Silhouette frames are amongst the lightest, most comfortable rimless glasses in the world. The name stands for the power of an innovative idea. Silhouette, as the leader in optical wear technology, combines comfort with a fashion sense that is light years ahead of its time.
Silhouette’s rimless design is timeless, the colour variations and nuances are
multifaceted, and the materials used are of the highest quality. All Silhouette eyewear models are masterpieces that are lovingly made in Austria. A love of detail, skilled craftsmanship and the knowledge of the individual desires and needs of people who wear glasses are what distinguish the Silhouette brand. Silhouette makes seeing an experience
without boundaries.
maximize flexibility and strength
ic! berlin steel frames are made from our special spring steel that we have improved over many years to maximize flexibility and strength.
Our acetate frames are complimented with the highest quality organic cotton acetate to make sure the plastic can keep up with the steel.
We perform all sorts of durability tests on our materials, but nothing compares to the test of the real world. last week, a gentleman from sydney wrote to us about his own strange and lucky experience with his ic! berlin frame.
technical development
it all began with hand cut aluminum glasses. in these frames, the basic idea behind the hinge could already be seen, even if they were fragile and sensitive.
the fastening-clip on the hinge had not yet been developed, and the lenses were popped into the frame “with feeling”. at the trade-fair “euroblech” in hanover, we discovered a laser-sheet-metal-cutter, which provided us with the first cutouts from stainless steal – the basis for our first attempts at remodeling. the material held out, and the hinge sprang to action with a never before seen liveliness. the frames were still without a fastening-clip. the objections which came from opticians, such as, “you have to be able to open up the frame, if that is supposed to be a serious pair of glasses,” were taken seriously by us, and we tried to find solutions. seek, and you will find: a slit right through the side of the hinge, and a clasp to fit around it, which held both sides together. the frames were now able to be taken apart and put safely back together. the “optician-proof” ic! berlin glasses were born.
another important development was the s-curve. while the hinge was separated by a straight cut, the s-curve created protection against twisting or misalignment of the two halves of the joint. this s-curve was later developed into the ic! berlin logo.
the so-called prescription glasses collection has existed since january of 2000. these frames have a modest 6mm wide temple – the hinge also underwent significant modification under the resizing process. a more complex clasp was developed to hold the side pieces together. from a design point of view, these glasses are a bit more modest. one might describe them as being conservative and chic.
from stainless steel sheet-metal
- a pair of ic! berlin glasses is born!
we place an intense amount of value on the steel. the quality of this material determines the overall quality of the glasses.
for this reason, we rely solely on german producers, who brew the stuff together in germany, exactly according to our requirements. our buyers base their purchasing decisions from time to time on surface-finish impressions, tensile strength tests, and form-retention stability.
the front pieces are cut from the metal by a small family business in the north of italy (valdobiaddere). the flat raw pieces are then reformed in berlin, and the edges are worked over in a small village near brandenburg. there the edges are rounded and smoothed. this is done using a big multiangular trovalising (vibratory grinding process) machine. after about ten hours, sharp metal edges are made into tender feminine curves.
the cutting and routing of the lenses is done directly in our building in the saarbrücker street, where finishing and quality control takes place as well. on the same floor as production, our office is also to be found, from where our logistic experts send the glasses out into the entire world.
on the whole, it can be said that business relationships built up over many years guarantee the highest possible amount of quality. this goes for the steel, the cutting, our lenses, and all other components of production.
when you hold a pair of ic! berlin glasses in your hands, you can feel why all of this effort is justified: the glasses captivate you with their form-stability, and flexibility. the rounded edges caress your fingers. ic! berlin glasses do not allow for compromises, because they are naked. because we neither screw, solder, or weld, no pair of ic! berlin glasses can irreversibly lose its parts or components!
Z-Titanium frames from Charmant. It is the ultimate titanium alloy for eyewear where functional beauty meets sophisticated simplicity. The high elastic titanium-zirconium alloy provides maximum comfort for the wearer due to the frame’s lightweight and flexibility.
The ultimate in eyewear
Frames made with FLEXON are the most technologically-advanced, superior eyewear available. Flexon frames are 10 times springier than spring steel; 25% lighter than conventional metals and therefore more comfortable; and more durable so maintain their adjustment and fit better.
Better Fit
FLEXON memory metal is used in the bridge as well as in the temples of the frame. This allows the frame to
keep the shape originally set by the dispenser. Once fit, they stay fit.
Ultimate Comfort
FLEXON frames also gently hug the head, which provides a comfortable and secure fit. FLEXON frames
avoid the irritating pinching and rubbing that poor frames cause.
