Everything we are most often asked, answered in the way we would answer in person.
Are Berenford sunglasses really handmade?
Yes. Every frame is cut from a solid block of Mazzucchelli 1849 acetate in Italy, then assembled by hand and fitted with hand-riveted OBE hinges from Pforzheim, Germany. There is no injection moulding at any step.
Where are Berenford frames made?
In the Italian eyewear district in the Veneto, where the world's finest frames have been made for over a century. The acetate comes from Mazzucchelli 1849 in Castiglione Olona, the hinges from OBE in Germany, and design and direction are at the atelier in Lugano, Switzerland. The full process is described in How Sunglasses Are Made in Italy.
What is Mazzucchelli acetate?
Mazzucchelli acetate is a cotton-cellulose material made by the Mazzucchelli 1849 factory in Italy, the reference producer for fine eyewear acetate since 1849. It is cut from solid blocks rather than moulded, carries its colour through the material, and can be re-polished and re-adjusted for decades. More in our Journal piece on the material.
What lenses do you use?
Carl Zeiss optical-grade lenses, with full UVA and UVB protection. The lenses are mineral-coated for scratch resistance and finished anti-reflective on the inner surface to prevent glare bouncing back into the eye.
Are the frames limited edition?
Yes. Each model is capped at one hundred numbered pieces. When a colourway sells out at the atelier, that colourway is closed. We occasionally release a new colour-variant of a frame shape, but never a re-edition of an exact model.
What does Limited Edition of 100 mean exactly?
It means only one hundred pieces of each model will ever exist, each one numbered, and the exact model is never reproduced. The number travels with the frame on its certificate and presentation box, so every pair has provenance from the day it ships.
How long do acetate frames last?
Decades, with minimal care. Acetate can be re-polished when it dulls and re-adjusted by any optician using gentle heat, and the hand-riveted OBE hinges on a Berenford are rated for over forty thousand open-close cycles. The realistic limit is usually the lenses, which can be replaced, not the frame.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Shipping is complimentary on every order, worldwide, with tracked courier service. We ship Delivered Duty Paid, so import duties, local taxes and customs clearance are on us and there is nothing to pay at delivery.
Are duties and taxes included in the price?
Yes. Every price on berenford.com is the final price, with shipping, import duties and taxes included, in every country we ship to. Orders within Switzerland include 8.1% Swiss VAT.
How long does delivery take?
Each pair is prepared by hand and dispatched within 2 working days. Delivery then takes up to 3 working days in Switzerland, up to 7 in the European Union and the United Kingdom, up to 10 in North America and up to 15 in the rest of the world. Many parcels arrive sooner. Each frame is packed in a numbered presentation box with a vintage-style case, a Zeiss cleaning cloth, and a care card.
What is your returns policy?
Frames may be returned within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, provided they are unworn, in original packaging, with seals intact. Returns are free worldwide: email info@berenford.com and we will send you a prepaid return label within one working day, at no cost to you. Custom or final-sale items are non-refundable.
Can I have prescription lenses fitted?
Not directly from Berenford at the moment. Our frames are designed to accept prescription lenses from any optician of your choice. The OBE hinges and Mazzucchelli acetate are stable for re-lensing for the lifetime of the frame.
How do I know which frame fits my face?
See our editorial guide How to Choose Sunglasses for Your Face Shape. We are adding frame width, lens height, bridge and temple length in millimetres to every product page. Until then, write to info@berenford.com or on WhatsApp and we will send you the measurements of any model, so you can compare with a frame you already own. The measurements are explained in the Eyewear Glossary.
What is the warranty?
Two years on every frame, against manufacturing and material defects, covering the Mazzucchelli acetate, the Zeiss lenses and the OBE hinges. Cosmetic wear from normal use is not covered. Lifetime repair and re-polishing is offered at the atelier at cost.
Where is Berenford based?
Berenford is a Swiss house. Atelier and parent company (Thunderball Sagl) are in Lugano, Switzerland. Production is in Italy. We do not currently operate a physical retail location; we are an online direct-from-atelier brand.
How do I care for my frames?
See our Care Guide for the full method. Briefly: clean with the included Zeiss cloth, avoid leaving the frames in a hot car or on dashboards in summer, and never use household chemicals on the lenses or acetate.
How can I get press samples or collaboration inquiries?
See our Press & Media page or write directly to info@berenford.com.