Barberini at Mido with Glider
Lenses: not just protection, but a pilot's "instrument" Once again, Barberini took part in Mido this year, and brought along its glider. Showing off like a diva and photographed by everyone who went by, for years, the huge flying machine has been the company's means of demonstrating how pilots use Barberini lenses as an "instrument", and not only for protection. Sunglasses are very important for gliding, as the atmosphere's protective layer gets thinner at over 3000 metres, and because the pilots are alone with their glider and have to make decisions quickly. They can't afford to make mistakes, because gliders have no engines. They have to make the right decision at the right time, and a lens that enables you to "See Beyond" is the most important tool. And they need lenses with optical precision in order to do that... beyond all reflections, beyond the mist, beyond particles in the air... Light is reflected onto the glider fuselage from all directions, from rocks, clouds, snow surfaces... the sun... For years, Barberini's top experts have been studying the best lens for every situation. We produce polarized lenses, the jewel in our crown, photochromic lenses, H2F photochromic lenses, standard lenses, IR protective lenses, colour enhancing lenses. Full, mirrored, shaded and double mirrored coatings. 3- and 6-layer anti-reflective coatings, 10-layer UV protection, and much more... The company has always produced its lenses in glass, obstinately and sometimes against the market's reasonable trends for other materials such as plastic resins. So obstinately, in fact, that today we are almost the exclusive owners of state-of-the-art know-how and resources for the manufacture of super thin glass lenses for superior sunglasses. Studies, research and modern production technologies have put a new spin on what were once seen as the main defects of glass as a material for the production of lenses. Chemical tempering processes lasting for more than 12 hours, minimum thicknesses which, until just a few years ago, were unthinkable, have transformed defects into assets! Other features are mere unimaginable details: transparency, the lack of irregularities, hardness, dimensional stability in all conditions, special formulas to improve perceived contrast and colour, coating adhesion and.... an infinite lifespan. After years of use, they are still as good as when they were first bought - like a diamond! Glass is natural. It comes from sand and can be recycled over and over again. It does not pollute and will return to nature without creating harmful impacts. Our dedication to this material has driven us to buy the company that produced the best glass for optics in the world, Schott Ophthalmic. We increased our know-how to include the secrets of melting and producing optical glass blanks. Barberini is now the only centre in the world that can boast a complete production chain from raw materials right through to the most advanced sun lenses in the world. Made in Germany and Made in Italy. An outstanding twosome for companies wishing to develop high-performance sunglasses.
