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Prescription frames created with hand made acetate

How Are Our Acetate Glasses Made?

To achieve the highest quality it is very important that the highest grade of cellulose acetate available is used. Hundreds of elaborate processes go into each frame, and a multitude of craftspeople contribute to the final product.

STEP ONE

ACETATE SHEETS

New acetate combinations are generated by mixing organic colours with acetone and the raw acetate plant based material. Rollers help mix the paste onto already thin flat sheets of acetate to achieve the special colour effects. Complex colourations are produced by layering several colours and sandwiching them together or pressing them through a variety of dies. The acetate film may be chopped into small cubes and rollered again. These layers are molded into large blocks. After which technicians intricately slice off single new sheets which are dried in large kilns for several weeks to cure the material.

STEP TWO

CUTTING & FORMING

The frames are cut to shape using computer controlled mills according to the design input by the technician. The individual frame components are then hand finished by different highly trained technicians. They form the curve of the frame front, press the core wires and hinges into the acetate material. They apply the nose pads and hand finish many other features according to the design.

STEP THREE

POLISHING

The frame components are placed in barrels about the size of a washing machine full of wood chips and small stone. The components are tumbled together for many hours. After which, each frame is buffed by hand by an experienced technician to a highly polished luster.