Description
These are probably the most beautiful pair of frames that have been made in the history of spectacle-making.
The really great JMM Evans, part of the Héritage collection sets new standards of quality and artisanship. JMM are the first company to offer buffalo horn eyewear with frames 10mm in depth, an unprecedented thickness due to the horn’s high quality and demanding nature.
The collection uses Asian water buffalo horn sourced from India, collected only after the completion of the animal’s lifecycle. Any shavings or waste created later in the frame-making process are used as agricultural fertiliser.
Each slab of buffalo horn, averaging 2mm to 4mm in depth, is unique in colour and pattern. Multiple slabs are glued and pressed to create the necessary thickness for JMM’s eyewear, resulting in an unprecedented 16mm block of horn that is then sculpted, like a piece of marble. The thickness of the horn requires that the shape and curvature of each frame and temple be milled (rather than heated and bent, as with acetate), with details such as the nose bridge shaped using high-speed 5-axis milling, in a process that takes four times longer than that of acetate frames.
Frames and temples are hand-polished at multiple stages throughout the production process, to smoothen and accentuate the material’s natural look and feel. Especially delicate and sensitive to heat and force, each spectacle is assembled by hand – pins and hinges, all finished in 18k gold, require careful, personalised installation to account for the unique tolerance and nuances of each frame and temple.
Every element of the Héritage collection reflects an intense dedication to craft and meticulous attention to detail. For the lenses, which are also cut and set individually according to the individual properties of each frame, JMM incorporated new Supérieur lenses – custom nylon NXT® lenses developed with exclusive colours by renowned lens manufacturer Barberini. Produced with a material used for military helicopters, these state-of-the-art lenses are exceptionally light, impact resistant, and provide superior clarity.
New innovations are balanced with fresh iterations of JMM’s celebrated hallmarks, including custom arrowhead front pins, polished metal temple inlays resembling the brand’s signature Art Deco-inspired wire-cores, and custom buffalo horn nose pads with adjustable metal arms.
The resulting spectacles are exceptionally lightweight, boasting a distinctive grain, natural warmth, and impressive hand-feel.
Limited-edition eyewear is delivered in a remarkable collector’s box set and includes a custom leather eyewear case adorned with a precious metal “horned buffalo” cameo, an oversized double-sided microfiber cleaning cloth, and a custom stainless steel screwdriver featuring handgrip and burgundy enamel fill detailing, as well as horn wax and a special polishing cloth for extended care and use.
