AKONI Telesto: Winter Berries, Reimagined

An exploration of antique gold, considered colour and the quieter side of bespoke lens design.

Some eyewear makes an impression through its size, its shape or its colour. Other pieces reveal their character more gradually, through the smallest details.

The AKONI Telesto belongs firmly in the latter category.

When Ryan, a returning Lens Art client from Dallas, Texas, contacted me about his next commission, I was particularly excited to work with this frame.

Not simply because of its construction or craftsmanship, but because of its colour.

That beautifully considered antique gold.

It became the starting point for everything that followed.

The Frame: AKONI Telesto

AKONI has developed a distinctive design language, combining precise engineering with details inspired by industrial craftsmanship.

The Telesto is a particularly interesting expression of that philosophy.

Its titanium construction feels architectural without becoming excessive. The coined detailing along the temples introduces texture, while the distinctive industrial hinge and intricate rim inlay reward closer inspection.

These aren't necessarily details you notice from across a room.

They're the details you appreciate when you hold the frame, examine its construction and begin to understand the thinking behind it.

But what I particularly love about Ryan's Telesto is the antique gold finish.

Unlike a bright, polished yellow gold, this colour has a softer, more aged quality. It feels warm and sophisticated, with a subtle sense of character.

I wanted the lenses to respect that.

Rather than introducing a colour that would compete with the frame, I wanted to create something that felt as though it belonged there.

The Brief: Different, Wearable, Refined

Ryan had already experienced Lens Art, so this was an opportunity to explore another interpretation of his eyewear.

The direction was relatively simple.

We wanted something different. Something wearable. Something refined.

Not every bespoke lens needs to make a dramatic statement.

In fact, some of my favourite combinations are those that initially appear quite understated, but become more interesting the longer you look at them.

For this commission, I returned to one of my own favourite Lens Art colour concepts.

OG Winter Berries.

Only this time, I decided to change the ingredients.

Reimagining Winter Berries

Colour design often reminds me of making a cocktail.

You can begin with a familiar recipe, adjust a few ingredients and arrive at something with an entirely different character.

For Ryan's lenses, I wanted to move away from the more recognisable berry tones associated with the original Winter Berries concept.

Instead, I created a bespoke gradient built around two colours.

Blackened olive and antique saffron.

The upper portion carries a slightly darkened olive tone, introducing depth and a gentle contrast.

As the colour moves down the lens, it gradually gives way to a softer antique saffron.

The transition is deliberately subtle.

The olive introduces a cooler, more grounded character, while the saffron brings warmth that complements the antique gold titanium.

Together, they create a colour that feels versatile without being ordinary.

It's the sort of combination I personally enjoy wearing every day.

But the design wasn't finished.

Dinamica Brown: An Overlooked Colour

One of the most interesting parts of this commission was deciding how the lenses should behave outdoors.

For the photochromic element, we selected Dinamica Brown.

Dinamica offers an extraordinary range of colours, and some of the more expressive shades naturally attract attention.

Brown, however, is one I feel deserves more appreciation.

It isn't simply about producing another pair of brown sunglasses.

What interests me is how a photochromic colour interacts with the tint already present in the lens.

As Dinamica Brown darkens in response to UV exposure, it combines visually with our bespoke Winter Berries base.

The result is a richer, warmer appearance, with a subtle burnt-orange character.

There's something almost caramelised about it.

Deep, inviting and beautifully suited to the antique gold frame.

Rather than dramatically changing the personality of the eyewear, the outdoor colour feels like a natural evolution of the original design.

And that was exactly what we wanted.

Photochromic activation and final darkness vary according to UV exposure, temperature and environmental conditions.

The Finishing Touch: Glamour

A lens design isn't complete simply because the tint is right.

The finishing treatment can also influence how the lenses interact visually with the frame.

For Ryan's Telesto, I chose our Glamour coating.

Its subtle golden reflection works particularly well with warm lens colours, but here it also serves another purpose.

It picks up the antique gold detailing surrounding the lenses, creating a delicate sense of continuity between the frame and the lens surfaces.

Under certain lighting, the gold seems to trace the edges of the lenses, almost like a halo.

It's a small detail.

But on a frame with this level of craftsmanship, small details matter.

The Final Interpretation

What I enjoy most about this particular commission is its restraint.

The AKONI Telesto is already a beautifully detailed piece of eyewear. It doesn't need the lenses to compete for attention.

Instead, the blackened olive and antique saffron introduce a quiet contrast, the Dinamica Brown adds depth outdoors, and the Glamour coating connects everything back to that wonderful antique gold.

The result feels warm, considered and entirely wearable.

It's also a reminder that bespoke lens design doesn't always have to be about creating the brightest colour or the most unusual effect.

Sometimes the most satisfying work comes from finding exactly the right balance.

A frame with character. A colour with warmth. And a lens design that feels as though it was always meant to be there.

Thank you, Ryan, for trusting me with another commission all the way from Dallas.

AKONI Telesto × Lens Art®

Your Eyewear. Your Interpretation.

Lens Art creates bespoke lens designs for exceptional eyewear, including custom colour gradients, photochromic combinations and specialist finishing treatments.

Whether you already own a frame or are exploring something new, every commission begins with understanding what you want your eyewear to become.

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