I’ve to change my rimless eyewear because they’re 12yo and not in a good shape They’re made by Luxottica and they’re made of both plastic and stainless steel. They had been very comfortable through the time, especially at the temples (plastic). So it was a very good deal considering Luxottica is not a top quality brand among European ones (I come from Italy). Now I want to buy another pair of rimless spectacles because of lightness and especially because they seem to disappear on my face.
During last days I tried many rimless spectacles both from high end brands (Silhouette) and minor Italian ones and all of them were “100% titanium” maden. So I asked the sellers why Silhouette ones cost more then twice the minor ones and I received many different answers. Sellers who haven’t got Silhouette in their shops said titanium was always the same quality but Silhouette cost more because of its fame and its 3 years warranty, sellers who sold Silhouette said Silhouette’s titanium was better quality. So I got very confused. I think there’s something tricky in this business and I don’t want to waste my (few) money. I know I was very lucky with my today spectacles but I don’t think I’ll buy Luxottica rimless again because in that case you pay for the brand (mine are Armani’s) and not for the quality. I’d want a pair of rimless spectacles that last me for other 10 years but I don’t know who I can trust.
Moreover I had a bad experience with Silhouette frameless hingeless sunglasses many years ago because they broke every 2-3 years! It it a real paradox: I spent more for an tougher material (then steel) to get a more durable spectacle instead I had to take care of it more then a crystal glass! I think titanium usage in spectacles is more a commercial operation to drive people to spend more then a real better innovation in material field. Sellers twist these eyewears to show you they’re almost “wizard” seeming they want to demonstrate they could resist to every kind of stress. I mean I didn’t play with them that way but I didn’t think I had to take more care then a normal steel frame… obviously no one advertised me!
So I’d want to ask you your experiences in long-lasting spectacles, if you have had more success with steel or titanium. It’d be perfect if you told experiences about rimless spectacles especially hinged Silhouette VS other hinged stainless steel rimless spectacles… I don’t trust sellers stories!
I’ve worn steel framed glasses for 35+ years and have some knowledge of materials. To compare steel vs. titanium; steel is roughly twice as heavy and some forms of titanium are as strong as the weaker steels. Titanium is also corrosion resistant and used in medical implants.
The glasses that bend easily are made of nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy, which is pretty cool stuff. There used to be glasses advertised that could be bent, placed in hot water, and they would straighten themselves. I don’t know if this is still featured because there are two metalurgical conditions of nitinol; superelastic OR memory metal. I suspect that superelastic has won out from a marketing standpoint.
I’ve always wanted memory metal nitinol glasses but could never afford them. IF there are pure titanium frames, I’m guessing that manufacturers choose a grade that optimizes solderability and cost of different alloys isn’t significant. Yes, there are different alloys, but I suspect you’re hearing marketing hype. For rimless glasses there is not a lot of metal there anyway, most of the weight is the lenses, so I would base my choice on appearance and cost.
Luxottica manufactures almost every “brand” out there. They own an 80% share of the market. Regardless of the label on your glasses, they most likely come from a Luxottica factory.
Ironically, Silhouette is one of the few brands left that is not a Luxottica license. In my experience, flexible titanium alloy frames are basically indestructible. The problem is cracking around the mounting point in the lens.
Having said that, I can’t find rimless frames anywhere right now. They all seem to have disappeared.
I’ve had two titanium frames for two sets of lenses each, maybe 10 years now, and the frames look pretty much as-new. They are full frames, not rimless. I expect to update the lenses in each at least one more time.
Besides the cosmetic and functional durability, the lightness is amazing. I can tell my regular specs from a pair of readers just by picking them up in the dark. All of that is going to drive the choice of my replacement prescription sunglasses to titanium instead of a “designer” frame this time.
[QUOTE=Nefario]
some forms of titanium are as strong as the weaker steels
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[QUOTE=Nefario]
Yes, there are different alloys, but I suspect you’re hearing marketing hype
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That’s the point: how to recognize a titanium frame which is weaker than steel? So is it right that there’re different quality levels of titanium?
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright]
flexible titanium alloy frames are basically indestructible. The problem is cracking around the mounting point in the lens.
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My silhouette sunglasses never cracked around the mounting pins but at the bending points of the arms (2 points) and the 2 endings of the bridge. Always these 4 points and every time the soldering (with laser) cost 30 euro (more than 30 usd). After the 1st breakage I tried lots of sunglasses but nothing was so comfortable so I carried on reparing them.
Now every time I try a Silhouette rimless with thin arms and bridge like this fear comes to me. I just wonder if there could be a difference in toughness between that model and this one due to the thickness of the arms
[QUOTE=Amateur Barbarian]
I’ve had two titanium frames for two sets of lenses each, maybe 10 years now, and the frames look pretty much as-new
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Could I ask you what brand they’re please? I firstly considered Lindberg (Danish) and Blackfin (Italian) too but they’re too expensive.
This has been my experience. No corrosion/rot, strong, and lightweight. The only problem was the frames outlived my prescription and I couldn’t use them when I switched to progressive lenses.
Sure. (Takes desk glasses off. Discovers the type is too small to read. Puts desk glasses back on. Discovers you can’t read the inside of the temple while wearing them. Pauses for short bout of despair at this gettin-old shit.)
(Grabs regular pair of readers.)
My desk glasses, which are about 50% of my regular reading strength because of the greater viewing distance, are Marchonis with large, squarish-aviator lenses. I’ve had them since they held MUCH thicker lenses.
My dailies, which are smallish oval progressives, are… also Marchoni. Must have been a sale that week. These held full-strength lenses for a few years and then were switched to light-correction progressives.
They’re made by Luxottica and they’re made of both plastic and stainless steel. They had been very comfortable through the time, especially at the temples (plastic). So it was a very good deal considering Luxottica is not a top quality brand among European ones (I come from Italy). Now I want to buy another pair of rimless spectacles because of lightness and especially because they seem to disappear on my face.
These held full-strength lenses for a few years and then were switched to light-correction progressives.
