SALT. Optics is a independent eyewear company based in coastal California. This premium eyewear brand is dedicated to timeless style and effortless beauty. Since its founding in 2006, SALT. has always sought to create eyewear that reflects nature's beauty, drawing inspiration from the sandy beaches, snow-capped mountains, and pristine deserts of the brand’s California home. This results in beautiful frames that capture the casual elegance of California’s aspirational lifestyle. But of course, design means more than just great style. It means creating the perfect fit. Something that SALT. focuses on through every step in the process—from inspiration, to materials, to construction, SALT. believes that eyewear should do more than just look good; it should fit perfectly too.
Since process is so important for the brand, we thought it would be important to explain the details of this process to the potential wearer of the frames. We will begin discussing the process for the acetate frames and then move on to the titanium frames in a later post, so stay tuned!
ACETATE SHEETS: SALT. uses the highest quality cellulose acetates from Japan and Italy to ensure strength, flexibility and lasting color for many years. Cellulose acetate is made with wood pulp and cotton fibers, as opposed to synthetic materials,and is hypoallergenic.
FRAME FRONT: Each SALT. frame front is finished in a series of custom processes:
Grooves to hold lenses
Nose pads attached and smoothed
Bevel contouring for specific styling and weight distribution to ensure the perfect fit
TEMPLES: The two-sided arms that curve around the ears are called temples, and are usually cut out of the same material to match the frame fronts. Core wires are inserted into the center of the temple to ensure strength.
CORE WIRES: Stainless Steel core wires are inserted into the center of the temples to add strength and enable customized adjustments.
BAMBOO POLISH: Different sized bamboo chips (each smaller than the previous one) are used to remove sharp edges and scratches, giving the acetate rich luster and a soft feel. Each SALT. frame goes through a serious of tumbling drums over a period of four days.
PARTS: Your SALT. frame is equipped with some if not all the parts listed:
Hardened stainless steel hinges improve strength and quality.
Titanium nose pads reduce weight and are hypoallergenic.
Washers that allow temple arm to open and close smoothly.
Metal nose pad arms can be tailored for a perfect fit.
Logo plaque is custom engraved.
Thermo plastic coated screws increases durability and optimal for self-locking of metal parts.
Acetate nose pads used for comfort and pure fit.
Rivets are inserted into hinges for strength and durability.
SUN LENSES: SALT.’S Polarized sun lenses are made from optical grade CR-39 and mineral glass. SALT. uses only the highest grade polarized film which filters reflected light in a vertical plane, allowing for definition and optical clarity. All SALT. polarized lenses include backside anti-reflective coatings which reduce bounce-back glare. All lenses also include hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings to repel water and oils, such as sunscreen and cosmetics.
FRAMES: SALT. is a premium eyewear brand from costal California that is committed to quality construction and timeless design inspired by effortless beauty. Combining high-grade materials with third generation Japanese craftsmanship, SALT. makes eyewear for anyone who appreciates natural simplicity. Come see this beautiful finished product at Risi Optique today!
