CATALOG / METAL TEMPLE HINGES
Metal temple hinges
The hinge that carries the temple — opened and closed thousands of times over a frame's life. We make 3- and 5-barrel models for metal and acetate frames, supplied loose for welding or riveting on your line, with plating matched to the frame finish. Because every part is cut and machined step by step rather than cast, any model here can be made to a custom footprint, barrel count or finish.
| Barrel count | 3-barrel (standard duty) and 5-barrel (higher load spread, smoother action). 7-barrel on request. |
|---|---|
| Base materials | Copper alloys (nickel silver, brass) as the workhorse; pure titanium and β-titanium for premium and hypoallergenic lines. Stock bought from dedicated material mills, so grades are traceable. |
| Attachment | Weld-on leaves for metal frames; rivet-on and screw-on variants covered here. |
| Finishes | Nickel, gunmetal, gold-tone and black plating; custom plating to sample for OEM runs. |
| Pins & screws | Standard eyewear threads (M1.2 / M1.4); hinges supplied with or without screws. |
| Handedness | Supplied as left/right pairs — always confirm both sides when ordering replacements. |
3-barrel or 5-barrel?
More barrels spread the load across more knuckles: a 5-barrel hinge wears slower and feels smoother, which is why it's the default on mid-range and premium frames. A 3-barrel hinge is lighter and cheaper, and remains the right choice for budget lines and smaller frames. If you're replacing an existing hinge, match the original count — the leaf footprint usually differs between the two.
Unsure what's on your frame? The hinge types guide has photos and terminology, and the identification guide shows the four measurements we need.
Quote a temple hinge today.
Send barrel count, dimensions and finish — or just a photo beside a ruler — and we reply with pricing and sample options.