Early 20th century Edwardian folding & sprung release lorgnette, made by Hamblin Jewellers UK. The hinged lenses folding in on themselves and held in place and are released by pulling down on the decorative ring in the middle of the handle. The lenses could be altered to a prescription lens or plain glass. The lorgnette is labelled on the inside of the bridge with the maker's mark: British made, Hamblin. Invented by Englishman George Adams, the lorgnette was usually used as a piece of jewellery, rather than to enhance vision. Society ladies preferred them to spectacles, especially at parties or the opera (becoming the model for today's opera glasses).