Metal

Shopping for a new pair of sunglasses can be a little daunting, especially when you are faced with a vast array of designer brands, styles and designs to choose from. However, a viable way to narrow down your search and prod you to the right direction would be to choose first what type of frame material would best fit you.

When it comes to metal sunglasses frames, there is a wide array of materials that offer varied features. So here’s a list of the more popular metals used in the production of metal sunglasses:


Titanium

Most of the expensive and high-end designer sunglasses these days feature titanium frames, which are considered to be the new rage among eyewear fanatics. Titanium is a steel gray metal that offers unparalleled durability and contains properties that make it virtually resistant to corrosion. This metal has also been used in the creation of the Gemini and Apollo space capsules along with the heart valves used in many medical operations. What is more exceptional about this metal is the fact that aside from its highly functional properties, it is also available in a number of trendy colors that makes it a fashionable accessory.

Flexon

This is probably the most popular and highly favored metal frames used in many designer sunglasses these days. This particular innovation was first introduced and patented by Marchon, a famous eyeglass manufacturer. Flexon is more commonly called ‘memory metal, simply because it has an uncanny ability to retain its shape despite years of use. Sunglasses frames that are made with the Flexon technology can go back to its original shape despite exposure to constant bending, twisting and even crushing. Aside from that Flexon features lightweight designs, which is actually very unlikely for metals and is known to be hypoallergenic and resistant to corrosion. This explains why it is one of the highly preferred materials in sunglasses frames, and predictably comes with slightly expensive price tags than most.

Ticral

The newest addition to the materials used for metal frames, which is actually considered to be the cheap metal sunglasses version for people who cannot afford the pure titanium frames. Ticral is actually an alloy of copper, titanium and chrome that produces nickel free frames that makes it naturally hypoallergenic. Like other titanium based frames it is also lightweight, which makes it a highly comfortable eyewear for outdoor activities, but significantly less expensive than most. It can also be designed to be considerably thicker to offer the same effect as the popular oversized plastic frames but featuring more durability and resilience.

Stainless Steel

Another equally popular alternative is the stainless steel frames that are used to make metal square sunglasses, for people who prefer that more sedate look. These stainless frames are combined with 10-30% chromium, which explains its ability to resist corrosion, abrasion and even high heat. It also offers low toxicity and exceptional strength. And since it is one of the most readily available forms of metal, it is considerably cheaper alternative.

Monel

This type of metal is derived from a number of wide ranges of metal and one of the widely used materials in manufacturing prescription glasses in particular. It is malleable enough to be fashioned into intricately designed eyewear pieces and at the same time effectively resist corrosion. However, if you are to choose Monel for your frame, it would be highly advisable to select ones with palladium plating or other similarly nickel free coatings to make it hypoallergenic.

Beryllium

Another rapidly gaining popularity is the beryllium metals that also offer a cheaper alternative to titanium. It also has the ability to resist corrosion and even tarnishing, which makes it a very suitable frame material for people who have very high skin acidity and also individuals who are constantly exposed to the sea and other salt-water air.

Now that you have a better understanding on the different types of metals used in the production of sunglasses frames, you won’t have to play Russian roulette as to what particular material to look to. Hopefully this article would narrow down your choices into a few brands that could best suit your needs and preferences.