[2022] Glasses/Sunglasses Materials (Stainless Steel/Titanium)

Hello, I'm Yamada from METRONOME-Tokyo Online, the official Japanese online store for METRONOME DESIGN INC., which sells METRONOME®, an eyewear brand founded in London.

Metronome eyeglass and sunglasses frames are renowned for their unique designs. In our shop, we use different materials for each frame. Depending on the material, the texture and color variations of the frames vary.

This time, we'll be talking about stainless steel and titanium! We've also written about these materials on a separate page called " About Glasses/Sunglasses Materials ," so please take a look.

We use both stainless steel and titanium in our shop, and we will introduce them in order. First, the main countries of manufacture for stainless steel are China, Germany, France, Italy, Taiwan, South Korea, and North America.

It is considered the mainstream metal material for eyeglasses around the world. Recently, there are a variety of options, from sustainable materials to allergy-free stainless steel. There are even some that will revert to the soil if buried in the ground.

Anyway, the designer said, "Stainless steel is the mainstream for glasses, not titanium." Indeed, I think there were many questions about the material at the overseas exhibition.

(Infected [Resonance by METRONOME® × KUDAN])

For example, in our shop, we use stainless steel for this. It has a thick, square frame. By clipping the sunglasses lenses onto the glasses, you can use them as sunglasses. The thick, oversized silhouette can be worn by both men and women.

Continuing with titanium , the main manufacturing countries are Japan, China, and Korea, which are all Asian countries. When you say "titanium" at an overseas exhibition, you're likely to be asked, "Japan? China? Korea?" It's only made in these three countries (though Taiwan may be one too).

In fact, if you say "metal frame" to a factory in Japan, they will assume that you mean "beta titanium." In fact, if you say "I want it made from stainless steel," they will just dismiss it, saying, "It's too much trouble, why not just use titanium?"

The advantages are that Japan is accustomed to manufacturing, so it is very easy to manufacture. There is also a wide variety of backgrounds in Japan. Since they are accustomed to handling, plating and painting are easy and the quality is good. The design can be made very thin, etc.

Continuing on, one disadvantage (based on the designer's subjective opinion and experience) is the high cost. Overseas, we often hear, "Huh, why titanium? Isn't stainless steel good enough?" As a result, when overseas shops that are accustomed to stainless steel try to repair it at their overseas stores, it cannot be handled in neighboring countries. Therefore, it has to be shipped directly back to Japan. As a result, the shipping costs are seen as a burden and the item is often abandoned. Furthermore, re-plating is a hassle, and there are only a few plating shops, so it is cost-prohibitive.

These are the disadvantages of selling mainly overseas, but there are circumstances like these.

In our shop, we mainly use beta titanium for traditional products.

These Trad glasses are equipped with flip-up lenses and blue light blocking lenses. The lenses are interchangeable, so you can change them to photochromic lenses or prescription lenses.

Another feature is that these glasses come with clip-on lenses, so they can also be used as sunglasses. As you can see in the photo, they have a two-bridge look.

Sunglasses lenses are available in three colors: gray, blue, and yellow. Please choose your favorite color. See the Trad product list here .

Well then

Yamada