Distinctive Vision

A PAIR OF MODERN, canary-colored chairs outside Blink, a boutique optometrist practice on Newbury Street led by Dr. Stacy Coen, OD, signal to strollers-by that something fun and artsy is happening inside. And it is—Blink offers the city’s most distinctive collection of eyeglass frames, sourced from artisans around the world, with options so appealing that shopping for the right pair of glasses here feels a bit like picking out the perfect engagement ring.

On any given day, Coen and optician Dennis Limon sit side by side at the counter, welcoming patients and visitors into the intimate space with bright smiles and friendly chit chat. Not only do they get along, but they also enjoy that rare kind of business partnership in which each of them fuels, rather than competes with, the other’s creative abilities.

Together they designed the ping pong table display in the center of the room, with paddles featuring pop-art versions of their faces and funky red-and-black sunglasses draped over the netting. Baroque antique mirrors restored by Coen’s craftsman father add a luxe touch. The display changes with the seasons, but Coen and Limon’s delight in playful design is a permanent fixture.

As you might expect, the frames that line Blink’s shelves are not your typical plastic and metal variety. Eyeglasses date back to the 13th century, and metal frames to the 18th century, long before plastics were invented. Blink’s inventory features the raw materials of earlier times, such as wood, stone and leather, forged in old world countries by very fashion-forward designers.

DRAMATIC TO DEMURE

There are also frames made from titanium, water buffalo horn and shagreen (stingray), and a few 3D-printed options. The frames are all shapes and sizes, some dramatic, others demure—all different, all waiting for the right personality to come along. There are velvety aqua shagreen frames that should be sauntering poolside at a pop star’s Miami villa, polished wood spectacles with dramatic arches that would balance perfectly on an architect’s nose, and a to-die-for granite pair that sparkles like pave diamonds, destined to be some lucky girl’s or guy’s best friend.

Many of Blink’s frames can be customized according to a buyer’s whim. “You can have gold or turquoise elements added in these spaces, wherever you like,” says Coen, indicating the intricate web of holes in a 3-D frame. “We can do almost anything people want to give glasses a personal look and feel.

“Whenever we customize a piece for someone, it’s special, because they’re part of the creative process,” says Limon.

He tells the story of a man who wanted an inscription etched inside the temple, the part of the frame that goes over the ear.

“We asked him if there was a Claire Vail is the editor of MyBoston and a Boston-based writer and photographer who covers culture, food, and travel. message that spoke deeply to him. He thought about it for a long time, and then he finally came up with it.”

What was the mantra? “Listen More,” says Limon, smiling.

GLOBAL COLLABS

Limon and Coen travel around the world sourcing the most unique designs possible. They are sticklers for serious craftmanship, and they have a great time collaborating with like-minded artists.

“When we first met with the guy who now makes our leather frames, we ended up having drinks and hanging out with him for two hours, designing several frames, because they’re made to order.”

Bespoke endpiece embellishments (a little bling on the edge of the upper rims) provide another opportunity to illustrate a personal story, much in the way people get tattoos to memorialize a meaningful experience.

Coen mentions one maker of frames who puts a signature gold disc on the endpieces. When she ran into the designer at a conference in New York, she asked if there was a story there. The artist explained that she came from a family frame business that went way back. When her grandfather once made a pair of glasses for her grandmother, he placed a small pearl on the endpiece. The gold disc, she explained, is a tribute to her grandparents.

FRAMES AS SELF-EXPRESSION

While their focus is on helping patients see the world clearly, both Coen and Limon believe that achieving the right aesthetic is critical to a person’s sense of self.

“Dennis and I love to help people find frames that express their individuality,” says Coen. “We match frames to faces.”

Limon agrees. “It’s always funny how one of the hardest things for people to gauge is whether they like how they look in new frames,” he says. “But we’re, like, ‘Oh, they smiled in that one.’ And it’s usually the funkier frame, too.

Both Coen and Limon own multiple pairs of glasses themselves, including some of the more intriguing and eccentric styles. They like to experiment with new looks and aren’t afraid push the boundaries of interesting design.

“When you have something that’s made from quality work and it’s comfortable, you look forward to wearing it every day—it’s a joy to put on your face,” says Coen. “It becomes part of you.”