An introduction to Cubitts sizing

Understanding size and fit

Remarkably, most spectacles come in a single size, and a single fit. Of course, this makes absolutely no sense. There's no such thing as an average head, so there should be no such thing as an average pair of spectacles.

Here's what we mean when we talk about size and fit.

Size

This refers to the dimensions of your spectacles, changeable according to the dimensions of your head.

Every Cubitts frame style comes in up to five sizes, from Extra Small to Extra Large, to suit heads from the Lilliputian to the colossal, the capacious to the svelte.

Fit

Then there's fit. Each of our heads comes with its own particularities. Noses in all shapes and sizes, with bridges narrow and wide, crests high and low.

So Cubitts makes frames in a range of different 'fits', to suit a range of facial vagaries.

Different silhouettes made to suit different widths of bridge, different heights of crest, different pupil distances. All the things that make us gloriously awkward.

Barnard's commodious 'w-bridge', made to fit the wider-nosed spectacle wearer.

Spectacle sizes from the Lilliputian to the colossal, the capacious to the svelte.

Finding your size

Your frame size is determined by the width of your head. The front measurement should sit between between the width of your temples, and the width of your head at its widest point.

If you have an existing pair of comfortable spectacles, it's easiest to measure the front from edge to edge with a ruler.

If you don't have a current frame, stand in front of a mirror and hold a ruler in line with your temples.

Finding your fit

When we think of spectacles we think of our eyes. But the perfect fit is made up of a triumvirate: the eyes, the ears, and the nose.

Your eyes should sit in the top third of the lens. Your nose should have maximised contact with the frame without discomfort. And the spectacle temples (also known as 'arms' or 'legs') should bend around your ears.

Your spectacles should provide clear vision and a firm grip, without pinching or leaving a mark on the nose or ears.

Determined by the width of the head.

The ideal frame front sits somewhere between the width of your temples, and the width of your head.

The top of your frames should be no higher than the line of your eyebrows.

Certain styles—like cat-eyes and pilots—allow for an 'oversize' look. Sunglasses can also sometimes be worn a size larger for aesthetic reasons, as the position of the eyes are concealed by the tinted lens. In both cases, comfort and clarity should come first.

Determined by the width and height of your nose.

Your nose is the pedestal on which your spectacles rest. Together, the nose and spectacles should tesselate to create a balanced sculptural display in the middle of your face.

With the right fit around the nose, the frame should remain level on your face. Your eyes should sit in the top third of the frame for unparalleled clarity of vision.

The frame should not rest on your cheeks or cover your eyebrows. It should not move when you smile, grimace, or squint thoughtfully.

Determined by the height and distance of the ears.

Your ears keep your spectacles in place. No slipping. No sliding. You should be happy to stare down into the abyss and ask soul-searching questions without the risk of losing your frame.

The temples of your glasses should bend precisely above your ears, providing a firm grip. Too early and your glasses will sit at an angle, affecting visual acuity and comfort. Too late and your glasses will be loose and unstable.

They should feel firm and secure, without pinching or leaving a mark.

If the fit around the ears isn't quite right at first, a Cubitts optical associate will be able to bend the acetate or metal to the right point.

Pupillary distance (PD) is the distance, measured in millimetres (mm), between the centres of your pupils. This measurement will never change for your whole life.

Heights are the distance between your pupils and the bottom of your frame. This is specific to a particular frame, and used to align high or complex prescriptions.

These measurements help tailor the lens to your eyes, for optimal visual clarity.

Pupillary Distance (PD) is the measurement in millimeters between the centres of your pupils.

This measurement is crucial for accurately aligning the lenses of your spectacles with your eyes, ensuring that you look through the optical centre of each lens.

Correct PD helps prevent eye strain, provides optimal vision clarity, and is especially important in multifocal or high-prescription lenses.

Spectacle styling

The best way to find a spectacles style that suits you is to try them on. You can do this virtually with our virtual try on tool, The Speculator.

You can filter the options based on shape, colour, or material to find frames that match your style, taste, and personality.

A well chosen silhouette provides forms to complement your unique features, balancing the beautiful geometry of your head. A carefully chosen frame can draw attention to or soften the appearance of your distinctive facial features.

The first rule of choosing a spectacle style is: there are no rules.

When choosing spectacles, you may want to consider your face shape to find frames that enhance your features. Selecting the right spectacles can complement your natural magnificence and provide a balanced look.

A well-chosen pair of spectacles can balance facial proportions by enhancing your natural features creating a harmonious feel that flatters your overall appearance.

The shape of your nose plays a significant role in choosing the right spectacles, as the right bridge, size, and position of the frames will both compliment and ensure a comfortable fit.

Acetate comes in a kaleidoscope of colours

Material and colour

Choosing the right material and colour for your spectacles is important as it affects both comfort and style. Lightweight materials like titanium are ideal for all-day wear, while acetate provides opportunity for a kaleidoscope of different colours.

Lightweight, hypoallergenic, exceptionally strong, semi-synthetic material of wood pulp and cotton. It's coloured by hand, meaning no two frames are completely alike. Infinitely adjustable with traditional pinned hinges, for durable and repairable spectacles that last a lifetime.

Our core collection is made from premium Mazzuchelli acetate, world leaders in spectacle materials since 1849.

Impossibly strong. Incredibly light. Hypoallergenic. And, we contend, rather beautiful. The four spectacles in our Titanium collection are a wedding of form and function - each component individually designed and weighing a total (excluding lenses) of 5g - ten times lighter than acetate. Corrosion resistant and exceedingly strong, these frames are made to last.

99.7% pure titanium front and Ion plated to over 0.3µ.

Frames constructed with industrial strength stainless steel. A modern reinterpretation of 1930s spectacle construction.

This is a strong material which means it can be very thin. Steel itself is not hypoallergenic, so we typically add acetate sleeves around the ears, and titanium nosepads. One benefit of steel frames is that the nosepads can be easily adjusted.

Our steel frames contain a very small amount of nickel but 316L so are not suitable for anyone with severe nickel allergy.

Material collections

Acetate

Titanium

Steel

Combination

Horn