Tart Arnel reproductions

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

I'd like to:

1. Compile a list of Tart Arnel reproductions currently available.
   
   
2. Compare these various makes and models.

To get us started:

• Allyn Scura Ginsberg
• Courtland Producer
• Dolabany Arnold
• Julius Tart Optical AR (Japan)
• Max Pittion Livingston
• Moscot Lemtosh
• Old Focals J.D.
• Shady Character Arnel
• Tart Optical Arnel (United States)*
• True Vintage Revival 504

* Order with caution. They have an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau for ample reasons.

@havershaw, you were born for this exact moment!

 

[Blackadder]

TVR True Vintage Revival

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

TVR True Vintage Revival

Great find, thanks. The TVR504 has raised rivets and a clip-on option. Nice. What's not so nice is the $475 price tag — steep compared to most other reproductions available.

@Blackadder have you personally handled a pair?

 

[Blackadder]

Great find, thanks. The TVR504 has raised rivets and a clip-on option. Nice. What's not so nice is the $475 price tag — steep compared to most other reproductions available.

@Blackadder have you personally handled a pair?

Retail price in Japan is much lower
https://d-eye.shop-pro.jp/?mode=grp&gid=1074471

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

Retail price in Japan is much lower
https://d-eye.shop-pro.jp/?mode=grp&gid=1074471

My man!

Can you speak to TVR's quality verse the Moscot Lemtosh?

 

[Blackadder]

IMO TVR's quality is better.

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

IMO TVR's quality is better.

Can I get some adjectives, please?

Again, I haven't handled TVRs. I own two pair of Lemtosh suns, and while they're acceptable, I don't believe their value is anywhere near $280/frame.

 

[scotrace]

Just an aside: check Etsy sellers.

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

Just an aside: check Etsy sellers.

For knock offs in general? Or can you recommend a specific vendor(s)?

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

Because I cannot remove the Allyn Scura Ginsberg frame listed above in the original post, I'd like to point out a design decision that ultimately lead me to return my pair last week.

Unfortunately, the Ginsberg's frame is wider than the temple, not creating a flush 90 degree angle. In addition, the temple width is noticeably slimmer than the frame width — something I've never seen before on an Arnel reproduction.

vs. Tart Optical Arnel (United States) official reproduction:

vs. Moscot Lemtosh:

 

[Blackadder]

Compared to Moscot, TVR seems more refined (rivet works, screws etc). They both claim to be hand made but to me Moscot look like they came off a factory assembly line. I have only handled Moscot, Julius Tart and TVR. Factoring in the price (provided you can get the TVR and Julius from Japan), Moscot would be my last choice. TVR also offer a wider selection of colour and materials (acetate or celluloid). It is not that celluloid is better than acetate, just that celluloid has to be crafted by hand more carefully and is more time consuming given that it is easily flammable and that sort of provide some guarantee on the craftmanship. I picked mine up at a Tokyo store and that was before Julius Tart came into the market.

 

[scotrace]

Have a look at TheSpecsShop on Etsy. Tart Arnel repops. I'm not knowledgable enough to debate the hard details, but I can attest to quality and the seller's reliability. I think they're actually sourced from the maker of the official frames (maybe legally, maybe not), with the chief variation being the logo-- it's reversed.

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

Compared to Moscot, TVR seems more refined (rivet works, screws etc). They both claim to be hand made but to me Moscot look like they came off a factory assembly line. I have only handled Moscot, Julius Tart and TVR. Factoring in the price (provided you can get the TVR and Julius from Japan), Moscot would be my last choice. TVR also offer a wider selection of colour and materials (acetate or celluloid). It is not that celluloid is better than acetate, just that celluloid has to be crafted by hand more carefully and is more time consuming given that it is easily flammable and that sort of provide some guarantee on the craftmanship. I picked mine up at a Tokyo store and that was before Julius Tart came into the market.

Thanks, @Blackadder. This is immensely helpful.

I'd LOVE to nab a pair of frames from Julius Tart, but they don't ship to the United States, unfortunately. I do have family living outside of London, so I may have to get creative (ship frames to London, family ships frames to me).

TVR will ship frames directly to the United States, but as we discussed earlier, at a significantly higher rate. Decisions decisions...

Again, thank you!

 

[ConsiderMeMilesDavis]

Have a look at TheSpecsShop on Etsy. Tart Arnel repops. I'm not knowledgable enough to debate the hard details, but I can attest to quality and the seller's reliability. I think they're actually sourced from the maker of the official frames (maybe legally, maybe not), with the chief variation being the logo-- it's reversed.

Great find, @scotrace. Thank you.

I just sent a note to "TheSpecsShop" inquiring about his shield and hinge construction. Regardless of the answer, at $45 with free shipping they look like winners. I'm always interested in comparisons, however, and Moscot's Lemtosh is a good baseline. Have you handled a pair of Lemtosh frames @scotrace? If so, I'd love to hear your comparison of the two.

Related - I just discussed specs with etsy seller "thespecscollector" this morning, and he confirmed that his frame's "rivets are attached to the hinges on both the front and the temples." At $87, that's outstanding. Their only noteworthy flaw appears to be that the temples aren't as tall as a pair of authentic Arnels. That may or may not bother some folks.

 

[Blackadder]

Have a look at TheSpecsShop on Etsy. Tart Arnel repops. I'm not knowledgable enough to debate the hard details, but I can attest to quality and the seller's reliability. I think they're actually sourced from the maker of the official frames (maybe legally, maybe not), with the chief variation being the logo-- it's reversed.

Have seen a few Chinese made repro and own one myself for travelling and BBQ (as said celluloid are flammable). Seem like good spare frames for outdoor. I am very interested in the clip-on, cheap to replace if lost.

 

[Raul]

A few years ago, at the beginning of their business, I bought two pairs of tart arnels from the US official manufacturer as I got a rather good price, and I can confirm that they are outrageously expensive for the building quality that is rather low, in one of mine a temple detached after a few day, I had it fixed rather quickly because the manufacturer (at the time at least) was in italy like me, I still have them but I would never buy again a pair of these. A friend optical told me that to manufacture a frame like this could not cost more than $20. Recently I bought a pair of the same style from Rarest Eyewear on Etsy (I didn't know TheSpecsShop), the design is not exacly a clone but the look is similar, the price is honest (at about $60 now) and the quality acceptable, they are manufactured in ireland. The specsshop may be a still better bargain (I don't have them) but I think that with both you cannot go wrong, if you can live with a slightly diferent design from the "real" arnel