The Legacy of Craft
Archive to Atelier
Since our inception in 1969, craftsmanship has been at the core of Cutler and Gross. The kind of craftsmanship that requires generational expertise and a fastidious attention to detail. Craftsmanship that takes time: weeks of fine-tuning, months of developing, years and years of perfecting.
The first Cutler and Gross frames were handmade above our Knightsbridge store in London; this philosophy of personal touch has endured for over half a century. Our glasses are now crafted by expert artisans in our Italian workshop in the foothills of the Dolomites – a region regarded as the centre of optical excellence.
This is the Cutler and Gross way, where the human element is paramount.
Perfect but Never Identical
What defines a Cutler and Gross frame?
It is not simply the unique designs or the statement details. It’s the time-honoured techniques carried out by optical architects who have spent decades honing their skills, requiring a discipline that few possess.
The mastery of such virtuoso work has earned them the title of frame-making experts.
From start to finish, each frame is guided by a series of specialist hands. Cutting, shaping, tumbling, polishing – the glasses come to light over the course of many months. The journey to perfection can’t be rushed.
A Commitment to Craft
Our atelier revolves around honest principles and practices.
Frames are hand-mopped to reveal the colour gradually, adding layer upon layer to create a unique pigment intensity. There is no quick (and temporary) surface treatment. Our signature pins are screwed into hand-drilled holes, as opposed to the speedier and less durable heat-sinking method.
Each frame undergoes a 96-hour polishing process to achieve an unprecedented finish. Wooden barrels packed with resin chips are used to tumble and smooth the surfaces, a process that has been largely unchanged for 100 years.
It is through this journey of meticulous craftsmanship that the frame becomes worthy of the gold-foil moniker inlaid in the temple: ‘Handmade in Italy’. A mark of autonomy and integrity.
The Archive: An Eyewear Odyssey
Cutler and Gross’s five-decade-deep archive is a testament to our inexhaustible craftsmanship and ingenuity. It spans the swinging sixties through nineties grunge to now, forming a unique source of British heritage and inspiration for current collections. Read 55 Years of Craft: The Origins to find out more.
Our atelier’s expertise is a means to bridge the past with the present. From Elton John’s iconic 70s frames to Julia Robert’s Notting Hill sunglasses and Bono’s wrap-arounds, Cutler and Gross glasses are written in the history books.
And this legacy continues today. Combining extraordinary design, exceptional craftsmanship and a pioneering vision, each collection looks confidently towards the future.