We can make metal spectacles after your wishes, any colors can be done, gold, silver, etc... We do have the memory 's titan material, which can be fold with no problems.

The EU Nickel Directive.

Statutory regulation.

To satisfy the requirements of the EU nickel directive 94/27/EC, during the first two years of wear, an ophthalmic frame or a sun- glass frame may only release a maximum of 0.5 ~g/cm 2 of nickel per week at parts which normally come into contact with the skin. A test process has been developed by the responsible standard committees which simulates daily wear and also takes the special demands of ophthalmic frames and sunglasses into account in order to check the observation of the new standard. This test process was included in European standard EN 12472 as part of a review procedure and was published as EN 12472:2006 in April 2006.

The abrasion test prescribed for articles of daily use prior to the revision of EN 12472:1998 was not suitable for ophthalmic frames in the unanimous opinion of internationally recognised experts since it did not correctly simulate the use in wear of ophthalmic frames and did not provide any reproducible results. The European pre-standard 14027:2001 was therefore introduced as a provisional solution for ophthalmic frames. The revised standard EN 12472 approved in April 2006 now corresponds to the pre-standard 14027 in all main areas.

Following a period of research in the '80s and-'90s, the optical industry now benefits from advanced manufacturing processes. State-of-the-art technology borrowed from the aeronautics and car industries and manufacturers of medical appliances, has had a huge impact on frame production, and not least on the mechanics and design of the frame itself. Computer-aided processing, precision welding techniques and laser cutting machines are now an integral part of the manufacturing plant, speeding up production and giving new impetus to the evolution of the design of the frame.

Where once a handful of traditional materials held sway, to day metal frames dominate the market place in terms of sales in each of the rive major European countries. In Germany, the dominance of metal has increased over the last few years until it now accounts for over 80% of optical frames sold. In France, Italy and the UK, metal frame sales are buoyant, representing well over 50% of the frames sold, and are expected to grow as manufacturing processes become cheaper and the end product gets more and more affordable.

"Young people, particularly those who are buying a frame for the first time, are choosing metal," says Massimo Barillari of Ottica Oculus, a practice in Milan, Italy. "The favorite material here at the moment is titanium, he says. "It is easy to demonstrate to the customer what its advantages are."

QUALITY CONTROL
In order to comply with European and international standards, it is required that metal frame products be: subjected to a series of quality control tests. These include tests for mechanical durability, UV-light protection and resistance to heat. Other 'non-regulated' tests are used to analyse the performance of the frame.
These include tests for wear and abrasion, shock resistance and corrosion.
A European law, Directive 94/27, which regulates the use of nickel in metal alloy products that come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin, came into effect on 21st January this year. Named the 'Jewellery Directive' because of its application to jewellery products such as necklaces and earrings, the directive specifies standards (EN 1811 and EN 12472) for testing the rate of nickel release, which must hot exceed 0.5pg/cmq per week for a period of at least two years. It requires that on the basis of these standards, each EU member state put its own nickel legislation into force.
However, the test methods were not considered to be wholly suitable for application to optical frames and sunglasses, in view of the fact that they wouid actually cause abrasive damage to the frames.
Certottica, the Italian institute that certifies optical products, suggested a more suitable testing procedure, which was approved by other international standards organizations, including the ISO, earlier this year. The new test devised by Certottica is expected to replace the current specifications by January 2001. It has already been inserted into 1SO standard CD 12870 Rev. 20OO.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENTS
With technological change have come major changes to the structure, color and mechanical performance of the frame. Frames have fewer and fewer stress points and are getting lighter and lighter. The arrival of the lightweight, flexible metal alloys and the widespread use of titanium and titanium-based alloys has meant that frames have become more comfortable and therefore much more user-friendly.
It is now common to see a number of different metal materials combined in one construction to achieve an integral design that provides outstanding performance.
The eye wire, for example, might be produced in a strong, durable material such as Monel while the temples and bridge, which need to fit on and around the face comfortably, are produced in more flexible materials.
While hand painting and decoration is still commonly carried out during the finishing stages of production, technological advances have meant that many treatments, coloring processes and decorative effects are achieved using state-of-the-art technology.
A variety of techniques are used to produce different colored metals. Titanium, for example, changes color when subjected to an electrolytic process. The final color of the frame depends on the length of time it is submerged in an electrolytic solution. Extraordinary depth of color can be achieved through this process allowing metal frames to have as much color variation as plastics. Gradient or 'rainbow' color effects are also possible by varying the voltage.
A number of solutions have been round for the construction of screw less frames, which have also allowed the realization of new design ideas. Rotation mechanisms or disc hinges, spring-loaded hinges and screw-free wire hinges improve the functionality of the frame as well as making interesting design features.

SELLING POINTS
With so much choice, the customer needs tom be guided through their frame purchase. The following guide looks al the benefits of the most common metals employed to make optical frames:

Nose Pads

100% transparent materials. Symmetrical and almond-shaped pad. Biofeel ® has the same thickness as a classical pad. Biofeel ®, due to the great adaptability of the shape of the membrane and the filling, automatically adapts to the wearer's face. 

 

The pads spreads out under pressure and so increases the area in contact with the skin. The pad returns to its original shape and retains all its characteristics. The weight of the frame is better distributed, thus providing greater comfort

 

 

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