Pure buffalo horn at Finest Seven is interpreted with glamorous sunglasses in light coloured horn – hallmarked with 5-micron gold plated temples. Made in France, each carefully handcrafted design is unique. The voluminous square shape features superb quality Zeiss lenses. A Collector’s item – with only one-hundred pieces per colour model. www.finestseven.com JG
This dramatic, yet pared down shape has Theo’s stamp of originality in the design. Japanese titanium and Indian buffalo horn combine to create a lightweight, flexible and distinctive frame from Theo’s eye-witness collection. The frame front and temples in TZ are made from titanium, and the horn accents are clicked into the titanium without the use of any screws. A frame with natural richness and expression. www.theo.be JG
Tucked away in the beautiful alpine city of Chur – the oldest city in Switzerland – and surrounded by mountain magic, Swiss optician Pascal Nüesch designs luxurious horn frames, entirely handcrafted. He works by himself, creating each design from start to finish. The timeless shape of No. 50 in natural Indian buffalo horn is truly an eyewear heirloom. www.noosh-optix.ch JG
Which wood frame? Here are five designs we have picked out following our visits in Paris – all five I have been able to study in some way. We have looked for fine craftsmanship and beautiful techniques in the making of the frame, but we’ve also looked for great design with a modern direction and a nice fit – I have seen several wonky, not so pretty temples in wood and ill-fitting frames, so we were seeking out a top selection from brands that lead the way in this material or who have done something slightly different with wood details or bamboo.
This exemplary one – Espada – is by Rolf Spectacles, one of the few labels that makes handmade frames entirely in wood …there are no metal parts or screws. As well as being robust with an interesting shape, the frame has an exceptional and precise finish, and the grain and character of the wood are always carefully highlighted in the designs. Rolf Spectacles works with a variety of natural woods such as oak, maple, bamboo and bog oak. The Rolf Spectacles label has launched their first innovations in buffalo horn in Paris last week and that is another story of innovation and artisan expertise. www.rolf-spectacles.com CN
Just launched in Paris, this slick modern style from German wood specialists Herrlicht uses not just one but two types of wood side by side. Herrlicht uses very elegant woods such as maple, cherry, oak and plum. Crafted by hand, each frame consists of 100% natural wood created in layers, glued together and pressed into form. Each one is then sanded and cut, resulting in an individual and elegant design. A special hinge system features a four-pronged star; the system ensures that the lenses can be changed easily. www.herrlicht.de CN