Metal Sunglasses MOQ and Pricing: What Determines Your Quote

Two brands can send nearly identical briefs to a metal sunglasses manufacturer and receive quotes that differ by 40%. Same silhouette, same approximate size, similar colorways — yet the numbers come back significantly apart. This happens because the price of a custom metal frame is not a single variable. It is the output of six or seven independent decisions, each of which compounds on the others.

This article breaks down what those variables are, how they interact, and what realistic numbers look like for brands ordering custom metal sunglasses at standard production volumes.

Why Metal Sunglasses Pricing Is More Complex Than It Looks

Plastic injection frames have a relatively straightforward pricing structure: mold cost plus material plus finishing. Metal frames are different. The production sequence for a metal sunglasses frame involves more discrete stages — material drawing, stamping or CNC forming, assembly, polishing, pre-treatment, electroplating, sealing, QC — and each stage has its own specification variable that affects cost.

A brand that specifies stainless steel, 5-barrel spring hinges, IP plating, and CR-39 polarized lenses is specifying a fundamentally different product from one that specifies white copper, 3-barrel hinges, water plating, and TAC polarized lenses — even if the two frames look similar in a reference photo. The quote reflects those differences.

Understanding which variables drive cost — and which ones don’t move the number much — is the practical knowledge that allows a brand to make informed tradeoffs at the specification stage, rather than discovering them after receiving a quote.

The Variables That Determine Your Metal Frame Quote

Base Material

The alloy used for the frame wire and components is the foundational cost variable. It affects not only raw material cost but also tooling complexity, processing time, and compatible plating methods.

Material	Relative Cost	Key Characteristics
Zinc alloy	Lowest	Cast construction; brittle; poor plating adhesion
White copper alloy	Standard	Benchmark material for mid-range metal frames
Stainless steel	Medium-high	Higher strength; better corrosion resistance; harder to form
Monel alloy	High	Excellent flexibility and corrosion resistance
Titanium	Premium	Lightest; hypoallergenic; requires IP plating

For most fashion metal sunglasses in the mid-range segment, white copper alloy is the baseline material. Stainless steel adds cost but improves durability and supports a thinner wire profile for the same structural rigidity. Monel and titanium are appropriate for premium positioning and carry meaningfully higher per-unit costs.

Material choice also constrains plating options. White copper is compatible with standard water plating. Titanium requires IP plating, which adds cost. Stainless steel and Monel can use either, giving more flexibility at the specification stage.

For a detailed comparison of how these materials perform across durability, weight, and plating compatibility, see Metal Sunglasses Materials Compared: Stainless Steel, Monel, Aluminum.

ODM vs OEM: The Mold Question

This is often the variable that most surprises first-time buyers. Whether you are using an existing frame design (ODM) or commissioning a new one (OEM) has a direct impact on both upfront cost and MOQ flexibility.

ODM (Original Design Manufacturer): You select a frame design the factory already owns tooling for. No new mold is required. This means lower upfront cost, faster time to first sample, and more flexibility on order volume. You can apply your own branding — logo engraving, custom colorways, private label packaging — without incurring mold fees.

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): You are developing a new frame design that requires new tooling. A mold must be cut before sampling can begin. At Sailook, metal frame mold costs range from $149 to $1,000 per mold, depending on the complexity of the design and the number of components requiring new tooling. This is a one-time cost — the mold belongs to the client after payment and is not charged again on reorders.

The practical implication: OEM orders carry higher upfront investment but give the brand exclusive ownership of the frame design. ODM orders have lower barriers to entry but the base design may be available to other buyers.

	ODM	OEM
Mold cost	None	$149–$1,000 per mold (one-time)
Time to first sample	Faster	Longer (mold production first)
Design exclusivity	Not exclusive	Exclusive to client
MOQ flexibility	More flexible	Stricter
Suitable for	Market testing, new brands	Established brands, signature styles

Plating Specification

Electroplating is a significant cost variable in metal frame production, and one that is often underestimated at the quoting stage.

The two main plating methods — water plating and IP plating — have meaningfully different costs. IP plating (ion plating / PVD) involves a vacuum chamber process that is slower, more equipment-intensive, and more expensive per unit than water plating. The finish is more durable and produces deeper matte tones, but the cost premium is real.

Within water plating, the sealing coat specification also affects cost. A standard sealing coat passes 24-hour salt spray testing. A quality imported sealing coat rated at 65+ hours costs more. Double-coat application, which can reach 72+ hours, costs more again.

Nickel-free plating — required for EU markets under REACH regulations — does not necessarily add significant cost when specified upfront, but adding it as a late-stage requirement after samples are approved can require replating and delay production.

For a full breakdown of plating options and what to specify, see Electroplating on Metal Eyewear: Colors, Durability, and What to Ask Your Supplier.

Component Specification

The hardware on a metal frame — hinges, nose pads, screws — contributes more to per-unit cost than most buyers expect.

Hinges: A 5-barrel spring hinge from a named supplier (OBE Germany, for example) costs meaningfully more than a generic 3-barrel standard hinge. The difference in per-unit cost may seem small in isolation, but across a production run of 500 units, it accumulates. Specifying hinge brand and barrel count in the initial brief ensures the quote reflects the actual component.

Nose pads: Silicone nose pads cost more than PVC equivalents. Screw-mount nose pads cost slightly more than clip-in. These are small per-unit deltas but worth knowing.

Temple tips: Acetate temple tips cost more than standard plastic tips and require an additional bonding step in production.

Lens Specification

Lens choice is a straightforward cost variable with clear tiers:

Lens Type	Relative Cost	Notes
TAC polarized	Standard	Most common for fashion metal sunglasses
CR-39 with polarized coating	Medium	Better optical clarity than TAC
PC (polycarbonate)	Medium	Higher impact resistance; lighter
CR-39 with mirror coating	Medium-high	Additional coating step
Mineral glass	High	Premium optical quality; heavier
Gradient tint (any base)	+cost	Additional processing step

For most fashion metal sunglasses targeting US, EU, and Australian markets, TAC polarized or CR-39 polarized are the standard specifications. UV400 compliance should be confirmed regardless of lens material.

Order Volume

Volume is the most direct lever on per-unit price. Metal sunglasses manufacturing has relatively high fixed costs per production run — setup, material preparation, plating bath preparation — that are spread across the units in the order. A larger order spreads those fixed costs further, reducing the per-unit price.

At Sailook, the standard MOQ for metal sunglasses is 300 pieces per style, with a minimum of 100 pieces per colorway. This applies to both ODM and OEM orders. For OEM orders involving new mold development, the standard per-style MOQ of 300 pieces still applies; specific requirements may vary depending on design complexity.

The per-unit EXW price range for metal sunglasses at standard production volumes runs from approximately $7.8 to $28, depending on material, plating method, component specification, and lens type. A white copper frame with water plating, standard hinges, and TAC polarized lenses will land toward the lower end of that range. A stainless steel frame with IP plating, 5-barrel spring hinges, and CR-39 polarized lenses will land toward the upper end.

Color Count

Color count affects cost in two ways. First, each colorway requires its own plating setup — changing the bath chemistry or parameters between colors adds time and cost. Second, if you are adding spray color on top of the plating base (for non-metallic colors), each additional color requires its own spray setup.

At 100 pieces per colorway minimum, running three colorways on a 300-piece MOQ means the full order quantity is met across all colors. Running five colorways at 100 pieces each requires a 500-piece total order. This is worth calculating before finalizing the color brief.

MOQ in Practice: What the Numbers Mean

Per-Style MOQ vs Per-Colorway MOQ

These are two different constraints that are sometimes confused.

Per-style MOQ is the minimum total quantity for a given frame design — at Sailook, 300 pieces per style for metal frames. This is the number the factory needs to make the production run economically viable.

Per-colorway MOQ is the minimum quantity for each color variant within that style — at Sailook, 100 pieces per colorway. This means a 300-piece order can be split across three colors at 100 pieces each, but cannot be split into six colors at 50 pieces each.

Understanding this distinction prevents a common planning error: briefing five colorways on a 300-piece order, then discovering that only three can be produced at the per-colorway minimum.

What Happens Below MOQ

Factories can sometimes accommodate below-MOQ requests, but typically at a price premium that reflects the higher per-unit fixed cost of a smaller run. This is not always offered and is not always advisable — small runs can have higher quality variability because setup time represents a larger proportion of total production time.

For brands testing a new metal frame style, the more practical approach is to use an ODM frame at standard MOQ to validate market response, then invest in OEM tooling for a proprietary design once volume commitment is clearer.

Mold Costs: One-Time Investment, Fully Client-Owned

Mold cost is the upfront investment that unlocks a proprietary frame design. It is not a recurring cost, and it is not retained by the manufacturer.

At Sailook, metal frame mold costs range from $149 to $1,000, depending on:

• Number of components requiring new tooling (front frame, temples, bridge, end-pieces may each require separate molds)
• Design complexity — simple geometric forms cost less to tool than organic or compound curves
• Material — titanium tooling requires harder tool steel than white copper tooling

The mold belongs to the client after payment. If a brand moves production to a different factory, the mold moves with them. This is a standard term in reputable OEM manufacturing and worth confirming in writing before production begins.

Mold development typically takes 20–30 days, followed by 20–30 days for physical sample production. Sample review, revision, and approval complete the pre-production stage before bulk production authorization. Bulk production typically runs 60–90 days. Exact timelines depend on the specific project and its complexity — accurate lead times are provided once project details are confirmed.

How to Read a Quote from a Metal Sunglasses Manufacturer

A well-structured quote for custom metal sunglasses should specify the following line items explicitly. If any of these are missing, the quote cannot be accurately compared to alternatives:

Frame specification:

• Base material and alloy grade
• Wire gauge (mm)
• Hinge type, barrel count, and supplier (if named)
• Nose pad material and mounting type

Plating specification:

• Method (water plating or IP)
• Nickel-free: yes / no
• Sealing coat standard (salt spray test hours)

Lens specification:

• Material
• Polarized: yes / no
• UV400: confirmed / not confirmed
• Any additional coatings (mirror, gradient, anti-reflective)

Commercial terms:

• EXW unit price at specified MOQ
• Mold cost (if OEM), stated as one-time and client-owned
• Sample cost and lead time
• Bulk production lead time
• Payment terms (deposit percentage, balance trigger)

A quote that lists only a total price and MOQ without breaking down these components is not providing the information needed to evaluate whether the specification matches your brief — or to identify where cost can be adjusted if the number is higher than expected.

At Sailook, quotes are structured around these parameters as standard. When clients come to us with a reference frame and ask for a price, our first step is to clarify the specification on each of these dimensions — because the same visual reference can be produced at three different price points depending on the material and component choices made.

FAQ

What is the MOQ for custom metal sunglasses?

At Sailook, the standard MOQ for metal sunglasses is 300 pieces per style, with a minimum of 100 pieces per colorway. This applies to both ODM and OEM orders. For OEM orders with new mold development, the standard MOQ of 300 pieces per style applies; requirements may vary by design complexity.

How much do custom metal sunglasses cost per unit?

EXW pricing for custom metal sunglasses at standard production volumes runs from approximately $7.8 to $28 per unit. The range reflects differences in base material (white copper vs stainless steel vs Monel), plating method (water plating vs IP plating), component specification (hinge type, nose pad material), and lens specification. A fully specified quote requires confirming each of these dimensions.

What does the mold cost for a new metal sunglasses design?

At Sailook, metal frame mold costs range from $149 to $1,000 depending on design complexity and the number of components requiring new tooling. This is a one-time cost paid before sampling begins. The mold belongs to the client after payment and is not charged on reorders.

What is the difference between ODM and OEM for metal sunglasses?

ODM means selecting an existing frame design from the manufacturer’s portfolio — no new mold is required, upfront cost is lower, and lead time to first sample is shorter. OEM means commissioning a new frame design that requires new tooling. OEM gives the brand exclusive ownership of the design; ODM does not. Most new brands start with ODM to minimize upfront investment and move to OEM as their volume and design requirements develop.

Can I order fewer than the MOQ?

Below-MOQ orders are sometimes possible at a per-unit price premium, but this is not standard practice and is assessed case by case. For brands at early stage, ODM at standard MOQ is usually the more practical path. It allows market testing at viable economics without the additional mold investment of a proprietary OEM design.

Does the mold cost recur on reorders? No. Mold cost is a one-time charge paid before the first production run. Reorders use the same tooling without additional mold fees. The mold is client-owned and can be transferred to another manufacturer if required.

How long does production take for custom metal sunglasses?

For OEM orders, mold development takes approximately 20–30 days, followed by 20–30 days for physical sampling. Once the sample is approved, bulk production typically runs 60–90 days. Exact timelines depend on the specific project and its complexity — we provide accurate lead times after the project details are confirmed. For ODM orders using existing tooling, the sampling phase is shorter. Total lead time from confirmed order to shipment is typically 8–12 weeks for OEM and 6–8 weeks for ODM.

Summary

The price of a custom metal sunglasses frame is the output of material choice, production method, plating specification, component selection, lens type, and order volume — each of which interacts with the others. A brief that specifies all of these dimensions produces a quote that can be evaluated and compared. A brief that leaves them open produces a number that may shift significantly once the details are confirmed.

For brands developing a metal sunglasses line, working through specification decisions before requesting a quote — rather than after receiving one — produces better outcomes at both the pricing and sampling stages.

Sailook’s full range of custom metal frame options, materials, and construction specifications is covered on our metal sunglasses page.