Frames
Acetate, metal, and titanium
What a frame is made of, and what that changes on the face.
Acetate
Cellulose acetate is cut from layered sheets, which is why tortoiseshell and marbled frames show depth when you hold them to the light. It is warm to the touch, can be adjusted with gentle heat by an optician, and gives a frame weight and presence.
Metal and titanium
Metal frames are usually stainless steel or an alloy, often with adjustable nose pads. Titanium is lighter and does not corrode, and frames made of it are often thinner for the same strength.
Mixed frames combine an acetate brow or rim with metal temples. The listing names the material when the maker states it.
In the shops
Browline frames
Nothing in the shops matches today.