Bespoke Eyewear 145 - 172 mm - The Complete Size Guide (2026)
Why bespoke exists between 145 and 172 mm, how the sizing actually works, and how to know whether a stock 155–161 mm Woolet or a made-to-measure frame is the right call.
Published 2026-06-16 · 12 min read
Bespoke eyewear is one of the most misused words in the optical industry. Most brands that call themselves "bespoke" simply let you pick a color, swap a lens, or add an engraving on a frame whose underlying dimensions never change. That's customization. Bespoke means the dimensions themselves are made to one person.
This guide explains where bespoke actually starts (it's not at 155 mm), why the 145–172 mm range exists, and how to know whether a stock Woolet 155–161 mm frame will work for you — or whether you need a made-to-measure pair.
In one line
Bespoke eyewear is for the faces Woolet's stock frames can't fit — below 155 mm, above 161 mm, or with a bridge outside the 21–22 mm keyhole standard. Woolet bespoke covers 145–172 mm, hand-cut from a single block of Italian Mazzucchelli acetate.
Why Woolet Bespoke runs from 145 mm to 172 mm
The mainstream eyewear industry tops out at roughly 148 mm total frame width — that's Persol, Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, and almost every brand sold in mall opticals. Specialist wide-face brands extend that ceiling to around 155–161 mm with stock sizes. Above 161 mm, the catalog options collapse to almost zero.
The lower bound matters too. Faces measuring 145–154 mm can fall between mainstream sizing and Woolet's 155–161 mm stock fit band. Bespoke covers that gap to the millimetre.
Woolet Bespoke extends to 172 mm while preserving the front, bridge and temple geometry as one measured system. At the lower end, it starts at 145 mm so customers outside the 155–161 mm stock fit band still have a precise Woolet option.
The complete 145–172 mm size table
Use the table below to find your size band. Measurements are total frame width (lens + bridge + lens + hinge allowance), not just lens width.
| Face width |
Bridge |
Path |
Where it fits |
| 145–154 mm | 20–24 mm | Bespoke | Gap between mainstream and Woolet stock |
| 155 mm | 21 mm | Bespoke or stock 158 mm | Stock frames have a 158 mm front |
| 158 mm | 21–22 mm | Stock Woolet 007 / 009 (158 mm) | Core size, covers most 155 mm+ buyers |
| 161 mm | 22 mm | Bespoke or stock 158 mm | Stock frames have a 158 mm front |
| 162–166 mm | 22–24 mm | Bespoke | Above stock ceiling |
| 167–172 mm | 20–24 mm | Bespoke | Upper limit of acetate single-block cut |
The pattern is clean: two stock shapes at one 158 mm front width (158 mm) cover the mainstream wide-face range, and bespoke covers everything else — both the 145–154 mm gap below and the 162–172 mm range above.
What "bespoke" actually controls (and what it doesn't)
Bespoke dimensions cover four things:
- Frame width — total horizontal width, set to your temple-to-temple measurement plus a 4–6 mm clearance.
- Bridge width — distance between the lenses, sized to sit on the bone ridge rather than pinch the cartilage.
- Temple length — hinge to tip, matched to your ear position (not a default 145 mm).
- Pantoscopic tilt — the forward angle of the lens plane, useful if you have asymmetric ear height.
Bespoke does not change the lens shape catalog. Choose Aviator, Rectangle, Crown Panto or Round in Bespoke. The 007 and 009 signature frames are separate designs available in standard 158 mm.
How the AI scan translates to bespoke dimensions
The AI Fit Scan captures four measurements from a phone-camera scan: face width, bridge width, temple-to-temple distance, and ear position. Those four numbers map directly to the four bespoke dimensions above.
If the scan returns a face width inside 155–161 mm with a 21–22 mm bridge, you get a stock recommendation (007 or 009) and your bespoke decision is over. If any measurement falls outside that window, the scan routes you to the bespoke path with your numbers pre-filled — no re-measuring, no guesswork at the atelier.
Stock vs bespoke — the honest comparison
Decision matrix
- Stock wins when your face is 155–161 mm with a 21–22 mm bridge. You get the same Mazzucchelli acetate at $114–$190, at its listed production schedule rather than a made-to-measure build.
- Bespoke wins when stock can't physically fit — face width outside 155–161 mm, bridge outside 21–22 mm, asymmetric ears, or unusual pantoscopic-tilt needs.
- Neither wins when you're inside the stock range but want a one-of-one piece for aesthetic reasons. That's a legitimate use of bespoke, but the fit gain is zero.
Why Italian Mazzucchelli acetate matters for bespoke
Bespoke only works on a material that can be hand-shaped after the initial cut. Mazzucchelli acetate (from Milan, northern Italy) is denser than TR90 thermoplastic and can be heat-adjusted by any optician for ongoing fit corrections — even years after delivery. CNC-finished TR90 frames cannot be reshaped the same way.
That adjustability is the difference between a frame that fits for a week and one that fits for a decade. For deeper background, see What is Italian acetate.
The six steps from scan to delivery
- Take the phone-camera AI fit scan.
- Configure Aviator, Rectangle, Crown Panto or Round and your lenses.
- Preview the selected frame on your face.
- Review and approve the made-to-measure 3D model.
- Production takes 2 weeks after model approval, hand made in Greece (EU).
- Receive your glasses with free worldwide shipping; transit follows production.
Pricing — bespoke vs the market
Comparable atelier-made bespoke acetate frames retail at $900–$2,500. Tom Davies bespoke starts around $1,800. Lindberg semi-custom titanium runs $1,200–$2,000. Cubitts bespoke is roughly $1,500.
Woolet Bespoke is $480 USD including standard prescription lenses and free worldwide shipping. Specialty lens upgrades such as photochromic and progressive cost extra in the configurator. Kickstarter backer price: $299 (campaign only) is not an offer on woolet.co.
FAQ
What's the difference between custom and bespoke glasses?
Custom usually means choosing options from a fixed menu — color, lens type, engraving — while the underlying frame dimensions stay the same. Bespoke means the dimensions themselves (frame width, bridge, temples) are made to one person's face. Most "custom" eyewear is not bespoke.
Can bespoke frames be remade if my prescription changes?
Yes. Standard prescription lenses are included at $480. Specialty upgrades cost extra. For a future prescription change, consult an optician about replacement lenses. Acetate also reshapes with heat, so minor fit corrections happen at the optician too.
Do I need to fly to Italy or visit a fitter?
No. The entire process runs from the AI scan on your phone. The atelier receives the digitized measurements and a CAD approval — no in-person fitting needed.
What if the bespoke frame doesn't fit when it arrives?
Acetate is heat-adjustable at any local optician for free, which handles ~90% of fit issues. For dimensional problems beyond optician adjustment, the frame is remade — covered under the bespoke guarantee.
Next steps
Start with the AI Fit Scan - it helps determine whether you're in stock territory (155–161 mm) or bespoke (145–154 mm or 162–172 mm). If you're already certain you need bespoke, go straight to the bespoke size reference or explore Woolet Bespoke.
Related articles