B r i a n    A d a m    E y e w e a r

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Care Tips


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I recommend you treat your silver spectacles like you treat other finely crafted jewellery. Perhaps think of your them as functioning works of custom-designed art rather than as another utilitarian personal appliance.
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The best way to clean the lenses is to use warm soapy water to remove greasy residue and any dust which might be abrasive. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth. Clean the frames often in warm soapy water and after a while the sterling silver will develop a subtle patina. To remove that patination and general tarnish periodically dip them (for about 10 seconds only) in a silver-dip acid solution (a proprietary product, based on sulphuric acid). Abide by the product's instructions before use, and rinse the frames well under running water after this acid dip.
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I like to think that the superior malleable and workability qualities of sterling silver make it a useful spectacle material. Useful in allowing many adjustments over the long term. The metal will withstand a greater amount of bending and other distortion than any other metal used in making spectacle frames, with the exception of a gold alloys such as 14k and 18k.
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If you have had prescription lenses fitted, your optician might already have checked the frame for fit and for comfort. My frames have the usual points of adjustment that opticians are familiar with, like nosepad brackets, that allow a degree of movement to better fit different face shapes. They have tools to make these adjustments without damage. However it's also possible to make many of these adjustments yourself. Silver is reasonably easy to bend by hand and rigid enough to retain that shape. A good adjustment rule to abide by is to make small changes first and try the result for a few hours. You‘ll be surprised how little the adjustment needs to be to have a great effect. If the frames are too tight or loose, make some small hand adjustments to the line of the temples or to the placement of the curve over the ears. If the frames start to hurt as some point (often around the ears where the skin is very sensitive) then make slight hand alterations to the shape of the temple. If you make an alteration to relieve the pain early enough then the trauma may be relieved more quickly than if you had waited. They may seem too loose as a result, but allow a few days to pass before re-adjusting for a snug fit. For more permanent alterations or for your own peace of mind you might prefer to take them to your dispensing optician for adjustments. Opticians are trained to look for problem areas and are equipped to make any changes to your frames. For example the spread of the temples may be widened slightly to allow a greater distance between the temple ends and a wider fit to your head. They may do this by filing a small amount of silver from the hinge-stop area, so allowing the hinge to open a little more. This you may do this if you‘re very careful: remember it‘s not possible to reverse this step. Opticians may also adjust the nosepads for by bending the pad arms in certain places with small pliers.
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Take special care when wearing silver frames. Particularly when taking them off, try to develop the habit of using both hands. The hinges are the weakest point of any spectacle frames. Although your silver frame is of solid and substantial precious metal and has strong nickel alloy Italian optical parts silver-soldered to it, there is however not the same type of flexion available than with some modern alloys of steel, of titanium, or of nickel. Those high tech metals are more brittle but more flexible. They are generally only available at mass-produced quantities and are designed to be fabricated with large-scale industrial equipment. It might be worth noting that even modern metal factory frames are nevertheless damaged at the hinge by over-extending when they are constantly removed with one hand. So whatever the frame you're wearing try to develop the habit of using both hands when putting them on and taking them off.
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'Schubert' in silver 'Schubert' in gold 'Tonto' 'Slingshots' replica 402 415 'Looking Glasses' no 418 replica 419 'Looking Glasses' no 420 silver 422

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B r i a n    A d a m    j e w e l l e r y    A u c k l a n d    N E W    Z E A L A N D    brian@adam.co.nz    April 2003