With just two weeks to go until the solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, France's astronomical event of the decade, a crucial question arises: what glasses should be used to observe the Sun safely? Faced with a flood of questionable quality eclipse glasses on the market, the DGCCRF (General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control) is stepping up its inspections. Good news: the CE-certified, French-made eclipse glasses offered by Varionet have just been inspected and declared fully compliant with current regulations. Here's everything you need to know.
🕶️ Discover our CE-certified GALAXY eclipse glasses →
August 12, 2026: an exceptional eclipse… to be observed with protection!
On August 12, the Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun. While the path of totality will cross Iceland and then northern Spain, mainland France will experience a spectacular partial eclipse: at least 80% of the Sun obscured across France, over 92% in Paris, about 97.9% in Toulouse, and up to 99.5% in the South-West!
The phenomenon will occur in the early evening: the partial phase will begin around 7:18 PM and end around 9:16 PM, with a maximum between 8:14 PM and 8:27 PM depending on the city. A rare spectacle… but one that should NEVER be observed with the naked eye because, even 99% obscured, the Sun can cause irreversible retinal damage in a few seconds, without immediate pain.
Our eclipse glasses inspected by the DGCCRF: confirmed compliance
Our CE-certified eclipse glasses, made in France, have undergone an inspection by the regional branch of the DGCCRF concerning their CE certification and approval according to Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 9, 2016, which governs personal protective equipment (PPE).
Conclusion of the inspection: our eclipse glasses are strictly compliant with current regulations, with CE conformity certificate no. C7666/SSO/R0. You can therefore observe the August 12, 2026 eclipse with complete peace of mind.
How to recognize compliant eclipse glasses?
Before buying or using eclipse glasses, check that the following mandatory information is printed on the glasses:
- the exact and complete reference of standard EN ISO 12312-2:2015, the only one suitable for direct observation of the Sun;
- the CE conformity certificate number;
- the CE logo in its specific official typography;
- the contact details of the EU-approved laboratory that carried out the certification, with its approval number;
- the full contact details of the manufacturer (address, phone, website, email);
- the model reference or name and its manufacturing date (month and year);
- instructions for use in French for any distribution in France;
- mention of the filters' optical density 5.0.
If any of this information is missing, be wary: your eyes deserve better than a gamble!
Usage instructions to be strictly followed
Even with certified glasses, observing the Sun follows strict rules:
- ⚠️ never observe the Sun directly without special protective glasses;
- 🧸 eclipse glasses are not a toy;
- 👨 children must always be under adult supervision;
- 🚶 do not wear eclipse glasses while walking or moving;
- ⏱️ limit each continuous observation to a maximum of 3 minutes;
- 👁️ observe 30-second breaks between observations;
- 🏥 do not use after eye surgery or in case of eye disease;
- 🗑️ discard glasses and do not use them more than 3 years after their manufacture (glasses from the 1999 or 2015 eclipse are to be avoided!).
Beware of non-compliant glasses: market withdrawals announced
The National Directorate of the DGCCRF has indicated that eclipse glasses, particularly those of Chinese or American origin, that do not meet these standards and information requirements will be withdrawn from sale and distribution to the French population by the competent authorities. The French Astronomical Society also calls for extreme vigilance when making purchases, especially online on marketplaces.
Our advice: buy your eclipse glasses from a specialized and identified seller (optician, astronomy store, recognized French website), sufficiently early before August 12, as stock shortages are already announced!
Varionet's GALAXY eclipse glasses: guaranteed safety
To observe the August 12, 2026 eclipse with complete peace of mind, Varionet offers its GALAXY solar eclipse glasses, CE certified according to standard EN ISO 12312-2:2015 (notified body 0196 - DIN CERTCO) and manufactured in France (SKY & SPACE, Strasbourg).
- ✅ patented double-layer filter of 130 mm, tear-resistant, which provides a clear image of the Sun in a natural orange tint;
- ✅ filtration of 100% of UV, 100% of infrared, and 99.999% of light intensity (optical density 5.0);
- ✅ recognized European manufacturer, no "complacency certification";
- ✅ an affordable price of €4.90 to protect the whole family.
🛍️ I order my GALAXY eclipse glasses →
And for the rest of the summer, also find our 100% UV-protective polarized sunglasses and over-glasses on www.varionet.com.
