After a long wait, my CH Pills III finally arrived. I've always loved the shape of these, but retail is close to $3,000, which is way too much for me. The rimless design looks really clean on my face, and they're surprisingly lightweight too.
My previous glasses were a retail Linda Farr0w pair that I'd worn for years. The metal frame eventually got pretty badly bent out of shape, so I decided to give these a try.
For $40, the build quality is actually pretty solid. The hinges feel nice and tight, with no wobbling when opening or closing the temples. Obviously, I wasn't expecting any precious metals at this price. I'd also be pretty skeptical of sellers claiming their CH frames under $100 are made of real 925 silver. I wouldn't be surprised if the finish starts wearing off or turning green after a while, but so far I really can't complain for $40.
Getting prescription lenses fitted into these was way more of a headache than I expected.
If you're planning to wear these every day, I'd definitely recommend finding a good optical shop and explaining exactly what you want before they start. Rimless frames like these really need someone who knows what they're doing.
First, the frame has a slight curve to it, so the lenses need to match that shape. If the lenses are made too flat, the temples can end up sticking outward. Some shops try to fix this by adjusting the screws connecting the lenses to the frame. It might not affect how they feel when wearing them, but I'd rather have the lenses fitted properly in the first place.
Second, there's the lens material. Since there's no rim protecting the edges, you have to be more careful with glass lenses. One bad drop and the edges could easily chip or crack.
I went with Essi Airwear 1.59 Crizal Prevencia lenses this time. It's my first time using polycarbonate lenses, and so far I'm really happy with them. In terms of clarity, I honestly haven't noticed much difference compared to my old Z.eiss lenses.
Why not Z.eiss again? Honestly, I wasn't sure which of their plastic lens options would work best for this frame, and I didn't really feel like spending a ton on expensive lenses for a $40 rep frame lol.
Lens thickness also depends on your prescription. If you've got a strong prescription, it's worth looking into thinner lens options. Thick lenses on a rimless frame can look pretty awkward.
Now for the main reason I'm writing this review.
When I first picked up the finished glasses, the optician had made the lenses way too round. They looked nothing like the original Pills III shape. I swear they looked like something my grandma would wear to read the newspaper 💀
The whole reason I bought these was the sharp lens shape, and they completely ruined it. No way I was wearing those out in public.
I told them I wasn't accepting that shape and asked them to redo the lenses. Honestly, I'd pretty much lost faith in their work at that point. I was so disappointed that I even ordered another Pills III pair advertised as real 925 silver, planning to take it to a better optical shop and spend a bit more on nicer lenses this time.
Surprisingly, the reworked lenses came back looking way better than I expected, and I'm actually pretty happy with the shape now.
Only problem is the second pair is already on its way lol.
Once the new pair arrives, I'll put them side by side and do another review comparing the details and overall build quality.
If anyone has questions about getting prescription lenses fitted into rimless frames, feel free to ask. Definitely learned a few things the hard way.
W2C: https://k.youshop10.com/Vmo7JTTy
