While titanium captures the luxury headlines, stainless steel and advanced alloys remain the workhorses of the eyewear industry — powering the vast majority of the world’s metal frames across every price segment.
Material Comparison Guide
| Material | Weight | Durability | Finish Options | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 316L Stainless Steel | Medium | High | IP plating, PVD, brushed | Mid-range, commercial |
| Monel | Medium-High | Very High | All plating types | Intricate designs, vintage |
| Memory Metal (NiTi) | Low-Medium | Extreme | Limited (PVD only) | Sports, rimless, flex hinges |
| Pure Titanium | Very Low | High | PVD only | Luxury, hypoallergenic |
Choosing the Right Alloy for Your Collection
The right material depends on three intersecting factors: your target retail price point, the design complexity, and your end-market requirements. EU REACH regulations require nickel release testing on all metal frames sold in Europe — a test that Chengye includes as standard on all metal production batches.
For brands developing new metal collections, we offer free material consultation with our engineering team. Share your design brief and target retail price, and we’ll recommend the optimal alloy specification with cost and lead time estimates.