew Rewards loyalty program, social media (#SeeWhatsOutThere), conservation partnerships (OCEARCH, Kick Plastic, #OneCoast), and seasonal promotional campaigns. Costa holds three US patents (6,334,680; 6,604,824; 7,506,977) on its 580 lens technology, supporting a defensible specialty moat in the fishing and water-sports eyewear vertical.

Name

Costa Del Mar

Legal name

Costa Del Mar, Inc.

Website

https://costadelmar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Costa Del Mar is a premium polarized sunglasses brand founded in 1983 and owned by Luxottica Group, specializing in patented 580 lens eyewear for anglers, water sports enthusiasts, and prescription eyewear customers sold via D2C, Sunglass Hut, and authorized dealers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Polarized Sunglasses and Eyewear

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sport & Performance Eyewear (CRAAAKAC), Luxury & Designer Eyewear (CRAAAKAD), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)

Keywords

• Polarized sunglasses
• Prescription eyewear
• Outdoor accessories
• Water sports gear
• Performance eyewear

Headquarters

HQ city

Daytona Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Sunglasses Sales: Primary revenue stream from polarized sunglasses, including performance, lifestyle, and hybrid collections. Products range from $197-$382 for standard frames, with PRO Series commanding premium pricing.
2. Prescription Eyewear: Revenue from prescription sunglasses and eyeglasses, including single vision and multifocal lenses. Offers eyeglass packages (Core, Pro, Elite tiers) and Transitions lens options.
3. Apparel & Accessories: Technical shirts, t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, bottoms, hats, visors, backpacks, bags, and small accessories complement the eyewear line.
4. Customization Services: Frame engraving services and eyewear protection plans provide additional revenue streams and enhance customer loyalty.
5. Warranty & Repair Services: Costa Care and repair services for existing products, generating revenue from out-of-warranty repairs and extended protection plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Costa Del Mar designs, manufactures, and sells premium polarized sunglasses built specifically for life on the water, featuring proprietary 580 lens technology in glass and polycarbonate. The company also sells prescription sunglasses and eyeglasses, C-Mates reading sunglasses, and a complementary line of water-ready apparel, hats, bags, and accessories, with custom frame engraving and warranty/repair services available through its direct e-commerce store, authorized dealers, and Sunglass Hut retail locations.

Product overview

Costa Del Mar is a premium polarized eyewear brand specializing in sunglasses and prescription eyeglasses designed for water sports and outdoor activities. The core product portfolio centers on polarized sunglasses featuring proprietary 580 lens technology available in both glass (580G) and polycarbonate (580P) materials, with 100% UV protection and advanced color enhancement. The company offers prescription options across most frame styles, including single vision and multifocal lenses, plus Transitions Gen S light-adaptive lenses. Product lines include the PRO Series for serious anglers, the Del Mar lifestyle collection, the sustainable Untangled line made from recycled fishing nets, the performance-focused Pathfinder Series, and the NEXT-GEN line for smaller fits. Supporting products include C-Mates reading sunglasses, prescription eyeglasses, and water-ready apparel and accessories. The brand operates under Luxottica of America Inc. and sells primarily through costadelmar.com, retail stores, and authorized dealers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pro Series: High-performance sunglasses built for long days on the water with advanced lens technology and rugged design for serious anglers.
• Del Mar Collection
• Untangled Collection
• Pathfinder Series
• NEXT-GEN (Watermen)
• Hybrid Collection
• Ethos Collection
• King Tide

Products and services

• Costa Del Mar Polarized Sunglasses Premium polarized sunglasses designed for life on the water, featuring Costa's proprietary 580 lens technology with 100% UV protection and glare reduction, available in performance, lifestyle, and hybrid collections for anglers, water sports enthusiasts, and outdoor consumers.
• Prescription Sunglasses Polarized prescription sunglasses built with Costa 580 lens technology, available for most frame styles in single vision and multifocal options with backside UV anti-reflective coating for vision-correcting consumers.
• Prescription Eyeglasses Optical eyewear with lightweight acetate and Monel frames featuring Costa lens technology for clarity on and off the water, with water-repellent, anti-smudge, anti-static, and scratch-resistant coatings.
• Costa Apparel and Accessories Water-ready apparel and accessories line including technical shirts, t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, bottoms, hats, visors, backpacks, and bags that complement the sunglass line for outdoor and water-sport consumers.
• Frame Engraving Service Custom laser engraving service allowing personalization of Costa sunglass temple arms with text or logos for individual customers and corporate gifting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Repurposed over 10 million pounds of discarded fishing nets since 2013 through Bureo partnership
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Essilor Vision FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019World Sight Day partnership where Costa donates $10 to the Essilor Vision Foundation for every pair of full-priced Costa polarized sunglasses purchased on October 10th. Essilor Vision Foundation provides vision screenings, exams, and eyeglasses to underserved children at no cost. Since 2007, EVF has provided more than 500,000 pairs of eyeglasses to individuals in need.
• BureocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Sustainability partnership where Bureo converts discarded fishing nets from coastal communities in Chile, Argentina, and other countries into NetPlus recycled nylon material. Costa uses NetPlus in the Untangled Collection of sunglasses, apparel, and accessories. Since 2013, Bureo has repurposed over 10 million pounds of discarded fishing nets. This partnership demonstrates Costa's commitment to ocean conservation while creating high-performance products.
• Luxottica of America Inc.coreOthersLuxottica is the parent company of Costa Del Mar. All sales transactions, terms of service, and legal agreements reference Luxottica of America Inc. as the contracting entity. The company operates under Luxottica's corporate infrastructure including retail channels (Sunglass Hut) and distribution network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bolle: Sport and lifestyle sunglasses brand with a strong polarized portfolio aimed at cycling, running, water sports, and outdoor activities. Bolle competes directly with Costa's performance/lifestyle lines and is a comparable mid-premium sport eyewear peer.
• Smith Optics: Sport and outdoor performance eyewear brand offering polarized sunglasses, goggles, and helmets. Smith competes directly with Costa in the outdoor/active polarized category and is consistently listed alongside Costa in best-of polarized sunglasses rankings.
• Wiley X: Performance and tactical eyewear brand offering polarized sunglasses for outdoor, military, and safety use. Wiley X competes with Costa in the rugged, performance-oriented polarized segment with comparable pricing and lens technology claims.
• Native Eyewear: Polarized sport sunglasses brand focused on active lifestyle and water sports. Native competes with Costa in the polarized outdoor segment with comparable pricing tiers and similar target customer (anglers, paddlers, surfers).
• Maui Jim: Premium polarized sunglasses brand specializing in water sports and outdoor activities with proprietary PolarizedPlus2 lens technology. Maui Jim is the closest direct competitor to Costa in the fishing and water sports polarized segment, competing head-to-head on lens technology, premium pricing ($200–$400+), and specialty dealer channels.
• Suncloud: Polarized sport sunglasses brand offering affordable performance eyewear for active outdoor use. Suncloud competes with Costa at lower price points in the polarized sport segment, representing the value tier benchmark for polarized sport eyewear.
• Revo Sunglasses: Premium polarized sunglasses brand with NASA-derived lens technology. Revo competes directly with Costa in the polarized performance segment and shares a similar premium positioning and technology-driven marketing approach.

Broad incumbents

• Oakley: Luxottica-owned sport eyewear giant with broad positioning across sport, lifestyle, and tactical. Oakley directly overlaps Costa in water sports and polarized segments but operates at significantly larger scale and brand awareness — representing both an internal portfolio peer and Costa's biggest competitive threat within the parent company.
• Ray-Ban: EssilorLuxottica flagship lifestyle eyewear brand with global mass-premium positioning. Ray-Ban competes with Costa at the lifestyle/fashion end of the polarized spectrum and represents a sibling brand within the parent company that captures broader everyday-sunglasses demand Costa does not address.

Emerging players

• Zeal Optics: Independent polarized sport eyewear brand with a strong sustainability focus (plant-based Z-Resin frames, bio-based lenses). Zeal competes with Costa in the polarized outdoor segment and represents an emerging sustainable sport eyewear alternative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CostaDelMar
• Instagraminstagram.com/costadelmar
• Xx.com/CostaSunglasses

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Costa Del Mar