Building a Good Eyeglass Frame
The body of the glasses: the frame
Frame qualities vary considerably from one house to another, so it is important to be sensitive to the following points:
The pads: They sit on your nose, so they should feel nice and sturdy.
The branches: they must be comfortable. Do not hesitate to ask your optician to rework the camber (which is placed behind the ear) if the material allows it.
The hinges: this is the junction between the circles and the branches. They must be of good quality and constructed from a resistant material: titanium would be an excellent choice. Don't forget to have them tightened if necessary to prevent them from getting damaged.
The main types of leather: as thin and supple as possible, it must closely follow the lines of your hand to regain the sensitivity of touch.
FRAME MATERIALS
PLASTIC
The cheapest, it doesn't age very well.
CELLULOSE ACETATE
Very widespread, it offers more depth than chemical plastic and extends over an extremely wide range of colors.
INJECTED FRAMES
Also very common, it is a mixture of acetate and another material to develop particular characteristics such as resistance.
WOOD
Spread over a very wide price range, you will find frames in both bamboo and ebony.
TITANIUM AND CARBON FIBER
Light and durable, these frames are often more expensive than their acetate counterparts.
NATURAL TORTOISE SHELL
Production is limited to existing stock (turtle hunting being prohibited). However, if you have the means, go to Maison Bonnet!
THE LENSES OF YOUR GLASSES
Whether you choose mineral, organic or polycarbonate glass, you will inevitably find the glass shade (gradient or not) that suits you.
The price of the lenses will largely depend on the treatments (anti-reflective, polarized, anti-scratch, anti-fingerprint, etc.).
Important: your glasses must comply with European standards (CE) . The presence of this symbol will guarantee protection against UV rays (unapproved sun lenses that filter too little can damage your retina without you noticing it when wearing them). This is why counterfeits must be avoided.
THE ORIGINS OF GLASSES
In terms of sight and sun, glasses are the fruit of centuries of ophthalmological research and their roots are still debated. Taking various forms throughout history (nose clip, monocle, etc.), the modern spectacle was developed in France by Pierre-Hyacinthe Caseaux in 1796. An immediate success, the Morez basin produced 720,000 of them/year 50 years later .
In the 80s, luxury houses began to design frames, glasses became a fashion accessory and a way of expressing one's personality.
Today, a powerful oligopoly has formed around the eyewear industry. In particular, we find in France Essilor, world leader in the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses and holding 31% of the world market. Or even Luxottica, a major world leader in the production and distribution of frames.
Luxottica owns around ten brands but also produces, under license, for famous brands such as Chanel, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana.
