Commercial airline pilot Alastair Carrie and his wife Louise have developed a range of technical sunglasses after deciding there was nothing suitable on the market for pilots.
‘The whole thing started when I went to buy myself a decent pair of sunglasses,’ said Carrie.’ He wasn’t pleased. ‘The optician suggested I might like to try and design my own.’
The couple then started to search for the best quality materials and lenses to create the ideal pair of pilot sunglasses. The resulting range of titanium sunglasses has the option of five eye shapes in five finishes and three NXT lens options. The Bigatmo branded range, said managing director Carrie, is stylish, light yet robust with excellent optics suitable not just for pilots but for drivers, sports and general sunwear.
The frames, designed with long-term pilot comfort in mind, employ fine lines to reduce weight and fit under headphones. Slim and straight temple ends sit comfortably on the ears. The hinges have stops to prevent lens damage and create a positive fit. Beta titanium is used on the temples to complete the secure feel. The temple ends are treated with an epoxy to grip the head without pulling at the hair and the adjustable nose pads are designed also not to snag hair. Each frame has the option of five hand finishes to create a unique look.
Excellent optics was the starting point of the search and Carrie said he wanted a non-glass lens with superior optics. He used pilots to trial a range of lenses to come up with the final choice. This was three NXT lenses: a copper tinted Alutra P20 photochromic lens for high contrast environments designed for flying and driving use; a colour enhancing grey Zeolite S14 High Contrast narrow band lens; and a polarised version of the Zeolite lenses for sand, sea and snow use – this is not recommended for flight deck use.
The tough, lightweight tinted Trivex lenses are fully coated and can be mirror finished or freeform surfaced in single vision or progressive prescriptions through Norville.
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Details: 01622 844030.