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QUALITY CHARTER OF THE VUARNET MINERAL LENSES

Its very superior optical qualities, its amazing resistance to scratches and its much longer durability compared to an organic lens make a Vuarnet mineral lens, the « Rolls » of sun lenses.
Manufacturing it requires an advanced expertise and a complex production cycle.

That is why, in order to be cost-effective, 95% of sunglasses sold worldwide feature plastic sun lenses (also called organic). Lighter, they offer a poor resistance to scratches and feature way lower optical qualities.

Thanks to its team of « companions », COMITEC, a French company dedicated to the manufacturing of mineral sun lenses for the Vuarnet brand, has mastered the whole manufacturing process of lenses for close to 30 years and keeps secret the know-how of its traditional handcraft to provide you with the best sun protection.
Presently our range of Vuarnet lenses is composed of 80% mineral lenses and 20% organic lenses. The 6 mineral lenses of the brand are manufactured according to strict rules in compliance with the European and American standards.

1- Mineral lenses, unmatched optical properties

A natural and recyclable composition

The Vuarnet mineral lens is the result of the fusion of entirely natural and therefore recyclable elements. 70% basic components (such as quartz), 20% melting elements (potash and lime), 10% hardening elements (oxides).

An unequalled optical quality

Their intrinsic qualities enable mineral lenses to offer an unequalled optical quality.
The constraints generated by the frame will have no effect on their shape.

A perfect rendering of colors

Mineral lenses, (since made with natural materials) are the lenses that render colors with the best accuracy. Their low chromatic dispersion enables them to keep contrasts perfect.

Resistance to distortion

Acetate is a living material made of cotton. It evolves in time and, as it dries and retracts, the rim compresses the lens, the curvature of which then changes. Unlike polycarbonate lenses though, the shape of mineral lenses is not altered. No matter how the acetate frame evolves.

A sustainable scratch resistanc

In comparison with other types of synthetic materials, mineral lenses, thanks to their physical and chemical properties are not very sensitive to scratches. It is an undeniable advantage when you know to what kind of constraints sunglasses are subject to.

2- Strict and regular controls

Consistently aiming at perfection, our Vuarnet lenses go through 3 complete quality controls during the manufacturing cycle and a fourth one during the drop ball test.

The companions examine lenses one after the other in very specific conditions of light and incidence enabling them to detect the slightest imperfection.

3- In-mass tinted lenses

On the sunglass market, some lenses are tinted by tempering in colored baths. This superficial coloring will determine the category of sun protection.

It is to be noted that your pupils, when your eyes are protected by lenses that are tinted (this way or another) will be dilated. A small scratch on a lens with superficial protection is enough to let UV rays penetrate the pupil of your eyes (very vulnerable because it is dilated) and thus to cause severe damage to your sight.

That’s why the Vuarnet mineral lenses are tinted in-mass.

Besides offering little sensitivity to scratches, (because of their chemical and physical properties), they avoid any intrusion of light and therefore offer you total protection.

Presently, Vuarnet is the only brand to polish in-mass tinted mineral lenses in France.

4- « Secured » lenses

The Vuarnet mineral lenses benefit from chemical tempering (ion exchange tempering in molten baths during 16 hours). This phase aims to make lenses more shock resistant.

5- Resistance test

As soon as a lens is tempered, it is subject to the Drop Ball test, in order to certify its resistance to impacts. A 16g steel ball is thrown down on the center of the lens from a 1.27M (4.3ft.) height. It is certified if it suffers no micro damage.

6- Antiglare treatment

This treatment is made on the inner side of the lens.

It removes parasitic glare, preventing part of the rays of light to be reflected in the lens and thus to disturb your eye. In one word, the lens brings greater visual comfort.

7- Treatment of the Vuarnet lenses, a worldwide exclusive the secret of which the « companions » are the only one to possess.

Consistently aiming at absolute visual comfort, the treatment of both right and left lens of a same pair of Vuarnet glasses is performed simultaneously during the manufacturing cycle.

The bell, in-vacuum treatment of both lenses, is performed to the nanometer.

This additional phase in the manufacturing process ensures an absolute uniformity in the treatments applied on both lenses.

You therefore have the absolute guarantee that your Vuarnet sunglasses feature two perfectly similar lenses.

8- Over 24 hours

This is the average time required to manufacture a pair of Vuarnet lenses.

An uninterrupted cycle that includes notably cycles of cleaning, control, testing of lenses one by one, and tempering to obtain a lens that can feature the Vuarnet logo and that is in conformity with our requirements.

9- A craftsmen’s know-how transmitted for close to 30 years.

« Companions » begin to be independent after about 10 years of experience. Precise and repeated movements, an extreme thoroughness required by each phase of the manufacturing process, every step of which is monitored, controlled and validated by these « companions » ensure a lens with perfect optical qualities.

10- A laser-engraved lens, sign of authenticity Vuarnet

Each Vuarnet lens is laser-engraved by Comitec’s companions, a V engraved on each lens guarantees the Vuarnet quality and authenticity.