Why would anyone spend a thousand dollars on eyewear? We will never understand the things we don't want to understand, so I went out there to see for knowledge.
How does one stumble across the problem with a decently good pair of Wayfarers at $300? This I know: Luxottica. It benefits no one when there is too much power going to any single individual because, at the end of the day, it is all about last quarter's earnings when it comes to business.
Well, that doesn't justify spending three times as much simply to detriment myself. That is a fair point, but it would be well worth it to at least have a look at one of these things in person. It just might change your mind because it changed mine.
PRO
Light and comfortable
Beautifully made
Design and engineering
CON
Potentially brittle
SPECIFICATION
Lens Width: 52mm
Bridge Width: 22mm
Temple Length: 144mm
23.3 grams
100% UV Protection
Polarised: No
$960 AUD
RELATED ENTRIES
ANALOGUE: Hasselblad XPan
ANALOGUE: Leica M6
ANALOGUE: Mamiya 7
In the hands, a Dita feels very much like a high quality object. The hollowing out of the temple tips is the first thing to get me. It is a part that is rarely seen, yet they took the effort to design that. Then there is the diamond-pressed detail on the temples, bridge and brow bar. That is not such a big deal when it comes to steel or aluminium, but on titanium, things are a bit trickier.
Titanium wears tools down sooner, causing premature wear. A higher temperature is required given how the material doesn't conduct heat efficiently, and achieving a clear surface finish is considerably more technical compared to softer metals. All that to exhibit the prowess of their Japanese craftsmen, while keeping the frame featherweight for long hours of wearing.
The design may not be for everyone, as people might find Dita sunglasses to be a touch over the top. The Flight 006 first got my attention when Tony Stark wore it in his Avengers movies, but that is baggage to carry, and the people who buy them aren't exactly the kind of people you would invite over for dinner.
It has been nearly ten years, and nothing haunts you more than the things you didn't buy. So here I am with one in Matte Black - 14K Gold.
Fortunately, they don't look too funny on me. A Dita is also relatively easy to purchase from an authorised dealer in my location compared to a pair of Matsuda. I now get to enjoy something that is well made because I prefer to buy something good and use it for a long, long time.
Downsides? The price. $960 is quite a commitment.
That being said, I would spend that kind of money over supporting any giant conglomerate that dominates every other manufacturer. My actual concern is that the temples are finished to such a thin radius that they feel a touch delicate. This is down to personal feeling and nothing to do with science while handling the Dita Flight 006. It is said to be made of high-grade beta titanium, which is durable and extremely flexible, but we expect a G-Shock to be durable, not a Patek Philippe.
The alleged acetate lens-rim inserts on mine look like plastic and they're already scratched up, which is a slight annoyance. I also wish the grey-to-clear gradient on the lenses were of a darker shade because I do not wear sunglasses indoors.
Those aside, this is likely the most exciting thing I purchased this year, which says a lot given they are just a pair of sunglasses.
If the Dita Flight 006's frame really is as robust as it is said to be, I will be using them for the rest of time, which makes it not all that expensive.