Facebook Inc. has teamed with global glasses maker Luxottica Group SpA to build augmented reality glasses, according to a report from CNBC.

Luxottica may not quite be a household brand, but the company is the world’s largest maker of glasses and owns brands that include Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada Eyewear, Versace and Chanel. The company not only makes glasses but also owns dozens of glasses retailers as well, the most notable Sunglass Hut.

The Luxottica Facebook AR project, known internally as Orion, is developing glasses that are aimed to replace smartphones. The glasses are said to allow users to take calls, show information to users in a small display and even livestream. That last suggests that the AR glasses will come with a built-in camera.

The problem so far, at least according to the report, is that Facebook “has struggled to reduce the size of the device into a form factor that consumers will find appealing.” Given the amount of technology the project is attempting to stuff into glasses that isn’t surprising. Putting a camera in glasses alone is a challenge, as Snap Inc. discovered with every incarnation of its Spectacles, “smart” glasses with a camera built-in.

In the broader field, Facebook is not alone in attempting to make or actually making AR glasses. The leading maker is Microsoft Corp. with its Hololens, though it isn’t attempting to make the technology mainstream, rather pitching its product as a specialist industry tool.

Having raised $280 million in April, Magic Leap Inc. also offers an AR headset that retails for $2,295, but who is actually buying them is another matter. The company initially pitched it as a consumer offering, but it’s unlikely consumers will be lining up for an expensive AR headset when actual proven virtual reality headsets are now far cheaper.

Apple Inc. has delved into the market as well through its ARKit software and, according to some, it’s working on an AR headset code-named “Garta.” But when or even if that is happening is pure speculation at this point.

Luxottica has delved into AR before, working with Google LLC on its ill-fated Google Glass device in 2014.

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