Elton John is known for being an eccentric singer with a taste for strange eyewear. It comes as no surprise that the man is said to own approximately a quarter million pairs of sunglasses.
Across the decades, sunglasses have been protecting our eyes without detracting from our style. Even when the sun isn’t out, some people still choose to wear them. They’re simple enough designs, but you may be wondering: What are sunglasses made of?
Simple or not, there’s a lot of engineering that goes into each pair you see on a gas station rack. Keep reading as we analyze their materials and components in greater detail.
What Are Sunglasses Made Of?
First, this will depend entirely on the brand and make of the glasses. Cheap sunglass material tends to be things like nylon and polycarbonate. For luxury brands, you might find beryllium or titanium–perhaps even horn.
Metal Sunglasses
Though more expensive, metal sunglasses have the obvious advantage of being durable. Despite a relatively heavy material, they still manage to be lighter than you expect. Metals in sunglasses include the following:
- Aluminum
- Monel
- Beryllium
- Titanium
- Memory metal
- Stainless steel
Of course, you might not be all that concerned about having titanium in your sunglasses. If you want something much cheaper, then plastic does the job just fine.
Metal has a few unique advantages over plastic aside from the obvious durability. First, it’s usually corrosion-resistant, unlike plastic which breaks down more easily.
Second, metal is usually hypoallergenic. Individuals who might be sensitive to plastic-based materials need not worry about metal.
Finally, metal is easier to repair. Using a hot sandbox, most opticians can fix a bent frame in seconds. When plastic bends, it usually breaks and has no means of fixing it.
Plastic Sunglasses
Plastic is a very general term that refers to a massive range of plastic-based materials. Though they may all seem the same on the surface, each contains unique properties. Materials may include the following:
- TR90 Memory Frame Tech
- Propionate
- Nylon
- Acetate/Zyl
- Polycarbonate
Make no mistake, plastic frames don’t inherently mean glasses are cheap. Many big-name brands like Oakley use plastic derivatives in their premium lineups. Check out All Star Shades for some excellent glass options.
If you’re not a fan of all the plastic clogging the ocean, you can select plant-based plastics. Or, post-consumer material–recycled plastics put into new lenses.
Plastic has a few advantages over metal, primarily in being lightweight and not bending out of shape. It’s more resistant to chemical or heat wear. For active individuals, sweat won’t rust a pair of plastic glasses.
Organic Materials
Less common in sunglasses are organic materials. Similar to metal, they can be quite costly to source and manufacture. These might be materials like the following:
- Wood
- Horn
- Bone
In the early days, parts of glasses often came from animals. Ivory and bone were typical in the average frame. Horn-rimmed glasses are the epitome of Victorian-era spectacles, after all.
Most organic materials are questionable these days. In particular, ivory. Only buy synthetic ivory. The real stuff often comes from poachers of endangered species.
Different Parts of Glasses
Sunglasses are virtually the same as normal glasses, minus machining the lenses for prescription eye correction. Most come with the following basic components:
- Frame fronts
- Temples
- Hinges
- Lens
- Pads and tips
Some sunglasses include additional features. Take, for example, those old Oakley glasses that had a built-in MP3 player to listen to music. Sunglasses might even have transition lenses to double as prescription glasses, or a strap to hang them off your neck.
Sunglass Lens
The lens is often the primary factor in determining quality and price. Top-of-the-line models are scratch-free, fog-resistant, and provide exceptional viewing quality. A five-dollar pair might only have plastic with cheap tint.
Glass Lens
Glass is the natural, most common, and often cheapest choice. It’s easy to manufacture and has unparalleled visibility. Glass tends to be distortion-free, durable when tempered, and easy to tint.
Obviously, glass is the most fragile material on this list. Complete replacement is necessary when they break. Also, they are heavier than alternative materials.
Plastic Lens
Polycarbonate sunglasses are the alternative lens when glass isn’t desirable. These are highly lightweight, more durable than glass, and cheap to manufacture. They still last a long time; generations, if you care for them well.
Sadly, polycarbonate and plastic in general have one major weakness: they get scratched more easily. Even with exceptionally high-quality polycarbonate, scratches are permanent. You can’t polish them out as easily as with glass.
Some types of plastic, such as acrylic and nylon, have unique properties. Nylon, as one example, is more flexible and won’t damage the lens after some bending.
Lens Tinting and Coating
Lens tinting can make or break a good pair of sunglasses. The best tint blocks UV rays without corrupting visibility. Some tints can transition, lightening or darkening based on sun exposure.
Coatings on the surface of the lens can provide additional functionality. Aviators, as an example, tend to have a polarized surface that excels against glare.
Protective coatings can improve the durability of otherwise vulnerable lens materials. An anti-scratch covering can protect polycarbonate from those permanent scratches mentioned earlier. Anti-fog coatings can prevent you from going fog-blind when stepping out into a cold winter morning.
Which Sunglasses Should You Choose?
There are so many different materials for sunglasses, styles, and lenses to choose from. It’s impossible to provide a clear-cut answer for you, specifically. So instead, take the following things into account:
- How much money you are willing to spend
- How often you use them
- Which styles you like the most
- How many pairs you want
- If you need them for specific applications
The easiest thing to do is just try them on. Drop by your local optician and let the mirror speak.
Choose the Best Sunglasses for You
What are sunglasses made of? Premium pairs use high-quality metals and glass lenses with high-quality coatings. The cheaper ones, on the other hand, tend to use inexpensive plastics with great durability. Go and try out some glasses today!
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