The Spectacles Thread. - Part 2

[TUV2008]

Yes , I dun understand why we have so many shops here yet so expensive.

I made one at Tokyo sometime back at very good price and even in Seoul the price also competitive.

Are we limit by certain technologies or resources to deliver such products or services at a reasonably good price ?

Especially when come to progressive , the price is insane.

After visiting 5 spectacles shops @ Toa Payoh, my conclusion is I better make my spectacles outside Singapore. Spectacles are overprice in Singapore.

 

[cr123a]

After visiting 5 spectacles shops @ Toa Payoh, my conclusion is I better make my spectacles outside Singapore. Spectacles are overprice in Singapore.

Yes , I dun understand why we have so many shops here yet so expensive.

I made one at Tokyo sometime back at very good price and even in Seoul the price also competitive.

Are we limit by certain technologies or resources to deliver such products or services at a reasonably good price ?

Especially when come to progressive , the price is insane.

There is a markup set by the distributor, ask any season salesman and they will tell you about it, retailers have little control over it.

As for making specs outside SG, recently my colleague went north of the border to make a pair with hoya bluecontrol relatively cheaper than any shop in SG.
As I'm very keen, so I ask him any got Authenticity Card? "Dun have leh".
Any hoya marking or Watermark on the lenses? "Think have but I cannot see".
Then how do you know it's the real deal? "Guy in shop say so".
Maybe someone with hoya bluecontrol can chip in as to the authenticity checks.

 

[wwh5210]

There is a markup set by the distributor, ask any season salesman and they will tell you about it, retailers have little control over it.

As for making specs outside SG, recently my colleague went north of the border to make a pair with hoya bluecontrol relatively cheaper than any shop in SG.
As I'm very keen, so I ask him any got Authenticity Card? "Dun have leh".
Any hoya marking or Watermark on the lenses? "Think have but I cannot see".
Then how do you know it's the real deal? "Guy in shop say so".
Maybe someone with hoya bluecontrol can chip in as to the authenticity checks.

Thx for the info but I'm not worried about the authenticity. I will be making my spectacles in Taiwan end of this year. I made twice there and they did provide me with warranty card by the distributor.

 

[wwh5210]

Yes , I dun understand why we have so many shops here yet so expensive.

I made one at Tokyo sometime back at very good price and even in Seoul the price also competitive.

Are we limit by certain technologies or resources to deliver such products or services at a reasonably good price ?

Especially when come to progressive , the price is insane.

I felt I'm like a carrot waiting for them to chop after visiting those shops.

Luckily I know some basic terms and they weren't able to smoke me that much . One "friendly" uncle from one of the shop even want to smoke me Braun Buffel frames are made in Germany and pure titanium while it's just made in China and stainless steel lol.

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Sometimes, it's all about trust between consumer and salesman. Markup is a sure thing, if not how can the shop survive, paying the staff, paying for rent. There are so many factors listed inside. You covered up pretty much of the distributor part.
Regarding lenses part, not all lenses have airmark like crizals, lens engraving like zeiss. And also like I mentioned in earlier posts, for essilor lenses, even if it's single vision, but the lenses are custom made(RX), you will not see the airmark. Like that how? You kenna cheated or..?
If you really want to see the engraving so much or authenticity, buy a lens that Come along with it like zeiss, they will give you the card and all also plus engraving on lens. Pay for it to make you feel more secure. That is the safest way yes?

The photo i attached is with blue control. Ask the shop to show you comparison of blue control/protect/prevencia/blue zero/lutina of different Brand’s and you know what you will have then. Can be distinguish if you see the Colour of the blue coat.

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Basically, many frames now are made in china. What you are paying for is just the brand. If you want more premium stuff and not made in china then of course price is a factor. Those cheap frames we see everywhere also made in china. So many Italy frames is made in china but maybe assembled in Italy. Once again, yes it's good that you can find cheaper frames/lens(assuming from overseas you can the REAL DEAL lens). But let's say if there's some issue later, how are you going to rectify it?

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Bro,fyi, getting a warranty card does not necessarily means you get the real deal. They can use a normal lens, pass you the warranty card of someone else who did not want theirs. And just give it to you. Make sure it has your prescription on the card too. Incase you want to be safer .

Thx for the info but I'm not worried about the authenticity. I will be making my spectacles in Taiwan end of this year. I made twice there and they did provide me with warranty card by the distributor.

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Hoya authenticity card can be requested from your shop. If it's cheaper blue control, it could be Pentax blue or stellify blue control. Thus, see which is the one your Friend got as Pentax and stellify does not come with the card.

There is a markup set by the distributor, ask any season salesman and they will tell you about it, retailers have little control over it.

As for making specs outside SG, recently my colleague went north of the border to make a pair with hoya bluecontrol relatively cheaper than any shop in SG.
As I'm very keen, so I ask him any got Authenticity Card? "Dun have leh".
Any hoya marking or Watermark on the lenses? "Think have but I cannot see".
Then how do you know it's the real deal? "Guy in shop say so".
Maybe someone with hoya bluecontrol can chip in as to the authenticity checks.

 

[wwh5210]

Bro,fyi, getting a warranty card does not necessarily means you get the real deal. They can use a normal lens, pass you the warranty card of someone else who did not want theirs. And just give it to you. Make sure it has your prescription on the card too. Incase you want to be safer .

Thx for sharing those info. I am pretty sure those lens are authentic. The warranty card comes with prescription and they also provided me with "prescription envelopes" which was used to store the original lens. I visit Taiwan regularly and warranty should not be a problem to me.

For spectacles, what customers are paying are brands, service, rental, profit margin and other related expenses. The net cost for a pair of spectacles is insanely cheap. This theory is applicable for most of the items. Most of the things are really overprice in SG coz our standard living is rather high. It's kind of give and take if u wish to survive in SG lol.

 

[Pink29]

Hello all. Need some advice.

Last changed my spectacle in mid 2013, from a neighbourhood shop. Back then my eyesight nearly 600 degrees each with astigmatism, I think??

So I want to change to a new spectacle now. But there are so many types of lens?? Is it important to get good lens?? I have zero knowledge about spectacle stuffs so I don't want to get chop carrot outside

Any shop to recommend? And what is the price range now?

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Hello all. Need some advice.

Last changed my spectacle in mid 2013, from a neighbourhood shop. Back then my eyesight nearly 600 degrees each with astigmatism, I think??

So I want to change to a new spectacle now. But there are so many types of lens?? Is it important to get good lens?? I have zero knowledge about spectacle stuffs so I don't want to get chop carrot outside

Any shop to recommend? And what is the price range now?

Hi good evening, Apart from type of lens, you also have to consider the index/thickness of the lens.

Firstly for the type of lens, you would probably just need a single vision lenses(just for distance usage) or a digital/antifatigue lens (assuming you do not have reading issues).
Brand of lenses as long as you are not too sensitive to clarity of vision, most brands should work fine for you.
Finally for a 600 degree power and astigmatism, there are 2 recommended index for you to choose for your lens. Either a 1.60(thicker) or 1.67(thinner). Cost wise , the 1.67(thinner) lenses will cost more. How much..? Roughly around 70-100 difference(ball park figure)
Hope this helps for now!

 

[lance88]

Good evening bro, will help you as much as i can. Think some technical stuff some bros here like ftpo might be more well-versed. However i will try to help you as much as i can!

1) yes there is a difference between RX and stock lens. As said, stock lens are lenses that are already CUT and can be obtained easily. As such the powers being kept for the lenses are only up to a certain range and for astigmatism concerns, Probably up to -2.00 to -4.00(depending on the brand you are choosing). Thus RX lenses, if you noticed, they actually mean lenses that are more customized thus will be able to reach the desired astig degree that you need. Highest i seen so far is up to -9.00 of astigmatism.

2)HVP stands for Hi Vision View protect. Its the older version for Hoya multicoat and only some of their lenses uses them now. Most of their new lenses are using the Hi-Vision Long life coating(HVLL) which is deemed to be better by wearers in terms of clarity, durability of the lens multicoat.

3) Yes. Especially lenses like (polycarbonate) lenses, the clarity for the lenses is reduced as compared to the other indexes, 1.56/1.6/1.67 however the Toughness of the lenses of course makes up for the reduced clarity of the lenses. But should you require lenses which are more impact resistance, you can consider using TRIVEX material which is 1.53 index. It has More abbe value compared to polycarbonate. Regarding Abbe Value, the lower the abbe value, the more chromatic abberation you will encounter. E.g. Color fringes at the peripheral of the lenses.


Fyi. There are still lots more to cover for these 3 qns but...for now i think this is what i can think of at the moment.

Correct me if i am wrong guys or feel free to add on! Hope this helps you for now!

is Hoya 1.53 phoenix, the only brand/model that uses trivex material?

 

[MrBoxySquare]

hi there, looking for those titanium looking Japanese frames that gives a classic look. Have seen brands like Yuichi Toyoma, Eyevan, Lindberg but they already cost like $500.

Are there any alternative brands that are cheaper? Looking to keep to the budget of $500+ for a 1.67 lens with my degree of 500.

 

[Hunter_X_Hunter]

Hi, I was quoted RM 1500 for Tokai Relaxus SPS Lutina 1.60. Sph and cyl below 200. Any one can share whether is the price reasonable and comparatively lower than SG? Thanks.

 

[sk1609]

did a progressive at Owndays few years ago and need to redo due to pc and reading result not very good. Tried making one again recently to see how but have the same issue.

Think will make new one elsewhere. Why brand/range is good for progressive? I heard about the "corridor size" for progressive lens.

S-425 C-150 AX15 ADD1.225
S-350 C-200 AX175

 

[joesph]

I saw an android app on promotion can measure pupillary distance

Sent from Samsung SM-G950F using GAGT

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Try looking at acoustic line and Marius morel. Around 200-300 for frames. Titanium thin ones. Hope this helps!

hi there, looking for those titanium looking Japanese frames that gives a classic look. Have seen brands like Yuichi Toyoma, Eyevan, Lindberg but they already cost like $500.

Are there any alternative brands that are cheaper? Looking to keep to the budget of $500+ for a 1.67 lens with my degree of 500.

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

Ps I don't really have much info for tokai lenses... probably the others might know!

Hi, I was quoted RM 1500 for Tokai Relaxus SPS Lutina 1.60. Sph and cyl below 200. Any one can share whether is the price reasonable and comparatively lower than SG? Thanks.

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

sorry, u guys got to turn ur head hahah. (DRAWING does not depict the actual distortion of the lenses or the intermediate range wideness. Just a layman one )

Ok this image kinda distinguish the different classes/categories of progressive lenses.
At the top, the normal lens u notice the distortion area varies as the category improves, there will be lesser distortion, wider reading area and of course slightly more intermediate. Intermediate zone for reading is not too much for a progressives.
Short corridor lenses will have lesser intermediate whereas long corridor is Vice Versa.
How the power progresses is what you guys actually see there. The top is your distance and as it progresses lower, the power reduces, thus reaching your computer screen(intermediate) where you tilt your head up slightly and finally reading where you tilt your chin up to read better. What i always emphasize on is that of course for a more comfortable overall wearing, we should invest in a better pair of lenses but it will cost more for sure. BUTT, depending on the user threshold, some might even be satisfied with the basic ones already.

Hope this helps understanding progressive better.

 

[GANGSTERKIA]

is Hoya 1.53 phoenix, the only brand/model that uses trivex material?

as far as i know..shamir and hoya has trivex.