Why Frame Material Matters
Frame material determines how much your glasses weigh on your face, how adjustable they are, how long they last, and what they look like. It also affects your maintenance routine and how sensitive you can wear them.
Acetate (Plastic)
The most popular material for fashion frames. Available in an almost infinite range of colours, patterns, and transparency levels — including tortoiseshell and translucent frames. Hypoallergenic, relatively lightweight, and adjustable by heating. However, susceptible to warping in extreme heat.
Metal (Stainless Steel, Monel, Aluminium)
Metal frames offer a sleeker, thinner profile than acetate. Stainless steel is the most common — durable, resistant to corrosion, and cost-effective. Wide range of price points and highly adjustable. Some people experience skin sensitivity to nickel present in many alloys.
Titanium
The premium metal frame material — extremely lightweight, corrosion-resistant, hypoallergenic, and exceptionally strong. A full-titanium frame is typically 40–50% lighter than equivalent stainless steel. Significantly more expensive but ideal for high-prescription wearers and people with skin sensitivities.
TR90 (Thermoplastic)
A nylon-based thermoplastic polymer developed for sports and children's eyewear. Extremely flexible, lightweight, and virtually unbreakable under normal use. Excellent for children's frames and sport use.
Quick Guide
- Want fashion and colour: Acetate
- Want lightweight and minimal: Metal or Titanium
- Need maximum durability / kids / sport: TR90
- Want the absolute best long-term: Titanium