Swissflex Eyewear: The Ultimate Guide to Custom, Comfortable Glasses

As an optician, I know first hand how devoted a customer can get to a frame brand. They experience that magical combination of flattering shape, comfortable fit and great style, and now nothing less will do. Swissflex is one of those brands. It’s a unique frame, and somewhat difficult for consumers to find, which is why I’m focusing on Swissflex for my first blog post.

Why Swissflex Glasses Are So Unique

Swissflex eye wear are the first glasses made without screws — or any metal at all! They are completely hypoallergenic. The material is 100% polyamide, which is a big advantage for wearers with nickel allergies or other metal sensitivities. In addition, the endpieces (the part of the frame that is closest to the ear) are made of an anti-slip material that is sensitive to body temperature and will adapt over time to the shape of the wearer’s head. Swissflex frames are incredibly light, comparable to a drill-mount by Silhouette or Lindberg. They are an excellent choice for someone who doesn’t want to feel like they’re wearing glasses at all.

The Benefits of Swissflex Eyewear

The modular aspect of Swissflex is the reason I first started to carry the brand. Sometimes I will meet a client who has a very large head, or a very narrow face, a very low bridge or another anatomical consideration which limits ‘off the rack’ frame options. Swissflex has often been my saving grace to create a frame that truly fits.

The frame system launched in Switzerland in 1998 and has since expanded worldwide. You can now find Swissflex in over 50 countries, exclusively at optical shops. Swissflex is 100% made in Switzerland, in the Alpine city of Chur.

The Modular Design of Swissflex Glasses

Swissflex is referred to as “modular.” Rather than a typical frame that is one piece, each Swissflex frame is made up of interchangeable components. Between different colors, sizes, shapes and finishes there are over 15,000 parts that can be combined to create over 1 million possible combinations!

Different Swissflex Frame Styles and Systems

There are different “Systems” within the Swissflex brand:

• • • Rimless: classic, contur, airlight, motion
    • Full rim: varius, rainbox, loop and fashion
    • Kids: loop, loop baby, classic kid
    • Sport: sunglasses with lots of face form

Artisan Eyewear only stocks the classic and contur styles of Swissflex, so for our purposes we will focus the details on those.

To recap, the top benefits of Swissflex glasses are:

1. Hypoallergenic and metal-free design
2. Lightweight and comfortable fit
3. Fully customizable frame components

If you’ve read this far, I bet you’re starting to think: what would my dream frame look like?

Choosing Your Ideal Swissflex Frame

I’ll walk you through all the choices as though you were in my shop with me, so you can get a better idea of all that’s possible.

Classic vs. Contur: Key differences and customization possibilities

The first decision I ask folks to make is: Classic or Contur?

The Classic is a drill mount frame, also known as a three-piece frame. There’s a lot of room for lens shape customization: we could make you heart-shaped lenses, bat wing, flower petal, we could really get weird. If you’re having trouble visualizing, pull up Instagram and visit the account @drillspecialtycorp. More often than not, my clients have a shape (or an old frame) they know is flattering, and we will duplicate. Swissflex provides dozens of lens shape options, but we aren’t limited to those.

Contur frames have a thin frame surrounding the lens, and we are limited to the 67 +/- shapes and sizes available within the Swissflex catalog. Contur are fun because you have the lightweight benefits of a rimless frame, but there’s a bit more color and design to the frame. Most shapes are available in about 3 different sizes. The thin frame portion, referred to as the Foil, comes in 43 +/- colors that are unique. In other words, the colors are not the same colors you could get for the rest of the frame components. Some are a glossy translucent finish, others are shiny and mirror-like, and a few have Havana patterns.

Custom Lens Shape and Color Options

The next consideration is lens shape. One of the reasons Swissflex is only available at optical retailer (and not online) is because we are given the shapes, sizes, and tools to ensure we fit you into the right lens design. There are so, so many variables, and once the lens is cut there’s no do-overs. Shape selection is a bit of an art, but I always use in-stock Swissflex products as well as non-Swissflex frames in the fitting process.

I like to talk about color next. The polyamide material is great because it doesn’t chip; colors are integrated into the material instead of being applied to the surface. From the company: “Our coloring process integrates the colors evenly in (and not on) the material. This ensures high color stability in daily use, enables uniquely transparent colors, and maintains the exact same color for years.”

Swissflex gives customers the option of color finishes. You can get all colors in a polished finish, which as a translucence and a smooth appearance. There is also a frosty finish for certain colors, which is opaque, and depending on the color appear mildly glittery or even pearlescent. Artisan Eyewear has small swatches of all colors so you can see them in person during selection.

However! Remember this is a modular system. We need to talk about all the components individually, so you can see how many choices you have. There are the temples, the hinges, the bridge, and the various pins which hold the components together. Each of these can be their own unique color! Have you always wanted a green – blue – orange – purple frame? You can make one with Swissflex. Would you prefer the whole frame to be pink, with a clear bridge? We can do that.

As mentioned earlier, the Contur frames will have an additional color palette for the Foil. This must be one color for the whole frame.

Moving on, those who chose a Classic frame have the option of a painted groove. What is a painted groove? Normally a drill mount frame’s lenses will have smooth and polished edges. If you want to introduce a very thin band of color, our machine can cut a groove all the way around the lens and a paint can be applied to the groove, in one of 16 colors. I don’t recommend this for Contur simply because you won’t be able to see it. Painted grooves aren’t common, but they are an option!

Selecting the Right Frame Components

The last bits aren’t as glamorous, but they are important. We fit you into one of 7 nose pad sizes. We select which temple — I almost exclusively fit Raster temples, but there is the Straight temple as well. There are two bridge sizes, most adults will be in the same size but there is a narrower option for those with smaller bridges/faces. And lastly, a selection between 3-4 different endpieces. I recommend the style remniscent of a cable, curving behind the ear, for the most secure fit.

Fitting and Final Adjustments for Swissflex Glasses

When the glasses are complete, we meet again for your fitting. This isn’t a typical adjustment — Swissflex temples usually need to be trimmed down and that is definitely not something you can DIY. We’ll get the frame perfectly sized and shaped to your face and ears: truly custom spectacles.

1. Decide between Classic and Contur styles
2. Select your preferred lens shape and color finish
3. Customize frame components (temples, bridge, endpieces)
4. Complete fitting and adjustments with a trained optician

Care and Maintenance of Swissflex

While Swissflex frames are light and flexible, they are not meant to be abused or crushed. Avoid using lens sprays that contain alcohol, as well as any strong solvents or aerosols. The preferred methods of cleaning are either a clean microfiber cloth and alcohol-free spray (provided by Artisan Eyewear) or warm water and a little Dawn detergent. We also like to employ an extra-soft toothbrush for getting the nooks and crannies!

Swissflex are sold worldwide; repairs, adjustments and lens replacements should only be performed by an optical or optometry office that carries this product.
Prescription eyewear is made custom for you; once your Swissflex frame is assembled we are not able to swap around colors, shapes, etc.

Are You Looking to Have New Lenses Inserted in an Old Swissflex Frame?

Here at Artisan Eyewear, we often get calls from Swissflex wearers looking to replace lenses in an old frame. We will ask you to take some close-up photos of your frame and email or text them to us so we can confirm whether we are able to replace your old lenses.