Masunaga and Silmo d'Or: Glasses from Japan that never go out of style

Masunaga has been manufacturing glasses in Japan since 1905. They are important in optics there, people know them all over the world. They won the Silmo d'Or award because they deserved it, it wasn't luck. They care a lot about quality, their designs are trend-setting, they even invent their own fashion. Masunaga glasses are expensive, they last a long time, they are very good, really.

Masunaga: Not just a brand, it's their way of doing things

Gozaemon Masunaga started Masunaga in Fukui, Japan, in 1905. This company is not just a name, it is very important in making good quality eyewear. He had a clear idea: he wanted the glasses to be like art, not just to see well, which is also important. Every frame had to be something engineered and designed, something made to last a long time. He's always looking for glasses that don't go out of style and serve their purpose. Comfort and durability are more important than what's in fashion at the time, they know that well. That's why, because they care so much about quality, almost an obsession, they created the company, and Fukui is now famous for luxury eyewear all over the world. It's a great place, really.

That's how it all started for this brand

When Gozaemon Masunaga set up his company in Fukui, the region changed a lot. They didn't have much money before, but he thought that making glasses could help them, it would be a big industry for the place. His phrase was simple, but it said a lot: 'Make really good glasses.' And that, making good glasses, is still important today, just as it was in the beginning. The idea passed from father to son, from generation to generation, leaving behind a lot of precision, new things and a lot of love for what they do. Masunaga has grown, of course, but the important thing, that desire for everything to be perfect, remains the same, as always.

This is how they do things: they start and finish, without taking the easy way out.

Masunaga has a very special way of working, they really control everything. From the moment they make the mold until the goggle is finished, they check everything. Nothing escapes them, they look at every detail with great care. Each piece, the joints and finishes go through very strict quality controls, others would like to have something like this. They use only the best materials, for example Japanese titanium which is very pure and also Japanese acetate. These are very light, durable and comfortable, people look for them a lot for that reason. That care in every step makes your glasses unique. In a market where almost everything is to produce a lot, they are different, they set the pace.

Silmo d'Or: The 'Oscar' of Eyewear

The Silmo d'Or is the most important award in the eyewear world, no pun intended, really. Many people call it the 'Oscar' of the sector, and they are absolutely right. Every year, at the Silmo trade fair in Paris, which is the biggest, they hold this event to present awards. They give awards for the best of the best, for innovation, for designs that leave you open-mouthed, for cutting-edge technology and for creativity in eyewear. Who chooses the winners? Well, a group of experts from all over the world, very important people, such as designers, opticians, journalists and also fashion people. They look at all the proposals very carefully, they look at whether they are original, of course, and at the quality of the materials. They also look at the technology they use, if they are comfortable, if they adapt well to the face, and now, something that is very important, if they are friendly to the planet.

An Award That Puts You on the International Map

Look, it's not every day you win a Silmo d'Or. It's not just an honor, far from it! It's like having a VIP pass, it opens doors to the biggest in the industry. This award is international, it is the reward for many years of research, a lot of thinking and hard work. It gives you priceless prestige, you are seen halfway around the world. If you have a brand, your colleagues and people in the market see you as someone who innovates and does things very well. That, of course, gives you a huge boost to your fame and attracts people who are only looking for the best luxury eyewear, like a magnet.

The Categories and What the Judges Look at Closely

The Silmo d'Or has a lot of categories. There's everything from the classic "Optical Frame" to the more modern "Sunglasses" . They also have "Innovative Technology", "Visual Health", "Design", and a special category for "Children". The people who evaluate take it very seriously, they look at everything with a magnifying glass. They want to see that it is beautiful and also practical, that balance is very important. They look for brands that surprise with new designs, that show they know a lot about materials, that put advanced technology to make wearing the glasses comfortable and even fun. And increasingly, they want brands that care about doing things responsibly, that don't harm the planet. In the end, this award shows you where the eyewear world in general is going.

Masunaga and the Silmo d'Or: When Doing Things Right Pays Off

Masunaga and the Silmo d'Or are always together, they win a lot of awards. This tells us who makes the best high-end eyewear, it's not by luck. The brand works very hard. Their goal is to make everything excellent, they always look for perfection. Masunaga already had Silmo d'Or awards, but 2023 was different, it was special. They took the most important award in the "Optical Frame" category for their MASUNAGA G.M.S. 830 model. This award shows why Masunaga sells a lot, they combine beautiful design with excellent function, all done with perfect craftsmanship, that's just the way their stuff is. In the end, they make glasses that look like jewelry, yes, but are also comfortable for everyday wear.

The Model That Won the Jackpot

The MASUNAGA G.M.S. 830 was the highlight at the 2023 Silmo d'Or. This design is from the KOKI collection, it is a piece of art, very nice. You see how good they are at the brand. Look closely: it has an aviator shape, a style of always, but with a current detail that pleases a lot. They are made with pure titanium and Japanese acetate, of the highest quality. The result? They are super light and balanced, you almost don't feel them when you wear them, they are ideal for everyday use. In addition, the details are perfect, everything is very clean. That's why anyone who understands fine eyewear wants to have one.

How They Designed and Made Them to be Awesome

The G.M.S. 830 is a marvel, the way they made it and how beautiful it is. The details that gave it the award? There are a lot of them. For example, they weld the joints and hinges with amazing precision, like a surgeon. This makes them last a long time and the fit is perfect. And the finishes, the finishes! They polish them by hand for hours and hours. So they get a shine and depth to the metal and acetate that no one else can achieve. The design has a double bridge and the titanium temples are very thin. They work beautifully together with the front, which is made of acetate. So they make a very balanced and elegant piece that looks great. Every screw and every rivet was made to stand the test of time. This shows how good the craftsmen are and the engineering behind each Masunaga sunglasses. Besides, it's not only beautiful, which it is, they also designed it so that you can put lenses with high graduations without any problem. It mixes a style that you will love with the best functionality.

Japanese Craftsmanship: It's What Makes Masunaga Special

Masunaga has a strong sense of the Japanese tradition, it shows in everything they do. Here, patience is super important. Precision is a golden rule, they treat materials with a lot of care. They are not like those companies in the West that manufacture everything quickly. Masunaga takes its time, each artisan puts a lot of effort into each part, even the smallest detail. And what comes out of all that effort? Glasses that last a long time. They have a style that never goes out of style. They are for life, really. The handmade work makes them special, there are no others like them.

Tradition and Hoy Juntos

Masunaga shows you very well that the things of the past and the things of today can go together. They mix traditional Japanese techniques with the most modern technology, and it's perfect. They are not afraid to use today's machines, not at all. But their goal is clear: to improve what they already know how to do, not to change it completely. For example, super-precise machines shape the titanium. Then, expert hands polish it, leaving it just right. The acetates are cut by laser, but then polished by hand many times, so they shine and the color is unique. This way of working makes that each glasses is good with the actual quality and has that special touch of something made by people.

A work made with desire and soul

Look, to put a price on handmade Masunaga glasses, you can't really put a price on them. You feel the difference when you touch them. When you touch them, when you put them on, and of course, how you see with them. They give you a clarity and durability that leaves you open-mouthed. It's not just an object. It's a whole experience. You feel like they fit you perfectly, like they were made for you. They're super light, they last for any length of time. All that teaches you the good work of the craftsman. Buying Masunaga is putting money into something of art for your eyes. It is like an inheritance, something that you are going to leave, and people will appreciate it a lot. It is to choose quality, that is to say no to the cheap and a lot of it.

Just so you're clear, these are the things that make Masunaga glasses a great choice:

• They make them themselves, the whole process, there in Fukui, Japan.
• They only use very good quality stuff, like real titanium and acetate made in Japan.
• Polishing and assembly is done by hand, very, very carefully.
• Their designs never look old, they mix the old with the new.
• They are super comfortable and look perfect on the face.
• They last a lot, they will serve you a lot of years, that's for sure.
• Many people know them all over the world and they have received several important awards such as the Silmo d'Or.

Masunaga in Óptica Bassol: A Very Valuable Commitment to Quality

At Óptica Bassol, we love Masunaga. We love their quality, they make their glasses by hand, with great care. That's why this Japanese eyewear brand is very important in our luxury eyewear. If you buy Masunaga, you know you have quality, a good design and that they will last. Only the best glasses give you that. Come to our opticians, we are waiting for you. You can see the entire Masunaga collection there. Our experts will help you, guide you to try on the glasses and take the ones you like the most. For us, they are not just an accessory, really. They are your style, an investment for your eyesight, a work of craftsmanship that will serve you for a long time.

To Close: A Story that Makes a Mark and Draws Attention in the Optician's Shop

Masunaga and the Silmo d'Or award, in closing, are the best of the best in the eyewear world. Every award that Masunaga wins tells us one thing very clearly. The real quality and things made with love, will always be better than any fad, we know it well. If you choose Masunaga glasses, it is not only that, you are betting for their history, for how they make new things and how precise they are. And for a beauty that never goes away. It's investing in something that is almost art, so that they will last and you will see well for years to come. And here at Óptica Bassol, we are very happy to be able to offer this to our people.