Eyeglasses / Sunglasses Discussion
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@alwoff - I have ordered (and received) the Hakusan Megane pocket titan from Visual Culture Optical Limited in Hong Kong. The transaction went fine. I mostly communicated through Facebook Messenger, but their Facebook page shows an email address if you prefer. I paid through PayPal.
Now, the thing about importing glasses (or sunglasses) into the US is that the FDA requires a "drop ball certificate". It's possible that some carriers manage to not be stopped at customs but every single time (3 times!) I had a pair shipped via FedEx, it was stopped. I was then contacted by FedEx and asked to provide them with a drop ball certificate. You can actually write it yourself. They don't check on it, but they need a piece of paperwork.
The certificate is simply a document that says:
Drop Ball Test Certification
I (your name) hereby guarantee that the articles listed herein are impact resistant within the meaning of 21 CFR 801.410 and have been tested pursuant to that section. Impact resistant lenses are not unbreakable or shatterproof. Record of testing will be maintained for a period of three (3) years from the date of shipment and copies will be furnished to the FDA upon request.
Manufacturer: Hakusan - Megane, 4-6-9 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Alternatively, you can try to have the shop ship the frames without the dummy lenses. In such a case (and as long as the custom manifest is very clear that those are frames without lenses), you don't need a drop ball certificate.
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@alwoff I haven't seen Hakusan Megane here in Australia. I'd be wary of buying spectacles over the Internet without knowing its measurements, so I could compare it with a similar style.
If you're looking at chunkier metal frames, Jacques Marie Mage do the Fontana, Harcourt, and Amboise as optical styles. You might also want to look at some of their sunglasses.
Ahlem offer more contemporary titanium frames, but they use reasonably thick wire.
Eyevan 7285 and 10 Eyevan have more traditional styled frames, as do Mr Leight.
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@JDelage - wow, that is very comprehensive and extremely helpful! I'll keep VCOL in mind, and I'm glad I now know what to expect if I do get a pair (from anywhere) from overseas. How has your specific pair treated you?
@Giles - That's very kind of you to offer. Hopefully I'll get a lead soon, but I'll certainly keep that in mind once you do go back. Since you seem to be a "regular" with them, it's probably silly to ask if you like your pairs—but do you find them a good value for the price? It seems that they're at least on par with most big-name designers, but I do have a feeling that they'll be north of $400 no matter where I get them, so I'd like to make sure.
@Graeme - I found some sold Grailed listings for Hakusans that listed measurements for unfitted pairs, and their standard measurements seem to match my own. (In my years of wearing lots of different glasses, I've actually never needed any alterations to a stock fit besides nose pads; either I've been very lucky, or my superpower is…...having the most average-shaped head in the world.) Thank you for sharing some alternatives. Ahlem's offerings catch my eye the most. I really wish their Vendome came in gold rather than rose gold, but their Place de la Madeleine is a close second...it might end up being my replacement if importing a pair of Hakusans gets exorbitant.
Thank you all, this was very illuminating!
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@alwoff, glad to help!
Ahlem's Place Monge or Iena might also work for you, though they're both a bit smaller than the Vendome and Place de Madeleine.
I really like the Place des Victoires and Place de la Bastille.
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but do you find them a good value for the price?
Value is a very personal thing, but I have 3 pairs and my wife 2.
You're totally right. In this sense I meant "value" as build quality, long-lasting-ness and so on. Would you say they're sturdy, no unexpected breaks or anything? I know I love the style, and I have their measurements, so the only thing that's missing is actually feeling them in my hands…but I don't think that's possible from the U.S. prior to purchase.
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I have a pair of hakusan that was bought from visual in HK when I had relatives there for a holiday. they're without a doubt a legit and trusted retailer for designer optics. but as I'm pedantic in how glasses look on my face, I try very hard to buy them in person. not sure if you're that kind of person, but if you're not, you can definitely go ahead and try to buy it from them.
http://hakusan-megane.co.jp/shop/
^^there used to be a lot more stockist on their website in the past. I'm not sure why there's only a few of them left, especially for "official friendship stores", which in their terms means overseas stockists. visual culture was on their list before which is why I bought from them in the past.
I can't say I've seen a retailer over here on the west coast of Australia.
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Thanks for more info @louisbosco . If I was looking for a pair of acetate specs I would be more wary about buying without getting fitted, but wire frames are much easier to shape after the fact, and I trust my local optometrist to be able to make any small adjustments that might be needed. As for looks, I've been a round-lens wireframe wearer for about as long as I've been wearing glasses—the St. Titan Bostons are just the better crafted versions of what I've been wearing for a long time now, with a few minor changes to the shape.
Visual Culture was going to be my backup plan, but I actually just set up a special order through H Lorenzo! They stocked some of their sunglasses in like 2017, and to my knowledge are the only people who have ever stocked their items in the States. I was very happy to hear they had a relationship with HM still.
I was also confused by their dwindling number of stockists. Maybe they just got tired of all the Beatles fans filling their inbox, and decided to keep it local for awhile…..
[Putting it into words for future forum searchers; I was able to special order a pair of 白山眼鏡店 Hakusan Megane glasses to the United States through California retailer H Lorenzo, by emailing their info line. It was a little difficult to get a pricing estimate out of them, but I'm happy to share our correspondence if anyone's interested in doing the same thing.]
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Just got these Ahlems.
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Yeah, those are sweet QM!!
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Thanks, guys. I have a pair of prescription glasses from Ahlem as well and they are top-notch.
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@Clint_D great shot! Total badass
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Picked up a new pair of glasses last week. Managed to find a pair of Matsuda frames in stock at a London opticians. I had spotted these particular frames M1018 on the web but did not have the bottle to pull the trigger without trying them on. Fortunately a trip to London sorted this and they fitted nicely. Fitted with a grey green photochromic lens.
An honourable mention to 36 opticians in Kensington, great opticians, good selection and service.
Matsuda sunglasses next I think.
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Those are cool good fit [emoji3516]
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Those are very nice. Which sunglasses are you considering, @ddtrash?
I recently developed a bit of an obsession with the 10610H in antique gold, but I can't talk myself into committing that kind of cash to a pair of sunglasses (yet).
