Japanese Artisan Eyewear
Matsuda Eyewear at Optical Shop of New Hope
Handcrafted in Japan since 1967. The most intricate, labor-intensive frames in the world.
The Matsuda Legacy
Matsuda was founded in Tokyo in 1967 by Mitsuhiro Matsuda, a designer who believed that eyewear should be treated with the same reverence as fine jewelry. Each Matsuda frame is handcrafted in the Sabae region of Japan — the world capital of premium eyewear manufacturing — by artisans who have spent their careers mastering a single aspect of the craft. A single pair of Matsuda glasses can take over 200 individual steps and weeks of labor to complete. The result is not just eyewear — it is wearable sculpture.
The Art of Matsuda
What separates Matsuda from every other eyewear brand is the filigree metalwork. Inspired by traditional Japanese decorative arts — lacquerwork, metalsmithing, textile patterns — Matsuda's artisans hand-engrave and hand-apply intricate patterns to frames that are already engineering marvels. No two pairs are exactly alike. The brand uses a proprietary combination of Japanese acetate, hand-rolled and polished over days, and surgical-grade titanium and stainless steel that is shaped, soldered, and finished entirely by hand.
200+ Handcrafted Steps
From the initial acetate block to the finished frame, Matsuda glasses pass through the hands of dozens of specialized artisans. Each step — cutting, shaping, polishing, engraving, assembling — is performed by a craftsperson who has spent years mastering that single task.
Sabae, Japan Manufacturing
Sabae is responsible for over 90% of Japan's eyewear production and is home to the most skilled optical craftspeople in the world. Matsuda works exclusively with Sabae's finest workshops, maintaining relationships with artisan families that span generations.
Filigree Metalwork
Matsuda's signature decorative metalwork draws on centuries of Japanese craft tradition. Patterns inspired by kimono textiles, temple architecture, and natural forms are hand-engraved into frames using techniques that have not changed in generations.
Japanese Acetate
Matsuda sources acetate from Japan's most respected mills, hand-rolling sheets to achieve a depth and translucency that Italian acetate rarely matches. Colors are developed in-house and often exclusive to Matsuda.
Matsuda Collections
Heritage Metal
The frames that define the brand. Intricate filigree metalwork, architectural bridge designs, and hand-engraved temples that make each pair a collector's piece. These are the frames serious eyewear enthusiasts seek out.
Acetate Collection
Matsuda's acetate frames bring the same obsessive craftsmanship to organic shapes and rich color palettes. Hand-polished over multiple sessions to achieve a depth of finish that catches light differently at every angle.
Combination Frames
Where Matsuda's metalwork meets premium acetate — combination frames that showcase the brand's ability to work across materials with equal mastery. Often the most visually striking pieces in the collection.
Sun Collection
Matsuda sunglasses carry the same handcrafted DNA as the optical collection — with the addition of premium tinted and polarized lenses that complement the frame's artistry rather than competing with it.
Why Sergio Carries Matsuda
Sergio has carried Matsuda since the early days of the shop — long before the brand became known to a wider audience. He chose Matsuda because the brand shares his own values: uncompromising craftsmanship, refusal to cut corners, and a belief that the person wearing the glasses deserves something genuinely exceptional. Matsuda frames are not for everyone — they are for clients who understand quality and want eyewear that will still be beautiful in twenty years. Sergio is one of very few opticians in the region authorized to carry Matsuda, and he personally selects every piece in the shop's inventory.
See Matsuda in Person
Matsuda frames must be seen and held to be fully appreciated. Visit us at 102 South Main Street, New Hope, PA, or call 347-886-2907 / 267-740-7972 to arrange a private viewing.
Visit the ShopAlso available at our boutique