Inspired by antique Edwardian guilloche enamel lockets and pendants, we created the RG1009TI ‘Serpentine’ to redefine eyewear as artful jewelry worn on the face. The result is a pair of exquisite eyewear combining the old and the new, with an homage to the ancient art of guilloche.

The RG1009TI is made from a single source of recycled titanium to emphasize sustainability and minimize carbon footprint. Modern machining and artisanal jewelry techniques are both employed to achieve the best results. The guilloche pattern was based on an actual Edwardian antique locket skillfully etched via rose engine turning.

Pure titanium was chosen for the rims due to its softness, allowing for deep set etching. The guilloche pattern was carefully planned via a series of complex mathematical equations, applied onto the cascading rims to mimic antique jewelry. Compensating for the machine’s limitation, traditional hand tools——polishing wheels, 3 different grades of sandpaper, blades, files, picks of various sizes——are used to perfect the rims.

The bridge, corners and temples are crafted from beta titanium to maintain its thin and sculptural profile, while providing the strength and flexibility to balance the rims. The screws are customized in beta titanium, along with the nose pads from pure titanium – making the RG1009TI an all-titanium frame from a single source.

Finally, the frames are polished through 6 different sizes of natural walnut shell media, finished with traditional hand polishing to give it our signature vintage patina. Every material is chosen purposefully, each process is optimized to minimize carbon footprint. The elements converge into a sculptural frame that weighs as little as 12 grams

Category:PersonalYear:2024Designers:Ti Ning Kwa, Odd Skin Out, Sheungwan, Hong KongManufacturer:Odd Skin Out Limited, Sheungwan, Hong Kong