ic! berlin metal glasses are made of extremely flexible and lightweight 0.5mm spring stainless steel making them practically indestructible, yet soft enough to adjust by hand to achieve the perfect fit.

The steel contains iron, carbon and chrome, as well as trace amounts of nickel but as a rule is suitable for people with allergies: thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), silicon and acetate temple tips and nose pads prevent prolonged contact between skin and metal. Our frames meet all DIN EN ISO 12870, ISO 12312-1:2013, ANSI Z80.3-2010 and AS/NZS 1067:2003 standards.

TPE and siliocone nose pads and elastomer temple tips can be easily bent to adapt to the shape of your skull, but acetate temple tips must be heated before adjusting; if you try to bend cold the acetate will break. Click here to read more about our plastics.

Overly aggressive and unnecessary stress can damage your glasses and is to be avoided. Excessive or incorrect bending (and back bending) can weaken the metal and damage the coating so please be gentle – especially around the lenses – and do not use any sharp tools. Our ic berlin product specialist can help you do the adjustments.

Even though it is rust proof, long-term build up of dirt and oils (i.e. sweat, cosmetics) can still damage the surface of the steel. This tends to happen most in the groove between lens and frame, so regular cleaning is recommended. Please visit us for adjustments and replacement parts .

“Sheet metal was where it all started, but with acetate we were able to have some real fun. ic! berlin acetate fronts and parts are each cut from a single sheet of premium cellulose acetate: no screws, glues or injections of performance enhancing substances. Acetate is a hypoallergenic plastic derived from organic cotton fibres. The colours are UV-stabilized, however as acetate does not contain petroleum subtle variations in colour and pattern may occur.

Over time heat, sweat and oils from your skin and hair may dull the finish where the acetate is in constant contact with your skin (i.e. nose, ears). A buff and polish from your optometrist will provide a quick fix, but regular cleaning is the best way to avoid this altogether and prolong the life of the acetate.

The beauty of acetate is that it becomes supple when heated and can be easily moulded to fit you perfectly. This should only be done by a qualified and authorised ic! berlin dealer. Acetate parts may be heated to a maximum of 80°C (175°F). Incorrect heating and bending can void the warranty and irrevocably damage your glasses, so please take care.

Moreover, prolonged exposure to heat (i.e. in the shower, car dashboard) will ruin the finish of the acetate, so if they are not on your nose your glasses should be in their case.”

Plotic glasses are made by Selective Laser Sintering, an additive manufacturing technique using next generation 3D plotting and printing technology. Plotic is a hypoallergenic plastic in the Polyamide 12 group and has a molecular structure similar to natural silk. It is extremely strong, lightweight (30% lighter than cellulose acetate!), and robust, but like all plastics has its limits so please be mindful when handling your frame.

Unlike traditional plastics plotic is highly heat-resistant and holds its shape up to 150°C (302°F). As such we recommend fitting new lenses cold, as high temperatures are not only dangerous but can affect the finish of the frame. Avoid scratches by storing your glasses in their case whenever they’re not on your nose as plotic! cannot be buffed. If the finish dulls over the years a little rub with a high-viscosity oil (such as Ballisto Oil) will restore your frame to its original glory.

Plotic frames grow layer by layer. A 3D plot file of the frame is loaded into our printer and broken down into approximately 0.1mm cross-sections. A laser traces each cross-section onto the surface of a bed of polyamide powder, heating and fusing the particles together. As each layer is finished, the bed lowers by one layer thickness and a new layer of powder is rolled on top. The process is then repeated layer by layer until the frame is finished.

To make our frames more colourful and elastic than an Olympic gymnast, we coated our famous stainless steel with rubber, a polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE-U). ic! berlin rubber frames start life as a perforated sheet metal front which we injection mould with hot, liquefied TPE-U. The liquid rubber flows through the perforations and, as it cools and sets, attaches to itself, solidifying into a remarkably elastic rubber which can be easily adjusted cold by hand.

Rubber eyewear is scratch resistant, heat resistant and suitable for people with latex allergies. Clean with cold water and a mild household detergent; using an ultrasonic bath is not advised as the rubber will absorb the vibrations. Clickhereto learn how to best clean and care for your ic! berlin.