What's in a pair of Hipland sunglasses

Most sunglasses look the same in a photo. The differences are in the lens, the frame material, the hinge and the screw. Here is what each one is and why we chose it.

Lenses: Category 3

Sunglass lenses in Australia are rated from Category 0 to 4 under the AS/NZS 1067 standard. The category tells you how much visible light the lens blocks.

Category 3 lenses are the standard for bright Australian sun. They cut most of the visible light, so you are not squinting at the beach, on the water or on a long drive. They are fine for daytime driving. They are not for night or twilight.

Every Hipland lens is Category 3 with good UV protection. Category is about brightness. UV protection is a separate job, and ours do both.

Lens materials, explained

The lens material decides weight, clarity and how the lens handles a knock. Your pair lists its material in the Materials + Specs tab.

CR39. A lightweight optical plastic, around half the weight of glass. It has clear optics and good scratch resistance for a plastic lens. It is the most common material in our range.

TAC. Triacetate cellulose. A light, clear material that is also used as a layer in polarised lenses. It keeps the lens thin and comfortable on the nose.

Nylon. Light and flexible, with good impact resistance. It copes with being dropped in a bag better than a rigid lens.

Polarised. This is a filter, not a material. It blocks the glare that bounces off water, wet roads and car bonnets, so reflections drop away and colours sit cleaner. Polarising does not add UV protection on its own. Tulum, Ibiza, Bali and Lisbon are polarised.

The frame: Mazzucchelli Italian acetate

Acetate is a cellulose material made from cotton fibres and wood pulp. It is not injected plastic. Sheets are cured, cut and polished, which is why good acetate has depth in the colour and a smooth, warm feel.

Mazzucchelli has made acetate in Italy since 1849. It is one of the best known makers in eyewear, and every Hipland frame is cut from its acetate.

Colour runs through the whole material, so tortoise patterns look layered, not printed on.
A surface that can be polished, so light scratches can be buffed out.
A frame that holds its shape and feels solid without being heavy.

The hinge: engineered stainless steel

The hinge is the part that opens and closes thousands of times. It is also the first part to fail on a cheap pair.

Stainless steel resists rust, which matters when sweat, sunscreen and salt water are part of the job. Ours are engineered stainless steel hinges, so the arms open and close with the same feel in year three as in week one.

The screws: rubberised

The small screw in the hinge is what usually works loose. Ours are rubberised. The coating grips the thread, so the screw resists backing out from everyday knocks and opening and closing the arms.