| With lenses, yes, higher refractive index, coatings and the like drive up the price. The features are worth it, but some brands have massive margins on what is essentially the same highly automated processes. >* Lighter, thinner frames and frameless options. Your average person is not going to feel the extra 5g from a "cheaper frame". Most expensive frames are also hilariously cheap to make at the same factory. >* Hinges that open a bit more than 90deg and flex back with a spring, so the temples will adapt to the head better. Better hinge materials (e.g. I've had hinges wear out). That is buying undersized glasses. The "expensive frames" are just tailoring to people in denial of their head size. Though the other problem is, it's cheaper for a brand to make more of the same undersized frame, and add a spring hinge instead of offering frame designs in two sizes. Economy of scale for stamped process frames. > * Titanium or memory metals instead of plastic of aluminum. True titanium is a difficult metal to work with. The "Titanium frames" are largely a scam of some titanium alloy because it's actually usable to manufacture in such small frames. The end result is those frames break all the same. The biggest problem is titanium work hardens. It is a strong metal but it essentially fatigues and snaps like copper. Make it thin like for glass frames and you allow it to start flexing and work hardening over time. Other applications of titanium don't make the metal thin enough to allow that to happen. >* "Aesthetics" and minor add-ons like laser engraving. Yea you pay for the "design". Laser engraving addons are sometimes available for cheap frames tho. |