AKONI GLASSES & SUNGLASSES

Akoni glasses were born in Switzerland in 2020 and are made by hand in Japan. The company is based in Lugano; its co-founder and chief executive is Rosario Toscano, formerly at the helm of DITA. The name comes from Latin and means "priceless", "worthy of admiration". In the logo, a circle inside a square: the brand's two places, Switzerland and Japan.

Akoni Glasses & Sunglasses

Authorised AKONI retailer · Worldwide shipping

AKONI · Collection XII

Swiss Precision, Japanese Artistry.

Designed in Switzerland, handmade in Japan in Japanese titanium and acetate. The details come from watchmaking and fine writing instruments.

The brand

Akoni Glasses & Sunglasses

History and workshop

Every frame is made with Japanese artisans, using techniques drawn from the country's traditional crafts. The titanium is Japanese; the acetate is Japanese too, made from renewable wood and cotton, and Akoni gives it twice the usual processing time. The nose pads are hypoallergenic ceramic. The stated references are watchmaking and writing instruments: knurling on the temple fronts, titanium tips on the acetate temples. In the Horn Series, Crafted Cosmo is water buffalo horn: thirty hours of hand work for each piece. From the Journal: Crafted Cosmo, thirty hours to shape the horn · Titanium or acetate. The same group also makes Balmain glasses.

Lines and models

The collection is divided into titanium, acetate and combined frames, which pair Japanese acetate and titanium. Optical: Calisto, Telesto, Infinity, Copernico, Wise, Europa, Mercury, Argo, Proteus, Juno One, Luna, Hubble, Orion, Cassini. Sun: Skyracer, EOS Polarized, Tiros, Sprint-A, Eclipse, Icarus, Echo, Atlantis, Phoenix, Eris, Jupiter, Juno Two and Hera.

How to choose

Among the optical frames, the smallest are Copernico and Wise (lens 45, bridge 23) and Infinity (46/24, 152 mm temples). Juno One (47/22), Mercury and Luna (49/21), Europa (50/21) and Calisto (51/23) cover the medium sizes; Argo (55/17) and Telesto (56/16) are the widest. In sun, the range goes from Eris and Jupiter (46/22) to Tiros and Icarus (58 mm).

A page for every model, with finishes and sizes: AKONI Juno One and Juno Two · AKONI Telesto · AKONI Infinity · AKONI Copernico · AKONI Europa · AKONI Jupiter.

Akoni: frequently asked questions

Where are Akoni glasses made?

Designed in Switzerland, made by hand in Japan.

Titanium or acetate?

The titanium is Japanese, light and rigid; Japanese acetate gives more volume. The combined frames pair the two materials. You can compare them in the boutique.

Who makes Balmain glasses?

Akoni, under licence from the fashion house: the first collection was presented in January 2020.

Can prescription lenses be fitted?

Yes, at the OCCHIO! boutique in Crema or by your own optician.

Where can I try Akoni glasses?

At OCCHIO!, in Crema, 40 minutes from Milan and Bergamo, and online.

Do you ship Akoni to Dubai, the UAE and Israel?

Yes. Every frame ships from Crema, Italy, by tracked express courier to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the United Arab Emirates, to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, and to Israel. Any import duties and local taxes are paid by the recipient on delivery.

Do you ship Akoni to the United States, the UK and the rest of Europe?

Yes. From Crema we ship by tracked express courier to the United States (free over 200 €, US duties are on us: nothing to pay on delivery), to the United Kingdom (free over 299 €, any duties paid on delivery), to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (25 €, free over 150 €, any duties paid on delivery), to every EU country, Ireland included (15 €, free over 150 €, no customs duties and no import VAT) and to Norway (15 €, free over 150 €, Norwegian VAT and any duties paid on delivery). See our pages for the US, the UK and Scandinavia.

What lenses do Akoni sunglasses have?

Akoni sunglasses have high-contrast CR-39 lenses with a multi-layer anti-reflective coating and an oil-resistant layer, and they protect against UVA, UVB and UVC rays. Some models, such as EOS Polarized, have polarised lenses; others have gradient lenses, darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, suited to changing light.

Why are Akoni polarised lenses 80% polarised?

Akoni uses 80% polarisation instead of full polarisation so that screens stay readable. Traditional polarised lenses are darker and can make LCD displays, such as car dashboards, hard to read, or hide hazards like black ice. The Akoni filter still cuts glare from flat surfaces and reduces eye fatigue.

Are Akoni glasses hypoallergenic?

The Japanese titanium Akoni uses is hypoallergenic, similar in weight to aluminium and twice as strong. The nose pads are hypoallergenic too: ceramic, mounted on flexible beta-titanium arms. The Japanese acetate is made from renewable wood and cotton. For a diagnosed allergy, it is worth checking the materials of the specific model.

Can an Akoni acetate frame be repolished?

Yes. According to Akoni, Japanese acetate holds its shape over time, and frames can be repolished to look like new even after years of use. For daily cleaning the brand recommends the included cloth and, when needed, warm water with a little mild soap; it advises against paper tissues and the heat of a parked car.

Are Akoni limited editions ever reproduced?

No. Akoni releases limited-edition models and colourways from time to time and states that once they sell out, they are not made again; numbered editions are the rarest. A limited colour that leaves the brand's catalogue therefore does not come back. Availability of each model in the OCCHIO! selection is shown on its product page.

Can Akoni frames be ordered online with prescription lenses?

Yes, with single-vision lenses, which can be made remotely from a prescription and the pupillary distance. Progressive lenses are made only at the OCCHIO! boutique in Crema, because they need measurements taken in person with the frame on. On titanium frames, the nose pads on flexible arms allow the lens height to be set precisely.

How long does an online Akoni order take, and how do returns work?

Orders leave Crema within 24–48 hours by tracked express courier, and delivery time is added on top depending on the country. Returns can be requested within 14 days of delivery. Return shipping is paid by the customer, and the refund is issued once the parcel reaches the boutique in Crema.

OCCHIO! · Crema, Italy

A Akoni Glasses & Sunglasses makes sense on the face.

OCCHIO! is in Crema, forty minutes from Milan and Bergamo. If you are travelling, write first: the frame will be waiting.

  • Try it in the boutique

    In Crema, 40 minutes from Milan and Bergamo.

    Book a fitting
  • Shipping

    Free from €150 in Italy and the EU, from €299 worldwide. Dispatched within 24–48 hours, express delivery in 2–3 working days.

  • Pay in instalments

    With Klarna or PayPal at checkout, where available.

  • 14-day returns

    From delivery. The refund is issued once the parcel reaches Crema.

From the Journal