Sunglasses Industry Glossary
Comprehensive reference guide to sunglasses and eyewear manufacturing terminology. 40+ essential terms every buyer and manufacturer should know.
๐ถ๏ธFrame Materials(้ๆกๆ่ดจ)๐ฌLens Technology(้็ๆๆฏ)๐Industry Terms(่กไธๆฏ่ฏญ)โ
Certification Standards(่ฎค่ฏๆ ๅ)โ๏ธManufacturing Processes(ๅถ้ ๅทฅ่บ)
๐ถ๏ธFrame Materials(้ๆกๆ่ดจ)
8 terms
- Acetate (้้ ธ็บค็ปด)
- A plant-based cellulose plastic widely used for premium eyewear frames. Offers rich color depth, high polish, hypoallergenic properties, and excellent durability. EyeView uses Mazzucchelli acetate for top-tier collections.
- TR90
- A thermoplastic polyamide material known for extreme flexibility, lightweight feel, and shape memory. TR90 frames bend under stress and snap back to original shape, ideal for sports and active wear sunglasses.
- Titanium (้้ๅฑ)
- A premium metal for eyewear frames. 40% lighter than standard metals, corrosion-resistant, hypoallergenic, and exceptionally strong. Pure titanium and beta-titanium are common grades used in high-end sunglasses.
- Stainless Steel (ไธ้้ข)
- Durable, corrosion-resistant alloy used in mid-to-high range eyewear. Provides strength without bulk, supports thin-profile designs, and offers good value-to-performance ratio.
- Polycarbonate (PC/่็ขณ้ ธ้ ฏ)
- Impact-resistant thermoplastic used for both frames and lenses. Lightweight and cost-effective for mass production. Common in safety eyewear and budget sunglasses.
- Wood & Bamboo Frames (ๆจ่ดจ/็ซนๅถ)
- Natural, eco-friendly frame materials gaining popularity in sustainable eyewear. Each piece has unique grain patterns. Requires special treatment for moisture resistance and longevity.
- Ultemยฎ (PEI)
- High-performance thermoplastic polyetherimide known for extreme heat resistance, chemical resistance, and tensile strength. Popular in industrial safety eyewear and premium performance sunglasses.
- Monel (่ไนๅฐๅ้)
- Nickel-copper alloy commonly used in eyewear frames. Offers excellent corrosion resistance with good malleability for intricate designs. A cost-effective metal frame option with reliable durability.
๐ฌLens Technology(้็ๆๆฏ)
8 terms
- Polarized Lens (ๅๅ ้็)
- Lenses with a special chemical film that blocks horizontal light waves, eliminating glare from reflective surfaces like water, snow, and roads. Essential for driving, fishing, and outdoor sports sunglasses.
- UV400 Protection
- Lens coating that blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays up to wavelength 400nm. The highest standard for UV protection, recommended by optometrists worldwide for preventing long-term eye damage.
- Photochromic Lens (ๅ ่ดๅ่ฒ)
- Lenses that automatically darken in sunlight and clear up indoors. Uses silver halide or organic photochromic molecules that react to UV exposure. Offers convenience of one pair for all conditions.
- Gradient Lens (ๆธๅ่ฒ้็)
- Lenses with tint density decreasing from top to bottom. Darker at top for overhead sun protection; lighter at bottom for reading or viewing dashboard. Popular in fashion and driving sunglasses.
- Mirror Coating (้้ข้่)
- A reflective metallic coating applied to the front surface of lenses. Reduces visible light transmission by 10-60% while adding a distinctive aesthetic. Available in silver, gold, blue, green, and rainbow finishes.
- Anti-Reflective Coating (AR/ๆๅๅฐ้่)
- Microscopically thin multi-layer coating that reduces reflections on the back surface of lenses. Eliminates ghost images, improves visual clarity, and reduces eye strain, especially during screen use.
- Hydrophobic Coating (็ๆฐด้่)
- Nano-scale coating that repels water, oil, and dust from lens surfaces. Water beads up and rolls off, keeping lenses cleaner longer. Often combined with oleophobic coating for smudge resistance.
- Polycarbonate Lens
- Lens material that is 10x more impact-resistant than standard plastic or glass. Naturally blocks 100% UV without additional coating. The preferred choice for safety, sports, and children's sunglasses.
๐Industry Terms(่กไธๆฏ่ฏญ)
8 terms
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing)
- A manufacturing model where the factory produces products based on the buyer's design specifications with the buyer's branding. EyeView offers full OEM services from design to finished product.
- ODM (Original Design Manufacturing)
- A manufacturing model where the factory designs and produces products that buyers can brand as their own. Reduces development time and costs for brands entering the eyewear market.
- MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
- The smallest quantity a manufacturer will produce per order. For custom sunglasses, MOQ typically ranges from 300-500 pieces per style, varying by material complexity and customization level.
- Lead Time (ไบค่ดงๆ)
- The total time from order confirmation to shipment. For custom sunglasses manufacturing, typical lead times are 30-60 days including mold development, sampling, production, and quality inspection.
- SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
- A unique identifier for each distinct product variant. One frame style in 5 colors and 2 sizes = 10 SKUs. Critical for inventory management in wholesale sunglasses distribution.
- Private Label (่ชๆๅ็)
- Products manufactured by one company but sold under another brand's name. EyeView's private label service allows retailers and brands to sell high-quality sunglasses under their own identity.
- White Label (็ฝๆ )
- Generic products manufactured without branding, ready for retailers to add their own labels and packaging. Fastest route to market for sunglasses resellers with minimal upfront design work.
- FOB (Free On Board)
- International trade term indicating the seller delivers goods to the port and loads them onto the vessel. The buyer assumes responsibility and cost from that point. Common incoterm in sunglasses export.
โ Certification Standards(่ฎค่ฏๆ ๅ)
8 terms
- CE Mark (CE่ฎค่ฏ)
- Mandatory conformity marking for products sold in the European Economic Area. Indicates compliance with EU health, safety, and environmental requirements. All EyeView sunglasses exported to Europe carry CE marking.
- FDA Registration
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration registration required for medical devices including impact-resistant sunglasses. Verifies compliance with U.S. safety standards for eyewear sold in the American market.
- ISO 9001
- International standard for quality management systems. Certification demonstrates consistent product quality, continuous improvement focus, and customer satisfaction commitment in manufacturing processes.
- EN ISO 12312-1 (UV Testing)
- International standard specifically for sunglasses and eyewear. Tests UV transmittance, optical quality, impact resistance, and frame durability. Required for CE marking compliance in Europe.
- ANSI Z87.1
- American National Standards Institute standard for occupational and educational eye protection. Certifies impact resistance, optical clarity, and coverage. Essential for safety sunglasses sold in North America.
- AS/NZS 1067
- Australian/New Zealand joint standard for sunglasses and fashion spectacles. One of the world's strictest standards, with 5 lens categories (0-4) based on light transmittance and UV protection levels.
- REACH Compliance
- EU regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals. Sunglasses exported to Europe must comply with REACH substance restrictions for frame materials and coatings.
- CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety)
- U.S. regulation setting safety requirements for consumer products including children's sunglasses. Mandates lead content limits, phthalate restrictions, and third-party testing for youth eyewear.
โ๏ธManufacturing Processes(ๅถ้ ๅทฅ่บ)
8 terms
- Injection Molding (ๆณจๅกๆๅ)
- Manufacturing process where molten plastic is injected into a mold cavity under high pressure. Primary method for mass-producing plastic sunglasses frames with consistent quality and fast cycle times.
- CNC Machining (ๆฐๆงๅ ๅทฅ)
- Computer-controlled cutting process used for precision metal frame components and acetate frame shaping. Ensures micron-level accuracy in temple hinges, bridge fittings, and decorative elements.
- Hand Polishing (ๆๅทฅๆๅ )
- Skilled manual finishing process for acetate frames. Artisans use progressively finer polishing compounds and buffing wheels to achieve the signature deep gloss characteristic of high-end sunglasses.
- Laser Engraving (ๆฟๅ ้ๅป)
- Contactless marking technology for branding logos, model numbers, and decorative patterns on frames and lenses. Offers permanent, wear-resistant marking with sub-millimeter precision on all materials.
- Electroplating (็ต้)
- Process of depositing a thin metal coating onto frame surfaces via electric current. Creates gold, silver, rose gold, and gunmetal finishes on metal and plastic frames with uniform coverage and color consistency.
- Barrel Tumbling (ๆป็ญๆๅ )
- Mass finishing process where metal frame parts rotate in a barrel with abrasive media. Removes burrs, smooths edges, and creates a uniform satin or matte surface finish before final plating or coating.
- Pad Printing (็งปๅฐ)
- Indirect printing process using a silicone pad to transfer ink onto curved frame surfaces. Ideal for logos, size markings, and decorative details on finished sunglasses where screen printing would be impractical.
- QC Inspection (่ดจๆฃ)
- Multi-stage quality control process including incoming material inspection (IQC), in-process quality control (IPQC), and final quality control (FQC). Includes AQL sampling, optical testing, drop testing, and fit verification.
Need Custom Sunglasses Manufacturing?
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