Costa Del Mar
5367645
223070751
2008-07-02T12:48:49Z
Costa116
7383742
{{Infobox Company
| company_name = Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, Inc.
| company slogan = See Whats Out There
| company_logo = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Costa Del Mar Logo.jpg|150px]] -->
| company_type = Eyewear Manufacturers
| genre =
| foundation = 1983 <!-- this parameter modifies "Founded" -->
|<!-- Dead ref link [http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=v6k9os.2.7 TESS -->]
| location = [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], [[United States]]
| key_people = Charles R. (Chas) MacDonald, President
| area_served = Worldwide
| industry = Eyewear Manufacturers
| products = Sunglasses, Appeal, Sunglasses Accessories
| services = Sunglasses Repair
| revenue = {{profit}} [[United States Dollar|US $]]27.4 million (2006)
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| parent = A.T. Cross
| divisions =
| subsid =
| owner =
| company_slogan =
| homepage = http://www.costadelmar.com
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Costa Del Mar Sunglasses, Inc.''' designs and manufactures high quality [[polarized]] [[sunglasses]] for use in sports such as [[fishing]], [[sailing]] and [[surfing]]. It was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in [[Daytona Beach]], [[Florida]].
== History ==
Costa Del Mar was founded in 1983, and that year was asked by a presumably staffer of a [[NOAA]] nature sanctuary to donate polarized sunglasses to them. The first style of sunglasses released by Costa Del Mar was called "Catalina." It is still in production, although the name has changed to "Grand Catalina." The first lens developed by Costa Del Mar was [[The Costa 400™]] in CR-39 material. In 1986, Costa Del Mar created the [[The Costa 400™]] in a glass lens.
In 1984, surfing personality Corky Carroll became an endorser for Costa Del Mar. The company continued to expand by providing sunglasses to [[Jacques Cousteau]] and the Cousteau Society, as well as custom-grinding lenses to fit the team-issue frames of the F-16C Eastern Demo Team. Costa Del Mar continued to grow during the 1990s, and released a new logo (the current one) in 2000. Additionally, Costa Del Mar launched its premium lens, [[The Costa 580™]] in August of 2000. On April 22, 2003, [[A. T. Cross]]<ref>http://www.cross.com </ref> bought Costa Del Mar Sunglasses.
Today, the list of pro guides and outdoor personalities that use Costa Del Mar sunglasses includes Jose Wejebe, [[Cindy Garrison]], and Blair Wiggins. Costa Del Mar also sponsors fishing pros in events such as The B.A.S.S. Tour and The World Billfish Championship.
== Technology ==
Costa Del Mar offers 52 styles and 8 lens options of [[polarized]] [[eyewear]]. The sunglasses offer 18 frame colors, with many styles available in three or four colors.
The lenses are manufactured in three different materials: [[CR-39]], [[Glass]], and [[Polycarbonate]]. Each of these lenses offer different attributes mainly focused on durability, optical clarity, and scratch resistance. Every lens made by Costa Del Mar is 100% Polarized and offers 100% UVA, UVB, and UVC protection.
The [[CR-39]] lens is lightweight and extremely durable. Although this lens provides excellent clarity, the clarity is not considered as exceptional as a glass lens. The CR-39 are offered in Gray, Amber, Vermillion, and Sunrise.
The [[Polycarbonate]] lens is extremely light-weight, virtually shatterproof, and extremely flexible. The Polycarbonate lenses are offered in Gray, Amber, Vermillion, and Sunrise.
The Glass lens is extremely scratch resistant and 20% lighter and 22% thinner than the average glass lens. Glass lenses are offered in Gray, Copper, Blue Mirror, and Green Mirror.
Costa Del Mar offers two quality lenses. [[The Costa 400™]] is offered in all three lens materials: CR-39, Polycarbonate, and Glass. This lens provides excellent visual quality, eliminated glare at the 400 nanometer mark. This allows for clearer vision and reduces strain on eyes.
[[The Costa 580™]] is Costa Del Mar's premium lens collection. Costa Del Mar is the only company to offer this technology. This lens eliminates glare at the 580 nanometer mark. Specifically, it significantly reduces the amount of yellow light that penetrates the lens; the hardest light for the eye to process. This nearly completely eliminates glare, allowing enhanced color saturation and definition. This lens is only offered in glass.
Some of the frame styles also offer C-Mates®, a bifocal lens. It is offered in +1.75 and +2.5 magnification.
Costa Del Mar sunglasses can also be made with prescription lenses.
All of Costa Del Mar's sunglasses are produced at its headquarters in [[Daytona Beach]], Fl. Every pair of sunglasses has a [[life-time warranty]].
== Sponsorships ==
Costa Del Mar is an active member in the fishing community. It sponsors over forty fishing tournaments, both inshore and offshore, every year. Additionally, Costa Del Mar is the offical sunglass sponsor of organizations such as [[Trout Unlimited]], [[International Game Fish Association]], [[Coastal Conservation Association]], and [[The Billfish Foundation]]. Each of these organizations is dedicated to protecting fishing environments.
Costa Del Mar also sponsors fishing guides in the 18 States in the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil. There are many professional fishermen who endorse Costa Del Mar, such as Bass pros Jason Quinn, Kevin Short, and Todd Faircloth.
== Dealers ==
Shopping for Costa Del Mar products is available in a variety of venues. Customers can buy directly through the Costa Del Mar Online Store, a number of other online dealers, or stores located world-wide.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.costachannelc.com Costa Channel C-online video network]
*[http://www.costadelmar.com Company website]
*[http://costadelmar.com/BeOutThere/YourAdventures/ToursTournaments Costa Del Mar's Sponsored Tours and Tournaments]
*[http://www.tu.org Trout Unlimited]
*[http://www.billfish.org The Billfish Foundation]
*[http://www.joincca.org Coastal Conservation Association]
*[http://www.igfa.org International Game Fish Association]
*[http://www.cross.com/ A.T. Cross Pens]
[[Category:Companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:Eyewear brands]]
[[Category:Sunglasses]]