was initially drawn to these glasses for their vintage look whilst at the same time being in pristine condition - this really is the essence of the premium viewing you want to portray in opera! I think these events are a chance to perform in front of an audience the same way you do on stage, so it's fun to pretend you're watching a show the way you would in the Victorian era, and those glasses add fit perfectly into this performative culture. The shiny red finish paired with the gold plating looks so classy and high-quality. These are metal but not too heavy to hold throughout viewing, but their weight certainly adds to the realism. They also have a decent magnification. Sitting in the front row of the upper balcony on the right of the stage I was able to get a pretty clear picture of the performers, although I will say the scope was a bit narrow. Magnification is also quite blurry around the edges; I think this is to improve focus or create a vignette effect, but it makes it difficult to see the entire image. However, I don't get as dizzy looking through them as I do with some other glasses and I'm grateful for the lower magnification. Unfortunately, these are said to fold nicely for portability, but their fold isn't the best. Since it's metal, where it's supposed to fold, the hinges squeak a lot and rub against the metal. I'm afraid that if I fold them too much they will rub and the exterior paint will rub off. While it hasn't happened yet, I think these need to have better oiled hinges to be top-of-the-line binoculars. They're durable when traveling because they're a little heavier, but the fact that they don't come with lens protection makes it difficult to just slip them into a purse and call them good - you need some extra protection around these have or invest in a case. Overall, this is a fun costume to wear to events like the opera and it certainly made my experience that much more enjoyable, but the actual practicality of magnifying these glasses isn't the best on the market. If you want clear visibility then look elsewhere, but if you want viewers to see you in person these are perfect!