How are Bottegantiqua glasses created?
Everything starts in our workshop, where we handcraft our glasses.
Cellulose acetate
A cellulose acetate sheet is the starting point to build our glasses. It is a natural material deriving from wood and cotton mixed with natural plasticisers. By adding colour pigments, it is possible to obtain an almost infinite range of shades and different levels of transparency and opacity.
Cutting frames and temples
Frames are cut by way of a numerically controlled milling cutter, which gives glasses their shape. Then, using a flat end milling cutter, eye wires, the internal rims for lenses, are obtained. In this phase, glasses are polished for the first time and all edges are rounded.
Hinges and metal parts
Metal parts in glasses are hinges and temple core. Hinges are introduced inside the frame by way of a suitable machine that heats the metal part and pushes it into acetate. Temple core is obtained by using a machine that heats acetate temples and makes them malleable. Then, the core is pushed deep inside.
Barreling and polishing
Barreling is a manufacturing process which lasts 48 hours. It is divided into four phases: two different roughing procedures, which eliminate small imperfections, polishing and brightening. The process is carried out through barrel rotation, that is hexagonal boxes containing small cylindrical pieces of wood of different sizes that polish and brighten frame and temples. Wheel brightening is a further polishing phase that eliminates any small defects caused by different manufacturing stages.
Temple positioning and assembly
The position of temples on the frame determines pantoscopic angle: the frame must be inclined towards the inside in order to ensure correct vision in all directions. At this point, the specular cutting of temples and frame sides gives glasses their final shape. Now, the frame can be assembled in all its parts. Tip bending gives a specific curve to temples so that the frame remains stable and centred on the face.
Quality control
The final quality control certifies that once manufacturing and assembly phases have been completed the glasses have been produced according to design parameters. Lenses for eyeglasses or sunglasses will complete the item.
Do you want to learn more?
Come and visit our workshop. You will see how we manufacture our glasses, the various manufacturing phases and hold materials in your hand.