Plastic or metal, the material that your eyewear is manufactured from has an influence on fashion and function. A very basic frame material is plastic or Zyl. Zyl frames provide durability along with an amazing range of colors. Color and texture can be used to mimic different natural substances, and modern layering techniques provide tremendous visual interest and variety. However, a plastic frame can loose its adjustment if it is subjected to excessive heat, such as being left in a parked car or sunny window. Another type of “plastic,” is nylon. It provides incredible strength and is often used in sport sunglasses and wrap-around designs. While the color range can be more subdued in nylon frames, the material more than compensates by providing extreme durability.
The thinner components of a metal frame provide a more subtle appearance. The best metal frames manufactured today are titanium. This space age metal has grown out of space exploration and high tech aircraft applications. Titanium is exceptionally lightweight and tough. These frames represent the latest metallurgy for eyewear fashions and are available with great detailing.
A more economical option is a stainless steel frame. This material makes a strong frame that holds its adjustment well. While stainless steel eyewear will not corrode they are heavier than frames made of titanium. These frames are available in a wide range of colors and styles.
The simplest metal frames are made from nickel alloys that are coated with paints or polymer films that reduce corrosion and add color to the frame. Frames made with this type of metal tend to be less expensive but are prone to corrosion particularly when the coatings have worn off. These less expensive frames lack the stiffness and resilience to maintain their fit and require more frequent adjustments.
Stronger lens materials like polycarbonate allow the manufacture of rimless eyewear consisting of two lenses and minimal metal components for the earpieces and bridge of the frame. Titanium versions of this type of eyewear represent some of the lightest eyewear designs available.
The combination of advanced material science and advancements in lens technology allow us to create some of the lightest and most durable eyewear ever made.
