Frame materials explained
Acetate, combination, metal and titanium: what each material gives you, and what it means for lead time. All four are made in-house at CIC.
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Acetate: where most collections start
Cellulose acetate gives the widest play in colour and depth: multi-layer laminated sheets from Italian and domestic suppliers like Mazzucchelli and Eleung, CNC milled and hand polished over two weeks. First run in about 120 days, reorders in 90 to 120.
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Combination: acetate warmth, metal detail
Acetate fronts with stainless, monel or beta-titanium temples. Electroplating, soldering and brazing all happen in-house, so the metal work meets the same QC as the acetate. First run in 120 to 150 days.
- 03
Metal: precise and slim
Full-metal frames in stainless, monel and nickel-silver, with in-house electroplating and IP coating for colour and wear resistance. First run in 120 to 150 days.
- 04
Titanium: the premium lightweight
Beta-titanium builds the lightest frames on the wall, tuned per model for gauge, hinge and weight. The natural top end of an optical range. First run in 120 to 150 days.
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Choosing for a first collection
Most first collections start in acetate: the broadest expression, the fastest reorders and the same 300 pieces per SKU minimum as every other material. Metal-based builds add roughly a month to the first run.
Want to see how each material is made? Visit the manufacturing page →
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