How eyeglass frames are made

Press the acetate block

Pigments are mixed with acetone and worked into small acetate chips. Mixed chips go into a mold and are pressed, and 24 hours later they have fused into one block.

24 hours

Face and mill the blanks

Raw sheet varies in thickness, so a milling machine faces both sides to an even 8 mm. CNC tools then cut the fronts and temples, with their curves, lens grooves and rivet holes.

faced to 8 mm

Heat-press the bridge

The front is softened in an oven and put straight under a pneumatic press. A brass wedge shaped like a nose presses down, forming the bridge and curving the front.

Tumble in wood chips

Fronts and temples ride in barrels of beech and birch chips with polishing paste for 48 to 76 hours. Slow abrasion takes off the sharp edges and tool marks.

48 to 76 hours

Buff by hand

Each piece is buffed several times on a polishing wheel, and a wax compound brings up the gloss.

Build the metal frames

Metal frames follow their own route. Wire takes shape in a reeling machine, and the rim is welded by hand to the bridge, temples and nose pad wires, then plated or painted.

Attach hinges and temples

Hinges are riveted or melted into the acetate, and the temples are screwed on by hand. Core wires go inside each temple so it holds its shape but can still be adjusted.

Fit lenses and adjust

Lenses are cut to fit each frame and inserted by hand. The finished glasses get a last check of the prescription.