Sunglass Information

Frame Materials

Titanium

Skagen’s titanium line of sunglasses use titanium for the frame due to its strength, lightness and durability. Generally, Skagen uses a beta-titanium alloy that provides flexibility for the frame. Titanium is hypoallergenic, nickel-safe and highly corrosion resistant. Some frames are plated in order to provide a color other than gun-metal gray.

Steel

Skagen Designs uses stainless steel materials that are hypo-allergenic nickel-safe. Stainless steel is an alloy compound that is 'nickel safe', not nickel free. Skagen manufacturers are held to the EU standard of 0.5ug. S/S mesh band (316 and 304). Note that ion plating does not contain any nickel during the production process. Stainless steel is an alloy that resists corrosion and oxidation. Stainless steel frames are durable, strong and hypo-allergenic.

Hypo-Allergenic Nickel-Safe

Stainless steel material is well known for its long lasting durability and non-corrosive properties and is used across many industries.

Acetate

An epoxy resin material that has softness, high color clarity and wide color capabilities. Acetate frames are also flexible, impact resistant and resistant to stress cracking.

Lens Materials

Polycarbonate

A remarkably strong plastic lens material that weighs the least and is the most impact resistant. This lens is also thinner than other conventional plastic lenses and is usually the lightest, most comfortable lenses. Polycarbonate material is manufactured using an enormous amount of pressure to compress the raw material. The resulting product holds up well under impact because it is flexible and give slightly under pressure without breaking.
Great for sport activities and for active lifestyles. Skagen's polycarbonate lenses are injection molded and de centered for optical correcting to ensure crisp optics and also offers built in ultraviolet protection.

CR-39

A higher quality grade of plastic lens material and is considered one of the best plastic for lenses; it has the highest optical properties and offers the best scratch resistance. CR-39 lenses also allow for uniformly consistent solid and gradient color and allows for creative lens colors which also offers built in ultraviolet protection.

Nylon

Nylon lenses are lightweight, impact resistance and offer great flexibility. Nylon lens material reduces the possibility of cracking while assembly, suitable for drilling for a variety of rimless and metal frames. This lens material is optically superior and offers 100% UVA/UVB protection.

TAC (Tri-Acetate Cellulose)

Lenses made with TAC have a superior rigidity and are not susceptible to deforming, which can lead to optical distortion offering excellent optical qualities. Triacetate lenses offer excellent 100% UVA and UVB protection.

Lens Layers

Sunglass lenses come with specific features for different purposes. Below are some of the standard features in Skagen Denmark lenses.

Lens Layer	Offers ultraviolet protection and anti-scratch resistance.
Polarized Film	Eliminates glare and transmits more visible light.
Lens Layer	Offers further ultraviolet protection and anti-scratch resistance.
Gradient Color	Eliminates overhead and reflected glare.
Anti-Reflective Layer	Absorbs bounce-back glare and reduces eye fatigue.

Lens Features

UVA/UVB Protection

Sunglasses serve an important purpose of protecting eyes from the harmful rays produced by the sun. Premium lens materials or good UV coating on your sunglass lenses can prevent harmful UV radiation from passing through to your eye. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation consists of invisible rays from the sun. The three bands of UV light are: UVA (aging ray), UVB (burn ray) and UVC (cancer ray).

UVA	This light penetrates deep into the skin and eyes and is a major cause of premature aging. It's typically associated to eye strain and eye fatigue. The UVA rays are not at all absorbed by the atmosphere and completely reach the Earth.
UVB	Also called sunburn rays they are the most damaging to the eye and are factors in cataract development, retinal damage and other eye related problems that can lead to eye diseases and blindness. The UVB radiation is partly absorbed and blocked by the ozone layer before reaching Earth.
UVC	These are the most powerful UV rays, but fortunately the UVC component of the sunlight is absorbed by the upper atmosphere.

All Skagen sunglasses provide 100% UVA/UVB ray protection. While most people understand that the sun can harm their skin, they are not aware that UV radiation constitutes a serious, year-round threat to their eyes. UV overexposure can result in:

Early Cataract formation
Yellowish spots on the front of the eye
Temporary sunburn of the cornea or conjunctiva
Cancer of the eyelids.
Cancer or premature aging of the skin surrounding the eyes

These are reasons why lenses with 100% UV protection are especially important.

Polarized Sunglass Lenses

Polarized sunglass lenses fight glare by minimizing the passage of undesirable light to the eye. Polarized lenses are used in sunglasses to reduce glare from reflective surfaces such as the surface of water, the hood of a car, fog, rain, snow or early morning dew. Glare is also a problem on the roads and highways. Polarized lenses accomplish this feat through a process called polarization, much like a Venetian blind controls sunlight through a window.

Sunlight itself is not polarized: light from the sun will either be absorbed or reflected horizontally, diagonally or vertically. Sunlight bouncing off of a horizontal surface will strike the viewer's eye at a similar angle. This means the glare from the surface of the water or the road or the care hood will be strong. Polarized lenses have a laminated surface containing vertical stripes made up of iodine crystals. These stripes only allow vertically-polarized light to enter the wearer's eyes. Glare is eliminated because the horizontally-polarized light waves cannot bypass the polarized filter. The result is sharper vision, more vivid color and greater depth perception.

Care

How to Clean Skagen Sunglasses

Skagen sunglasses and lenses are made from the highest quality materials, however care is needed to make sure your sunglasses are kept clean and protected at all times. Some suggestions to ensure problem free sunglasses are as follows:

When necessary wipe smudges, dust and lint from lenses and frame using the specifically designed micro soft bag or cloth.

Heavily soiled sunglasses may require washing with warm soapy water, followed by a clean rinse under running water, the excess water shaken off and polished with a micro fiber soft bag or cloth to ensure that lenses and all parts are completely dry.

Allowing salt water to dry on the sunglasses can cause corrosion to metal parts and possible.

Storage

It's always best to place sunglasses inside your Skagen case to help prevent them from becoming scratched. Avoid placing your glasses without a case in your bag or pocket. Keys or combs can easily scratch them. They should not be stored in areas subject to extreme temperatures.

Glossary of Terms

Bridge	The portion of the frame that connects the two eyepieces and rests on the nose. Double Bridge - A frame with two connection bars. Single Bridge - A frame with a single bridge design, the most common design, has only one piece connecting the two frame eyes.
Corrosion Resistant	The ability of a metal part to maintain the integrity of its surface finish.
Earpiece	The section of the temple that goes behind the ear, the "bent-down" portion.
End piece	The portion of the frame that connects the eyepiece to the temple, including the area onto which is screwed onto the hinge.
Eyepiece	The part of the sunglass frame front that holds the lens.
Front	The component of the frame consisting of the bridge and the eyepieces.
Frame	Consists of the entire structure of the sunglasses.
Frame Measurement	Every frame has three components which are always measured in millimeter, and are always in the same order: eye size, bridge size (DBL), and temple size. The eye is measured horizontally from one side of the lens to the other at their furthest points. The bridge (DBL) is measured horizontally from one lens to the other at their closest points. The temple is measured from one end to the other including the bend.
Gradient Tint	Describes a lens with the full tint at the top, fading gradually to no tint at the bottom of the lens.
Hinge	An interlocking pivotal device that connects the temple to the front and the temple while allowing the temple to fold flat against the frame. Spring Hinge - A spring hinge is a hinge that is mounted on the temple shaft and allows for spring action. Spring action can bend beyond the limit of normal hinges, which can limit breakage of the frame under stress. Spring hinges also help to keep the frames properly aligned. Stop Function - A feature included in some hinges that prevents the temple tips from hitting the inside of the lenses when the temples are closed.
Lens	Transparent material having two surfaces used to change the vergence of light.
Lens Coating	Sunglasses lenses can be coated with a variety of compounds that have beneficial qualities. Coatings can be applied to the exterior of the lens, or absorbed by the lens.
Nose pad	Many sunglass frame, most commonly metal frames have nose pads attached to the inside of the bridge and aid in the frame resting comfortably on the wearer's nose. Nose pads can be adjusted to accommodate an individual's nasal structure, as well as the proper positioning of the lenses in the front of the wearer's nose.
Pad Arm	Extends from the eyepiece and holds the nose pads.
Rim	The part of the sunglass frame's eye that holds the lens in place. The rim can completely encircle a lens in the case of full frames, or partially hold the frame in the case of semi-rimless frames, or there could be no rim at all in the case of rimless frames. Rimless - A rimless frame has no rim. The bridge and the temples attach directly to the lens usually with nuts and bolts, and the lens itself provides part of the structure of the sunglasses. Semi-Rimless - Has a rim on part of the frame's eye holding the lens
Shaft	The middle section of a temple is known as the shaft. It is the straight part that extends from the connection point at the sunglass frame front to the bend in the temple.
Temple	The temples of the sunglass connect and hold the frame's front to the wearers head behind the ears. Straight Temple - A straight temple or "library" temple that does not have a bend on the earpiece. Skull Temple - A skull temple or "normal" temple doesn't have a bend on the earpiece. Cable Temple - A cable temple or "riding bow" style of temple curves at the end to securely hold the sunglasses around the ears.
Temple Tip	The portion of an earpiece fitting over and behind the ear.