Designer eyeglasses in Rochester Hills: what you're actually paying for with Tom Ford, Prada, Gucci and Chanel
Is a Tom Ford frame really different from a $60 pair? Yes, in ways you can feel. Here's what the money buys, and how to make sure you're getting the real thing.
People ask, politely, whether designer frames are just a name on the temple. Fair question. Here is what a well-made frame gives you that a bargain one doesn't, and what to watch for when you shop.
Materials you can feel
Premium acetate frames from houses like Tom Ford, Prada and Gucci are cut from thick, layered cellulose acetate, then hand-polished. It's warm to the touch, holds its color for years, and can be adjusted with heat again and again without cracking. Cheap frames are often injection-molded plastic that fades, goes brittle and can't be adjusted. Metal frames at this level use titanium or high-grade alloys with precise hinges; Chanel and Versace hardware, for example, is engineered rather than stamped.
Hinges, fit and adjustability
The parts you never think about are where quality shows. Good hinges stay tight for years. Good temples can be bent to hug the ear without springing back. Good nose pads and bridges are shaped for real faces. This is what lets our opticians fit a frame so it disappears on your face, and it's why a designer frame often outlasts three cheap ones.
Design
Then there's the obvious part: the shapes and colors are better. Tom Ford's T-bar temples, Prada's clean geometry, Gucci's color, Chanel's restraint, Versace's Medusa. These are the frames that make people say "great glasses" rather than "you got new glasses."
Real vs fake
Counterfeit designer frames are common online, and they're not just poor copies: the lenses are often optically wrong. The only way to know a frame is real is to buy from an authorized dealer. 20/20 Vision is an authorized retailer for every brand on our wall, which also means the manufacturer's warranty applies.
Using insurance on designer frames
Your vision plan's frame allowance applies to any frame in the store. Many designer styles fall within or near typical allowances; for anything above, you pay only the difference. Sandra and David will tell you the number before you decide.
Try them on, no appointment
The boutique is open six days a week, and you're welcome to browse without an exam. Bring your current prescription and we'll make lenses for the frame you fall for. 3110 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills. Questions: (248) 375-0040.
20/20 Vision is an independent optometry practice and designer eyewear boutique at 3110 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills, MI 48309, serving Rochester Hills, Rochester, Oakland Township, Auburn Hills and Troy since 1980. Eye exams with Dr. David Dolan, OD. In-network with VSP.