Category: Journal

KUBORAUM

Posted on by Nic Rayner

KUBORAUM and a big thank you…

Thanks to all of our clients, old and new! We have loved helping you choose some amazing eyewear in 2019!

Our hectic year included frame-finding trips to Milan, Paris and New York. We were proud to become the first European stockists of Brooklyn based LOWERCASE.

Now, we are delighted to introduce a very special new brand for 2020…

KUBORAUM

 

Organic architecture dreamed in Berlin

EYEWEAR IS NOT AN INANIMATE AND INORGANIC OBJECT, BUT OBTAINS THE POWER OF A MASK. IT CHANGES THE PERCEPTION OF SELF. THOSE WHO WEAR THE  MASK, COME TO LIFE AND ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE TO FREE THEIR IDENTITIES. THESE MASKS REPRESENT CUBIC ROOMS, A NEW DIMENSION WHERE WE CAN FEEL AT EASE, COMFORTABLE WITH OURSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND US. KUBORAUM IS NO LOGO. IT IS A MASK WITH ITS OWN LOOK AND POWER, BUT AS SOON AS YOU WEAR IT, THE MASK DOESN’T HIGHLIGHT ITSELF, BUT IT HIGHLIGHTS THE PERSONALITY AND FEATURES OF THE PERSON WEARING IT, KUBORAUM’S IDENTITY IS ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP…

KUBORAUM

High Impact!

If you like a bit of wow factor with your eyewear, these frames are for you! As worn by personalities with personality…

 

KUBORAUM

View KUBORAUM

You can view the collection exclusively at GREY ST. Independent Optician. You can do this by arranging a frame consultation by clicking here:

https://www.greyst.co.uk/appointments/

0191 2605450

If you need an eye test, we can do that too!

 

 

https://www.kuboraum.com/

Festive Opening Hours

Posted on by Nic Rayner

Festive Opening Hours

For your GREY ST. glasses fix this Christmas, here’s the all important opening hours:

Christmas Eve CLOSED

Christmas Day CLOSED

Boxing Day CLOSED

Friday 27th 9.30 – 17.30

Saturday 28th 9.30 – 17.30

Sunday 29th CLOSED

Monday 30th 9.30-17.30

New Years Eve CLOSED

New Years Day CLOSED

Then it’s back to normal opening hours for 2020 – the year of the Optician!!

Optician

 

 

Let’s have a Conversation!

Posted on by Nic Rayner

Talk Talk

There has been a lot of talk about it. Serious discussions, heated conversation, and occasionally an admiring chat with some slight banter about it around the coffee machine. But now it’s here. Matali Crasset’s third eyewear family with THEO. She calls it Dialogues…

Theo exchange

Ping Pong

You know how it works. You say something (funny of course). Your friend on the other side of the table picks up on it and adds their two cents. You ping, they pong. Each ping influences the next pong. Before you know it, you have a great conversation that challenges you with new points of view, that surprises you with different insights, and forces you to rethink who you are.

THEO

Dialogues

That is what Matali sat down for: an interesting dialogue between the two basic shapes in eyewear. One is the archetypal form for lenses, the second is an expansion she laid around it. She had both forms ping-pong and shape-shift and the result is an eyewear family that challenges you to change your individuality!

A little less conversation…

There was little discussion required when we sat down with THEO to view this amazing new collection.  We couldn’t wait to bring them back to the GREY ST. shelves!

conversation

Learn more…

To learn more about Theo, you can visit Theo’s rather dazzling website http://www.theo.be. Or come and have a conversation with one of our frame specialists!  https://www.greyst.co.uk/appointments/

 

 

 

Garrett Leight EVENT: Friday 8TH Nov from 3PM

Posted on by admin

It’s the big one!

Drop everything, clear your diaries, arrange your early finish from work; make sure you do NOT miss our exclusive Garrett Leight event!!

Our Californian friends will be taking over our store from 3pm to 7pm on Friday 8th November.

At our Garrett Leight event you can expect to find:

  • Every Garrett frame in every colour, and all of the awesome GLCO sunglasses,
  • The very exclusive Mr Leight collection,
  • Badges,
  • Bottle openers,
  • Cleaning sprays,
  • Spectacle magazine,
  • Deck chairs,
  • Beer,
  • Special lens discounts with frames ordered on the day…

We’d love you to join us! If you would like more information or would like to come along, you can get in touch here: https://www.greyst.co.uk/contact-us/

Who is Mr Leight?

“A collaboration between father and son, Larry and Garrett Leight, Mr. Leight bridges multiple generations of design and craftsmanship to deliver superlative contemporary eyewear. Together, they are committed to creating uncommonly thoughtful, beautiful, and original designs that combine the classic and the new and reflect the spectrum of their immense eyewear knowledge and expertise.

Mr. Leight represents a perfect union of Larry Leight’s decades-long history working with the finest eyewear craftsmen in the world as the Founder and Creative Director of Oliver Peoples, and Garrett Leight’s entrepreneurial spirit and uncompromising contemporary vision in his own endeavor, Garrett Leight California Optical. For both Larry and Garrett, creating impeccable, iconic eyewear is a truly lifelong pursuit.”

Warning: Christmas light switch on….

The day before our Garrett Leight event, Thursday 7th November, is the Newcastle Christmas lights switch on. Sam Fender is hitting the button this year so 5000 people are expected at the base of Grey’s monument from 5pm (the light switch on is 6.30pm).

As in previous years, it will be impossible to get in and out of our store so we’ll be closing our doors at 5pm on Thursday and running for the hills!

We look forward to seeing you on Friday 8th November for the Garrett Leight Special!

The Finished Article!

Posted on by admin

 

This time last year we had just finished our store make-over. We absolutely love our new space and we hope you do too!

The Central Arcade

Our huge side windows offer a great view down the historic Central Arcade.

Frames galore!

Our reclaimed bureau and dentists drawers provide room for hundred’s of amazing frames and sunglasses!

Hanging out!

The new store has a Manhattan feel and we love hanging out here!

Finished View from Grey Street:

So here we are! Come and pay us a visit sometime! We are right at the top of Grey Street, near Grey’s monument.

Our store

World Class Eyewear

We are proud stockists of the leading independent eyewear brands from Europe and across the world. For a really special pair of glasses that you cannot wait to put on your face, look no further!

We like to do things a little differently from most opticians. We have so much stock that we cannot keep it all on display! While you scour the shelves to see what catches your eye, one of our frame specialists will make suggestions from our huge array of frames. We like to have fun helping you try on frames and you will end up spoilt for choice!

You can book your no obligation frame consulation here:

https://www.greyst.co.uk/book-an-appointment/

 

Throwback Thursday…

Posted on by admin

 

What a difference a year makes!

This time last year our store make-over had just commenced. After 11 years on Grey Street it was time for a fresh new look. Here’s a little throwback to October 2018 when our store refurbishment was in full swing.

Rip out the old

Bare Bones!

The aim of the fit out was to get back to the original fabric and character of our historic Georgian building. In particular, we wanted to make the most of the high ceiling and the beautiful windows onto Grey Street and the Central Arcade.

We had hoped to polish up the original floor boards but unfortunately many were warped and in some parts missing altogether!

Reclaimed Floor

The plan B for the floor has been a great success! To cover all of the holes(!) we arduously hand cut a reclaimed timber floor into a chevron pattern. The old gym floor is one of the most talked about features of our new look store!

new floor

Night-shift

The extra work on the new floor led to a lot of late nights and a race to get the whole thing finished on time.

Shadows

Busy finish

We did it!

Huge thanks to our friends, family and the workmen who put in a huge shift to help us get over the line! We are delighted with the results which will be revealed in our following post next week…

If you can’t wait for the next blog post you can always pay us a visit! You are sure of a warm welcome and can try on a feast of spectacles and sunglasses while perusing our new premises! Though it looks a lot different it is the same location as ever at the top of Grey Street!

# TBT # Throwback

 

 

 

Store Refurbishment: Prep time!

Posted on by admin

 

Has it been a year already?! Flash back 12 months to October 2018 and we were busily prepping for refurbishment…

Reclaim, Refurb and Rediscover

From the earliest stages of planning, our aim was to restore the original features of our amazing Georgian building and celebrate the splendor of the neighbouring Victorian arcade.

After months of planning and design meetings, ideas became reality! Our custom made furniture was almost ready…

Bureau Refurbishment

This beautiful bureau would become a feature piece in the new store…

This is where we store our amazing collection of frames!

Reclaimed and restored to its former glory, it takes pride of place in our window to the arcade.

We added wheels and drawer linings in our signature colours to this antique cabinet.

With almost 1000 frames in our collection, you can never have enough storage!

These vintage bar stools now sit around our central dispensing table.

Catch up on the next blog post to read all about the fit out process and see the finished result!

https://www.greyst.co.uk/category/blog/

 

SHOW BUSINESS!

Posted on by admin

 

Paris 2019

The GREY ST. team descended on Paris last week for our annual trade show visit. It sounds romantic drinking champagne and trying on amazing eyewear all day but we promise you it’s tougher than it looks!

Yohann

With our good friend Johann from MYKITA

What’s new from the show?

We couldn’t go all the way to Paris and not find something brand new. We have something really special on the way and can’t wait to show you! Be first to hear about it by following us on http://www.instagram/greyst_optician

Handsome

Team effort!

Choosing glasses is a team effort at GREY ST. We are passionate about what we do and all like to be involved in the frame selection process. This helps us have an encyloplegic knowledge of our eyewear and enables us to find perfect frames for every face!

Frame Consultation

It does not matter who you speak to when you come in to our store. Everyone is fully versed in the latest eyewear trends in the UK, Europe and across the world. We are all invested in what we do and the frames we stock. Let an expert help you choose your next pair of glasses by booking a GREY ST. frame consultation today! https://www.greyst.co.uk/book-an-appointment/

 

 

It’s all in the Details…

Posted on by admin

A Closer Look at the Artistry of Jacques Marie Mage

Jerome Jacques Marie Mage is a designer with a unique sense of quality, sophistication and style. He’s inspired by art, history and culture. Jacques Marie Mage pairs these interests with the most innovative production processes to create a product that is distinctly elegant. Each JMM is a collectible; produced in artisinal batches of between 200 – 450 worldwide.

The Jacques Marie Mage collection is formed of three families: Circa, Vanguard and Vu…

The Circa Collection is manufactured in Japan using a combination of traditional techniques and cutting-edge technology. It features a range of rare subtleties which represent the identity of JMM…

The Arrowhead

JMM’s custom signature arrowhead hardwear is a nod to the timeless projectile point used throughout human civilisation. It represents technical innovation and historical craftsmanship.

Custom Rivets

Spur-shaped hardware rivets made from either sterling silver or 18k gold. These details adorn the Circa Collection stems. They are designed to illustrate the classic 8-toothed horserider’s spur, a symbol of perseverance and drive.

Dome Logo

The domed metal logo can be found on the inside temple of each frame. The Coat of Arms design represents a spectrum of cross cultural affinities from the French First Empire to the American West. It is in the style of French First Empire cameo jewellery.

The Vanguard Collection is handcrafted in Valdobbiadene, Italy. Here JMM have developed unique acetate lamination methods. These techniques allow material combinations, sculptural temple designs and vibrant color combinations never before seen in the eyewear world.

Comfort born of Precision, Beauty born of Balance. The VU Collection is crafted from especially thick 12 mm blocks of Japanese acetate that are sculpted and hollowed to create an ultra-light and slender front piece. This is paired with signature temple construction; an advanced blend of pure titanium and Beta titanium. These details give the frame strength, balance, and a distinctly refined aesthetic. The JMM temple is finished with a hand-painted burgundy temple tip using Japanese enamel.

The resulting collection is balanced, refined, and available at the finest retailers across the world. To own a pair of Jacques Marie Mage spectacles is to own a true work of art.

For a chance to view this exquisite collection, arrange a frame consultation today.

 

Big Birthday Frame Blitz

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40 at 40

Three cheers for Nic who turns 40 this week! He’s celebrating with a well-earned holiday in Geneva.

The boss might be away but it’s all systems go here on Grey St…

We’re having a big birthday frame blitz until Friday 2nd August. For 1 WEEK ONLY, all frames and sunglasses are up to 40% off!

 

Nic and Nancy sporting sunnies in Geneva!

 

The Birthday frame blitz includes optical and sun styles from Grey St. favourites Theo, Anne et Valentin, Mykita and Garrett Leight. Now is the perfect time to treat yourself to a new style, like Nic and his new frames.

For the full experience, we recommend a GREY ST. frame consultation. Book in today!

Don’t slip up and miss out!