history /

frame craft

fig. 1

Pin: The pin secures the riveted hinge to the arm. We like the fact all the components that make up the glasses and hold them together are exposed - it adds to the product's raw, emotional feel. Pins come in a variety of shapes such as the diamond, the beveled rectangle and the 5-point star. We may also source vintage pins to provide that extra bit of integrity. Click 2.
fig. 1 Pin: The pin secures the riveted hinge to the arm. We like the fact all the components that make up the glasses and hold them together are exposed - it adds to the product's raw, emotional feel. Pins come in a variety of shapes such as the diamond, the beveled rectangle and the 5-point star. We may also source vintage pins to provide that extra bit of integrity. Click 2. fig. 2 Core: This is a metal spine that gives stability to the arm, allowing it to be adjusted to fit the contours of the wearer's head perfectly. Click 3. fig. 3 Hinge, Female: For each hinge, four holes are hand-drilled into the frame. The pins are then inserted and the excess is trimmed by hand. The newly cut ends are then hand-domed. Click 4. fig. 4 Hinge, Male: Each charniere interlinks with those of the female hinge. Click 5. fig. 5 Arm: Once the core is shot into the arm with the fronts, the rough cut-out shapes are tumbled in wooden barrels with resin chips and oils for five days. The fronts are then tumbled with a finer grade of resin chip to smooth and prepare the surface for hand-polishing. In the hand-polishing process we use two different polishing mops made of cotton that rotate at high speed. The first mop is primed with a brown smoothing wax and the second with a white glossing wax. Click 6. fig 6. Front: The most important visual aspect of 'face furniture' is the front of the frame. We work like couturiers with handmade clothes, considering how a front will dress the face to flatter certain features. Our designs are never intended to disappear out of view, but instead are designed to harmonise with the owner. Once designs are decided, shapes for the front are sketched, converted to computer drawings and cut into frame fronts and temples with a CNC machine. Click 7. fig. 7 Pin: The hinges are secured to the frame with exposed pins - the only decoration we will allow. We like the fact that all the components that make up the glasses, and hold them together, are exposed. Click 8. fig. 8 Logo: The Cutler and Gross brand is timeless, which is reinforced by the absence of a visible logo on the outside of the frame. Instead, our gold foil logo is placed on the inside of the right hand temple. A technician makes a bed in the plastic where the logo lies. The bed is then filled with a clear plastic resin to form a seal. This allows the logo to be permanently capsuled and gives the wearer the security of knowing that the glasses are genuine Cutler and Gross.