Nader Zadi is Manhattan-based designer and optician, known for collecting antique frames and components, some of which are 200 years old to create unique, bespoke sunglasses. Zadi, who is also founder of Customeyes, has released a limited edition sunglasses inspired by Ametrine, a rare gemstone (a hybrid of amethyst and citrine) found in the Anahi mine in Bolivia.
The lenses are shaded in three zones, modeled after the gemstone’s naturally occurring colors paternn – lavender starting at the nasal, yellow in the center, and peach towards the temple. The lenses are crowned with a filigreed yellow gold bridge from the 1930′s. It takes from four to six weeks to make the glasses. These sunglasses have been coated with a UV filter for protection, limited to just seven pairs, and are priced at $4,800.
On a color spectrum, lavender and yellow are distant hues, but the beauty of ametrine naturally converges the diversity of these colors side by side.
Another rare limited-edition model of sunglasses by same designer, Zadi are inspired by the eighth phase of the waxing moon, with a double dip crescent profile on the lenses, which are midnight blue in colour. This symbolism is repeated on the upper and lower sides of the lenses, for a total of eight crescent shapes. There are similar curves on the bridge, which is made in white gold, with filigree decoration and solid gold nose pads. The frames actually date to about 1920.
