At Four Nines’ Boutiques, glasses go through a careful, step-by-step process before being handed over to the customer.
From consultation and frame selection to vision testing, lens selection, trial fitting, processing, and final fitting—there are many steps involved in transforming a frame into a pair of glasses, and at every stage, the commitment to pursuing the highest purity remains unchanged.
And from the very moment the glasses are handed over, a long-lasting relationship with the customer begins.
One Pair, Tailored to Each Individual — The Process of Creating Glasses
When creating glasses, what in-store staff consider most important is the customer’s usage environment. How the customer lives and in what situationsthe glasses will be used are carefully considered. Staff confirm whether the customer drives or commutes by train. If the customer performs desk work, they also check whether a laptop or a desktop computer is used, as well as how many monitors are involved. By carefully gathering this detailed information, staff gain a thorough understanding of the customer’s visual needs, conduct precise measurements, and recommend the most appropriate prescription and lens type.
Glasses were once something people wore out of necessity, only after their eyesight had worsened. Times have changed. Today, glasses are widely chosen as a fashion item, with many customers selecting them starting from the frame itself. The amount of information available on glasses and sunglasses is vast, and even at Four Nines’ Boutiques, it is not uncommon for customers to visit with a specific frame already in mind.
Even so, the staff in store never skip the step of asking the customer’s usage environment. No matter how much a customer may favor a frame’s design, it cannot truly be considered “a good pair of glasses” unless it can be worn comfortably in their everyday life.
Four Nines frames offer an exceptional range of styles. This is because the brand aims to deliver Four Nines quality to everyone who seeks glasses, regardless of age or gender. From this wide selection, staff may sometimes recommend a frame different from the one customers initially had in mind. That is why they continually deepen their product knowledge and build a broad range of expertise—so they can work together with the customer to find the most suitable pair.
Two Fittings to Refine the Final Result
At Four Nines’ Boutiques, once the frame and lenses have been decided, a trial fitting is performed.
Fitting is the process of adjusting glasses to suit the customer’s face. During the trial fitting, the frame is aligned to their facial features while discussing their preferred wearing position, allowing staff to determine the optimal height and shape for how the glasses should be worn. At this stage, the position of the center of their pupil on the lens (the eye point) is measured to an accuracy of 0.1 mm using precision instruments. Because most faces are asymmetrical, differences between the left and right sides are also carefully recorded and used as processing data.
After the lenses have been processed and returned as a finished pair of glasses, a final fitting is performed. With the lenses in place, the glasses are adjusted once again, and only at this point are they truly complete. Data gathering during the trial fitting is applied and refined in the final fitting. This two-step process raises the level of finish even further.
The final fitting is conducted in a dedicated space where the customer and staff can face each other through a mirror, similar to a hair salon. Here, staff stand beside the customer and carry out nearly all adjustments. This allows the customer to observe the process as their eyewear is completed specifically for them.
Fitting is a technical skill, and comfort is one of Four Nines’ strengths — there is no reason to conceal it. Preferences for fit vary from person to person. While the customer views themselves in a large mirror, careful adjustments are made so that the frame’s functionality is fully realized and the glasses can be worn comfortably.
Preserving Comfort — The Importance of Maintenance
Eyewear is put on and taken off every day. Without notice, screws may loosen and distortion may occur. For this reason, customers are encouraged to have maintenance carried out once every three months. This is something that has been consistently communicated since the company’s founding, in order to ensure eyewear can be used comfortably over the long term.
Maintenance work covers a wide range of procedures. Depending on the frame, this may include replacing screws, changing the washers in the hinges that connect the front and temples, rethreading nylon (half-rim) frames, and replacing nose pads. Cleaning is also carried out thoroughly. As certain areas cannot be fully addressed through care at home, the frame is disassembled and the lenses removed so that each component — including debris that has accumulated in individual parts or in the gaps between the frame and lenses — can be carefully cleaned. In essence, this is an overhaul of the eyewear.
At the maintenance counter on the first floor of the Ginza flagship store, it is not uncommon for more than 100 customers to visit over the course of a weekend. Customers are always welcome to stop by — whether for regularly recommended maintenance or simply to discuss any concerns, no matter how small. This philosophy has remained unchanged since the launch of Four Nines GINZA Test & Delivery nearly a quarter of a century ago.
For Glasses Meant to Be Worn for Years to Come
Many customers have continued to wear Four Nines glasses for ten, even twenty years. Some still carefully use frames purchased in the brand’s earliest days. At Four Nines, parts are preserved for as long as possible without a fixed time limit. As a result, even frames from twenty years ago may still be eligible for part replacement.
When frames from those early years are brought in, it serves as a renewed reminder of our responsibility. They reflect the deep attachment customers have developed through years of continued use. After repairs are completed, we sometimes hear customers say, “I wondered if they were a little expensive when I bought them, but they have truly proven their value.” Moments like these reaffirm the fulfillment we feel in being able to convey the true value of eyewear — encompassing everything from fitting to after-sales service.
Connections Created Through Eyewear
Eyewear is a remarkable item. When truly appreciated, it naturally extends beyond the individual, reaching family members, friends, and those around them — from partners to children, and even to the next generation. Many customers come to wear Four Nines as a family, and in some cases, frames once cherished by a father are passed down and worn across two generations.
Some customers visit wishing to create a quality pair of glasses with their very first bonus. Others receive eyewear as a gift from their parents to celebrate entering university, or choose to present glasses to a friend in honor of their sixtieth birthday. Through eyewear as a fine tool, we are able to accompany people in their daily lives and, at times, stand alongside them at important milestones. These connections are something we deeply value.
The Beginning of an Endless Pursuit — Toward Becoming a Brand That Endures for 100 Years
“Glasses should be fine Tools” Guided by this concept, Four Nines has pursued frames designed to suit the facial structure of the Japanese people, creating numerous innovative proprietary mechanisms along the way. The forms born from this pursuit of function embody a refined beauty, with every detail reflecting the philosophy of being comfortable to wear, durable, and easy to adjust.
This philosophy extends beyond the product itself. By engaging with each customer individually and conducting careful consultations, the most suitable frame and lenses are proposed. Only after undergoing both the trial fitting and the final fitting does the frame truly become a complete pair of glasses. Even after delivery, the relationship continues through regular maintenance and ongoing care.
Products, people, and places — in all aspects, Four Nines strives for the highest purity. By creating an environment in which the same high standard of service can be delivered wherever customers visit, whether at one of our Boutiques or an authorized retailer, the brand continues to build lasting trust. This is the vision Four Nines continues to pursue.
For thirty years since its founding, Four Nines has remained committed to the continual pursuit of the highest purity. The brand name itself is derived from “999.9”, the numerical standard that certifies the highest purity of gold. No matter how refined gold becomes, it has yet to reach absolute purity — 1,000 out of 1,000.
The same can be said of Four Nines. Just when it seems closer to reaching 1,000, a new goal always comes into view. By sharing its vision, listening carefully, and building connections with people, the pursuit will continue into the future.
True perfection remains something to strive toward.
With the aim of becoming a brand that endures for 100 years, the Four Nines journey has only just begun.
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vol.3 Attention to Detail. Everything for Comfort
vol.4 What Makes a “Good Pair of Glasses” — Three Elements That Make It Possible
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