Eyewear Materials

Frames of the past were made of heavy materials. Although they were strong, they weren’t exactly comfortable or stylish. Today we have a lot more options at our disposal, from plastics to metals like stainless steel and titanium. You will even find gold and wooden frames. In this blog we’d like to break down the various options for you.

Metal frames have come a long way. The newer materials allow for a wider variety of detail, colour and even shape. Stainless steel is a good material if you are sensitive to metals. Hypoallergenic titanium is even better. Titanium is also extremely lightweight and durable, holding it’s shape even when bent. There are a few new metal alloys on the market as well, one being Flexon. This material is a titanium allow, allowing it to bend and flex for added durability.

One of the most popular plastic materials is cellulose acetate, a cotton-based material. This material can be dyed into endless colour combinations. Tortoise is one example of a popular multi-coloured texture, often seen in cellulose acetate frames. While petroleum oil is used in many plastic frames, some companies are starting to use more eco-friendly oils, such as castor oil, made from the castor bean plant.

There are a few exotic frame materials on the market these days, which include vinyl, gold and wood. Vinyl records can be cut down and used to make frames. Gold plated eyewear has been around a long time and holds up extremely well. Wooden frames though not as adjustable as traditional plastic or metal, are stylish and have quite a distinct look to them. Sometimes plastic temple ends will be attached to the wooden front so that you get the look of wood, with the ease of adjusting behind the ears.

Regardless of the material, all frames should function as intended: to help you see well.