Eyeglass chains are one of the few accessories that can truly be enjoyed with glasses. However, when you actually look for them, it's almost impossible to find something that a man can wear naturally. Most are overly decorative or too delicate, lacking sufficient practicality as a tool, and their impression tends to overpower the wearer.
I had always thought that if I could someday create the ideal eyeglass chain from scratch, I would. This time, Mr. Yoshida from Fabulous Sounds joined me in this endeavor. With many mutual acquaintances, I had secretly hoped to work with Mr. Yoshida if I were to make an eyeglass chain.
The result is an eyeglass chain that, like the glasses and watches handled by AFTER, never stands out too much as a mere tool but instead becomes an integral part of the wearer's style.
We held a pre-order event at the AFTER store for 10 days, from Friday, November 8th to Sunday, November 17th.
Due to its great popularity, we have decided to make it a permanent regular item. Orders can be placed at the store or purchased online via the button below.
Makino: If I was going to make something, I didn't want to work with just anyone; I wanted to work with someone who truly understood jewelry. So I asked him, and he readily accepted.
Yoshida: In addition to having many mutual acquaintances, I myself love glasses and had even bought glasses at AFTER before. As we talked, I started to get a sense of what Makino-san really wanted, and the design naturally solidified.
Makino: For people like me and my friends, as we get older, our close-up vision starts to blur, and everyone begins to wear reading glasses. But then, when you take off your glasses at a drinking party, you sometimes misplace them.
Yoshida: (laughs)
Makino: Many people, including those around me, experienced that kind of stress. But when asked if there was a recommended chain, until now, I could only say no. When it comes to typical eyeglass chains, there are almost none that men can wear. The material is often plated, or it has strange decorations, or it's not even a chain but a string. So, the initial idea was that I should just make one myself.
Yoshida: I see.
Makino: Then, when I thought about it carefully, I realized that there are many situations where an eyeglass chain fits perfectly, not just for reading glasses. For sunglasses, for example, when driving into a tunnel, everyone temporarily takes them off and struggles with where to put them. I wanted to create an eyeglass chain for such situations, with a restrained design that even people who don't usually wear necklaces, like myself, could wear naturally.
Yoshida: At first, you showed me some off-the-shelf eyeglass chains as samples. For instance, the rubber part that connects the chain to the glasses often had a clasp there.
Makino: Exactly, exactly.
Yoshida: When I asked why it was necessary, they said it was to easily replace the rubber when it deteriorated. But that's only for the convenience of the maker. From the perspective of someone actually wearing the eyeglass chain, I thought, "Do we really need such a conspicuous part, of all places?"
Makino: When I asked if there wasn't a cool clasp, he told me that it wasn't necessarily needed. That's how an eyeglass chain, as a tool that even men could wear, began to take shape.
Yoshida: Our store has a laser welder, so if you want to replace the rubber, we can reconnect the parts directly. Since the store is close, we can even provide same-day service in some cases. But with a large manufacturer, they might indeed compromise by connecting with a clasp.
Makino: You fulfilled all my requests, like making it as minimal as possible and without any waste as a tool.
Yoshida: So, for the part connecting the rubber and the chain, I chose a size that was as discreet as possible, so as not to interfere with the design.
Makino: And then there's the rubber part itself, right?
Yoshida: Yes. It's the sliding part to adjust the fit of the rubber, and originally, there are pre-made sets that include this part with the rubber. But that was made of an alloy, and I wondered if that was appropriate when the chain itself was made of precious metal. So, to match the chain's material, we created that part from scratch.
Makino: Normally, people wouldn't go to such lengths, would they?
Yoshida: Maybe someone might have thought of it, but no one actually brought it to fruition. Another reason for making this part from scratch was to properly engrave it with SV925 or K18YG and the AFTER logo. Large manufacturers might add a plate-like part for that purpose, but again, that's for the convenience of the maker. It's like the uncomfortable feeling of a clothing tag with care instructions in multiple languages.
Makino: Indeed.
Yoshida: If you create original parts from the start, all of that is resolved. Of course, it might be irrational from a cost perspective, but we set such considerations aside for a moment and absolutely refused to compromise on simplicity. This kind of attitude, which might seem like anyone could do it, is actually quite difficult to achieve.
Makino: As a result, it felt like we did everything we possibly could, including with the materials.
Yoshida: You could say we simply made it minimal, but it's not as simple as just making it simple. This is something I've felt during my long involvement with jewelry: how to size parts down to the 0.1mm, and that kind of balance really comes from the experience of having seen countless pieces of jewelry. If you design carelessly without thinking, it can end up looking a bit unfinished or loose somewhere.
Makino: You finished it off perfectly, so it doesn't stand out in a bad way. I think it's truly exquisite. As for the chain types, I ultimately chose my favorites from two types each for SV925 and K18YG, which Mr. Yoshida selected for me.
Yoshida: What's interesting is the K18 ball chain; I think Makino-san particularly liked that one. This chain is only available in K18YG.
Makino: And you also make the same chain that Cartier uses, in both SV925 and K18YG, right?
Yoshida: That's the cut oval chain. Additionally, the oval chain, which is only used for SV925, is the same chain used by Hermes.
Makino: The SV925 is exquisitely oxidized, making it blend in better with the skin and more comfortable to wear.
Yoshida: For silver, I thought a perfectly shiny, unprocessed state wouldn't be right, but the degree of this processing was difficult. General oxidizing agents make it too black, so I used a different chemical to achieve a subtle coloration.
Makino: My initial ideal was something that had meaning as a tool but also a touch of allure. In that sense, it couldn't be too striking, nor too delicate. But ultimately, it turned out to be something that both men and women can wear without being ostentatious. I think anyone who chooses it will be very satisfied.
Yoshida: I don't think an eyeglass chain has ever really been the star in the fashion scene before. But this time, I believe we've created something with that kind of potential.
Makino: In terms of beautiful tools, it certainly pairs well with 10eyevan. For EYEVAN 7285, I'd like people to try it with the impression that the chain enhances the subtle yet strong ornamentation unique to 7285.
Yoshida: Yes.
Makino: Because it's an eyeglass chain with a purpose as a tool, I want even people who don't usually wear necklaces to wear it. It's a chain that truly can't be improved upon any further, something that can be used as a classic for a very long time.
The pre-order period was for 10 days, from Friday, November 8th to Sunday, November 17th.
Due to its great popularity at the pre-order event, we have decided to make it a permanent regular item. Orders can be placed at the store or purchased online via the link below.
Please note that orders purchased online will take approximately one week to 10 days for shipping.
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