Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements

A rearview mirror comprising

• a mirror element having a perimeter, the mirror element comprising:
• a first substantially transparent substrate having first and second surfaces, a first edge surface adjoining the first and second surfaces, and a peripheral area, the first surface corresponding to a front of the rearview mirror, the first substrate including a strip of substantially optically opaque material disposed substantially circumferentially proximate the peripheral area on at least one of the first and second surfaces;
• a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces and a second edge surface adjoining the third and fourth surfaces, the fourth surface corresponding to a back of the mirror element, the second substrate including a layer of reflective material disposed on at least one of the third and fourth surfaces and covering at least a central portion of the at least one of the third and fourth surfaces;
• a seal substantially circumferentially disposed between the first and second substrates proximate the periphery area so as to sealably bond the second and third surfaces to one another in a spaced-apart relationship and to define a gap therebetween;
• a bezel disposed along at least one of the first and second edge surfaces so as to have the first surface is unobstructed by the bezel when viewed from the front of the rearview mirror;
• and
• a carrier plate supporting the back of the mirror element.