Italy-based titanium eyewear specialist Blackfin’s new Aero Loop rimless micro-hinge lens fastener was granted a 25-year patent for the novelty of its technology. Had it been considered just a modification, it would have been given just eight years, but a 25-year patent shows just how much of a real invention this is, said Nicola del Din, Blackfin’s CEO.

Blackfin’s CEO Nicola del Din at Silmo 2024

Launching the new Aero Loop rimless range at Silmo in Paris, del Din said it took his company two years to develop the technology. Aero Loop are the first rimless frames to incorporate a titanium micro-hinge (inspired by rivets used in the aeronautical industry) hidden behind the patented lens fastener and dual circular lens holes, not visible from the side. “This innovative design eliminates any protrusion on the front, making them almost disappear on the face while delivering a sophisticated, modern aesthetic and at the same time guaranteeing strength and lasting durability.”

The new Aero Loop rimless range incorporating a titanium micro-hinge

The new lens fastener also makes it very easy to mount lenses, which was a key target during development, del Din said, adding that, like all Blackfin’s frames, each of the new frames’ parts is made from a single block of titanium. “They are a true revolution in rimless eyewear, redefining contemporary minimalism. The sophisticated design of these frames ensures they are incredibly strong and at the same time so light as to be almost imperceptible.”

Blackfin’s Aero Loop frames were nominated for a 2024 Silmo d’Or award in the ‘Technological innovation in eyewear’ category, which was a wonderful validation of the team’s development efforts, he said. “It’s not the Oscars, but in our industry it is the only important award: the Oscars of eyewear. It's also important that sometimes somebody comes and tells you, ‘you’ve done a good job’.”

The Blackfin Aero Loop collection offers 40 lens shapes, two bridge sizes and four temple designs, and is available in 40 colourways, providing more than 50,000 possible combinations. “The Aero Loop colour lineup is a true masterpiece of unique, elegant shades, the result of decades of research and experience. Some colours are applied by hand with artisan precision, others leverage nano-plating technology for an impeccable finish, while anodisation lends bright, polished hues,” said the company’s launch material. “Thanks to their state-of-the-art adjustability, the soft medical-grade silicone nose pads and the easily adaptable inclination and length of the temples, the Aero Loop styles guarantee perfect fit and wearability on any face.”

Blackfin is distributed by Beni Vision in NZ.