Sunglasses - anyone still make custom horn frames?

[vonwotan]

Does anyone still make custom sunglass frames? Preferably in real horn or maybe tortoise shell? I am fairly small with a narrow face so most glasses are too wide for my face. The best pair I ever had were horn, made for me by a shop in Milan (long gone) they made the bridge narrower, the frames and the lenses a bit smaller and worked with me to create attracive glasses proportioned for my face. In a recent move, these glasses and several other items were lost and I am having trouble finding anyone to make anything comparable.

[shredder]

Not sure about all horn, but certainly various shades of tortoise shell, tortoise shell front laminated to horn back, and acetate varieties found here: www.maisonbonnet.com. All handmade on the premises. Price range from about 500€ in acetate at the bottom end to 25000€ in blond tortoise shell at the top end. Works of art.

[Costi]

That looks like an excellent source.
I remember seeing a few pairs of horn frames in a shop in Turin, but unfortunately I don't remember the name. However, this must mean someone still makes them.

[vonwotan]

Shredder - Thank you! They certainly do look just the trick.

Edit - I guess I'll need to wait until October when we're in Paris. I somehow put an New York address in Outlook for M. Bonnet.

[alden]

Not sure about all horn, but certainly various shades of tortoise shell, tortoise shell front laminated to horn back, and acetate varieties found here: http://www.maisonbonnet.com. All handmade on the premises. Price range from about 500€ in acetate at the bottom end to 25000€ in blond tortoise shell at the top end. Works of art.

I am pleased to see Mr. Bonnet now has a shop. For years he worked from home. Bonnet was named to an exclusive list of master artisans by President Mitterand (probably because the dandy Francois liked his handmade tortoise frames.) He possesses the only stock of pre-ban tortoise shell thanks to Mitterand and the appointment. So he can continue to make exceptional pieces.

I remember seeing a lamp shade he made for a certain Monsieur Rothschild. Its one of the illustrations on the site.

Bonnet has made a number of things for me including tortoise cufflinks, collar stays, money clip and cigar cases.

Now that he has a shop, I encourage you to stop by a take a look.

Cheers

Michael Alden

[le.gentleman]

...
Bonnet has made a number of things for me including tortoise cufflinks, collar stays, money clip and cigar cases.

...

Can you please post some pictures of those items? Thanks, le.gentleman

[alden]

Can you please post some pictures of those items?

I will be happy to do so.

Monsieur Bonnet is an exceptional craftsman, a real throw back to the old days. Its been a few years since I have seen him, but I may give him a ring when next in Paris.

Cheers

Michael

[shredder]

If you are in the mood for wire frames in NY, then you can have a look at this chap: http://www.rareframes.com/main.html. If vintage wire frames tickle your fancy, there is an optician in Zurich (whose name escapes me), on Poststrasse between Bahnhofstrasse and Fraumünsterstrasse, who stock a nice assortment in mint condition. As you probably know, old frames tend to be rather narrow so they might suit you -- and, I say this with a hint of jealousy.

[vonwotan]

Thanks again! These look quite intereting as well. I'll have to visit both. For the first time in several years not only will I have some interesting choices but, I may actually have the opportunity to purchase more than one pair for different occasions.

Cheers,
Rafe

[shredder]

Just for the sake of completeness, if you are in the mood for acetate and happen to be in London, then these people do bespoke and have a very interesting design archive as well as some unique colours: http://www.olivergoldsmith.com/.

In Japan, there is a handful of artisans who specialise in hand cut and polished cellulose acetate, but they are a bit more difficult to reach. However, if you get a resourceful concierge to arrange an appointment, you will be pleasantly surprised by the prices. It's probably best to bring along photos that reference design elements that you would want incorporated.

In any case, you probably know that a typical appointment to get measured up and selecting material and style would take about 1 hour so calling ahead for an appointment would avoid disappointment...

[shredder]

BTW, if you do visit Bonnet, then be sure to ask Franck Bonnet or his colleague Guillaume Clerc to see the "Mitterand model." Very cool.

[Manself]

And one more idea for bespoke frames (albeit not one that I've tried - but I might do next time I need a pair of glasses):
EB Meyrowitz, 6 Royal Arcade, London - opposite the GJ Cleverley shop. There's no website. T: 020 7493 5778
Oddly they no longer have anything to do with the shop of the same name in Paris.

If any members have tried this shop I'd be interested to hear about their experience.

[speedster]

There is a small optician in Genova Italy that still makes them.
http://www.oculariumgenova.it/index.htm
In several materials in fact.

[le.gentleman]

Campell in Hamburg or Friedrich's in Berlin or NYC offer a wide range of horn frames and glasses as well as bespoke horn glasses/frames.

http://www.campbell-optik.de/

[Costi]

Here is a Renaissance man - artist and craftsman - who makes "true bespoke" glasses entirely by hand in natural materials: http://www.keeswennekendonk.nl/index.html
I hope he will answer my invitation to share his thoughts on the topic with us and post a few pictures. The way his glasses complement the wearers' facial features and express their personality can only be accomplished by an artist's eye and hand.