Detroit Buffs: The Story of Cartier Buffs in Detroit

In Detroit, "Buffs" are Cartier glasses with buffalo horn frames. For more than three decades they have been the city's ultimate status symbol, a way of saying "I made it" without a single logo. This guide covers what Detroit means by Buffs, how they're worn, why white Buffs are the most prized, and how to buy a real pair.

What Are Detroit Buffs?

Detroit Buffs are Cartier buffalo horn glasses and sunglasses, the frames Cartier makes from natural horn paired with gold, platinum or palladium hardware. The nickname is short for buffalo, and it started in Detroit before spreading to the rest of the country. If you want the full story of the name, read why Cartier glasses are called Buffs.

Detroit has its own vocabulary for Cartier eyewear:

• Buffs: Cartier frames made from buffalo horn. The original and still the most respected.
• White Buffs: Buffs cut from pale, white horn. The rarest and most expensive version.
• Woods: Cartier frames made from wood, a popular alternative to horn. See Cartier wood frame glasses.

Over time some people started calling any pair of Cartier glasses "Buffs," but in Detroit the word still mostly means horn.

How Buffs Became Detroit's Status Symbol

Buffs took off in Detroit in the late 1980s and 1990s. In a city built on hard work and hustle, a pair of Cartier horn frames said success in a way that was quieter than a chain or a car. There's no big logo on most Buffs. People who know, know: the horn, the gold C Décor or Première hardware, and the way the frames are worn.

Because buffalo horn is a natural material, no two pairs look the same. That made Buffs personal. Your pair was yours, and the pattern in the horn was as much part of the look as the brand.

Detroit Buffs in Music and Culture

Buffs are all over Detroit hip-hop. Local rappers have name-checked them in songs for years, and artists like Big Sean, Kash Doll and 42 Dugg helped take them national. In Detroit you'll see Buffs at concerts, clubs, Pistons games, proms, weddings and funerals, often passed down or saved up for as a milestone purchase.

The culture has a darker side too. Because Buffs are so valuable and so recognizable, they've been a target for theft. Detroit's Metro Times has written about how Cartier sunglasses became a Detroit fashion trend and a flashpoint for violence. It's part of why many Detroiters buy from dealers they trust and keep their receipts.

Why White Buffs Are the Most Prized

There's a saying in Detroit: the whiter the Buffs, the more coveted the frames. White buffalo horn is the rarest part of the horn, so white horn frames are made in small numbers and cost more than black or brown horn. A clean, bright pair of Cartier White Buffs is the top of the Buffs world.

Horn colors you'll see in Detroit, from most common to rarest:

• Black horn: deep, solid and classic.
• Brown and marbled horn: warm tones with visible streaks.
• White horn: pale horn, often with light streaks. The rarest and most expensive.

How Detroit Wears Buffs

The most popular Detroit Buffs styles are built on two Cartier lines:

• C Décor: the C logo sits on the temple. A Detroit favorite in black and white horn.
• Première de Cartier: a cleaner, more classic shape. See Première de Cartier sunglasses.

Many Detroiters also wear custom Buffs with custom-cut lenses, often rimless shapes with gradient or gold-tinted lenses. Our Custom by MEG Cartier styles are made this way, using authentic Cartier horn temples and hardware.

Buffs aren't only sunglasses. Plenty of people wear them every day as optical frames with clear lenses. Any pair can be made as Cartier prescription glasses, and we cover the details in can I get prescription Cartier buffalo horn glasses.

How to Buy Real Detroit Buffs

Because Buffs are expensive and in demand, fakes are everywhere. Before you buy:

• Buy from an authorized Cartier dealer. My Eye Gems is an Authorized Elite Cartier Dealer.
• Check the horn. Real buffalo horn has natural, uneven streaks. Fakes are often plastic with a printed pattern.
• Check the hardware, engravings and serial number. See our guides on real vs fake Cartier Buffs and looking up Cartier glasses by serial number.
• Be careful with prices that seem too good. Authentic Cartier horn frames usually cost several thousand dollars.

Detroit Buffs FAQ

What are Detroit Buffs?

Detroit Buffs are Cartier glasses and sunglasses made with buffalo horn. The name and the culture started in Detroit, where they became a symbol of success.

Why are they called Buffs?

"Buffs" is short for buffalo horn, the natural material used to make the frames. Here's what Cartier Buffs are made of.

Why are white Buffs so expensive?

White buffalo horn is rare, so fewer frames can be made from it. That scarcity makes white Buffs the most expensive and most wanted Buffs.

Are Buffs only worn in Detroit?

No. Buffs started in Detroit, but they're now worn across the US and around the world. Detroit is still the city most connected to them.

Can I get Buffs with my prescription?

Yes. Cartier horn frames can be fitted with prescription lenses, including single vision and progressive. Start with our Cartier prescription glasses page.

Ready to get your own pair? Shop Cartier Buffs, White Buffs and Buffs sunglasses at My Eye Gems, or try Cartier frames on virtually first.