OT  focuses on…Mido, Vision Expo East and Optrafair

Frames: Reinterpreted classics

De Rigo launched frames from its in-house and licensed brands, such as Police, Lozza, Furla and Carolina Herrera, at Mido (23–25 February).

The eyewear company explained that the new Police collection features classic lines that have been reinterpreted with the latest eyewear trends. 

Style ‘SPL890’ is a square metal-fronted frame with a double bridge, which includes the Police eagle logo on the sides that are also decorated with vertical lines. 

New frames in the Lozza range include a reinterpretation of its ‘Zilo’ style. The sunglass style is a big geometric shape that features a metal and acetate front. 

De Rigo said that Furla’s new frames include classic shapes with catchy colour combinations that are made from lightweight material such as plexiglass and rubber.

‘SFU294’ (pictured) is an oversized aviator frame with double metal bridge and a glittery plexiglass trim on the front. 

Carolina Herrera’s 2019 collection includes brand features such as stripes and logos in the trim.

Styles include ‘SHE822,’ which is a butterfly sunglass with detailing on the front of the frame and colour on the top and side of the model.

For further information, visit the De Rigo website.

Equipment: Quality performance

Mei launched new lens edging technologies that are designed to provide “quality performance in the lens edging process” during Mido

President and technical director at Mei, Stefano Sonzogni, said: “The challenge for us is to design machines with ever-greater productivity, reliability and ease of use, while maintaining the technical superiority and quality of service that have consistently set us apart.”

Launches such as the FlawLessFit lens mounting system includes a new measuring device that is paired with Mei’s existing tracer and cutting machine software. 

Mei’s new automatic 4QC is an automatic quality control system that has been developed as an upgrade to all of its 4Racer devices. It carries out dimensional control of the cut lens, optical centre position and cylinder axis after milling and ensure total optical quality of the lens produced. 

The lens equipment company’s Smart Loader, which can be added to the Sphera2Plus, features enhanced functions to keep pace with the latest fashion trends. 

Mei’s JobTracking4.0 is a software package combines data supervision functions with applications that analyse productivity and efficiency data for the entire lab. 

The company explained that its new Eyegoal software release ensures a powerful and flexible edging system that is intuitive to complex cutting designs. 

Shape Finder EVO Reflector is equipped with a custom illumination system and can check the dimensions of cut lenses and the position of visible laser and painted logos.

For further information, visit the Mei website.

Spectacles: Architectural designs

Ridgway Optical, the UK distributor of WestGroupe, celebrated a decade of its premium eyewear brand for men, Evatik, at Vision Expo East in New York (21–24 March).

A new logo was revealed that is designed to identify with today’s modern man, using minimalistic and architectural designs.

Evatik launched its spring 2019 collection, which “strikes the perfect balance between comfort and luxury, the eyewear company explained.

The collection is made from acetate, stainless steel and Japanese titanium, and features deep, rich and masculine colour options.

The ‘E-9184’ frame (pictured) is a semi-rimless style that features a laser etched cross hatch pattern along the brow bar and down the sides. It is available in colour combinations of grey and silver, camel and black, as well as olive and black.

Titanium styles include the ‘E-9189,’ which is a retro-inspired frame with an angular shape and double bridge. The lightweight model is available in black light gun or gun and black.

For further information, visit the Ridgway Optical.

Sunglasses: Paper-thin

Modo updated its spring/summer 2019 range of spectacles and sunglasses at Vision Expo East.

The eyewear company explained the collection combines the comfort and lightness of titanium with an acetate rim.

Modo added two new spectacles and three sunglasses to its Paper-Thin acetate collection at the New York trade show.

Spectacle style, ‘4520’ (pictured), is a classic 1950s-style frame with a narrow pointed cat’s eye. It is available in four colours, including black, forest and gold, pink and gold, or red acetate with gold titanium.

Men’s style, ‘4523,’ is a full-rim rectangular frame that is available in colour options, such as forest tortoise acetate on gun titanium, crystal navy, grey gun and brown tortoiseshell.

Sunglasses include ‘455,’ which is a butterfly shape with an exaggerated acetate brown that is available in four acetate and titanium colour options – light blue tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell, olive and black.

Women’s sunglass style, ‘462,’ is an oversized soft square shape. Colour options include midnight blue acetate and gold titanium, or black and white tortoiseshell acetate on black titanium.

For further information, visit the Modo website.

Frames: Designer brand

Dunelm Optical launched 14 unisex styles from its new high-end designer brand, Joseph, at Optrafair Exchange (30 March–1 April).

Frames are available in a range of shapes, including an aviator and contemporary round styles, with the latter shape inspired by the brand’s late founder, Joseph Ettedgui, who wore circular spectacles.

Product development director at Dunelm Optical, Oliver Beaumont, said: “Joseph eyewear is a high-contemporary collection with a strong core of indulgent essences. The inclusion of subtle, colour dipped tips and other design nuances lend an individuality to this spectacular range of frames.”

Styles in the collection include ‘Duke’ (pictured) which is an aviator shape with a double bridge detail. It is available in a translucent burnished amber, khaki mottle or rich claret colour options.

‘St John’ is a round frame made from Italian acetate. It is available in Bordeaux, brown and classic tortoiseshell colour options.

For further information, visit the Dunelm Optical website.

Sunglasses: Fashion-refinement

Eyespace Eyewear previewed the full collection of sunglasses from its licensed brand Aspinal of London at Optrafair Exchange.

The showcase of the boutique collection of sunglasses follows the global launch at London Fashion Week in February.

The company explained that the collection includes 14 men’s and women’s frames that offer “the ultimate in fashion-refinement.”

Frames are made of hold-polished acetate, bespoke components and a wide range of colour options. Pictured is ‘Amalfi’ and ‘Riviera.’

The Aspinal of London shield features on each frame, either in the inner sides, hinge or as a cut out on the tips.

Eyespace Eyewear also launched new frames from its in-house brands, as well as Land Rover and Cocoa Mint’s spectacles and sunglasses collections.

For further information, visit the Eyespace Eyewear website.

Instruments: Accurate refraction

Essilor Instruments launched the Vision-R 800 digital phoropter at Optrafair Exchange.

The company explained that Vision-R 800 will enable practitioners to reach a more accurate refraction through its ability to control power at 0.91D.

It provides simultaneous and instantaneous changes of sphere, cylinder and axis, to reach the final refraction more directly and faster, instead of examining these components individually.

Head of instruments at Essilor Instruments, Paul Cumber, said: “We are reinventing refraction. The old era, where subjective refraction techniques led to an estimate of the prescription, with inaccuracies accumulating, will give way to the new era of digital infinite refraction.”

For further information, visit the Essilor website.