DRK launches 29-part titanium Kurai sunglasses

DRK Eyewear has launched the Kurai, a limited-run titanium sunglasses model handcrafted in Japan and offered by application. The debut frame uses 29 components, took three years to develop, and signals the London luxury brand’s push to treat eyewear like fine watchmaking.

Why it matters: - The Kurai pushes luxury eyewear deeper into craftsmanship, rarity and collector territory. - DRK is positioning eyewear as a precision-built object, not just a seasonal fashion accessory. - The launch could appeal to buyers who value limited production, hand assembly and engineering detail.

What happened: - DRK®, a London-based luxury eyewear house, launched its debut model, the Kurai. - The sunglasses are handcrafted in Japan from solid titanium. - The first release is limited to 333 individually numbered pieces. - Buyers must apply for the opportunity to purchase a pair. - The price is £1,490, or $1,990. - Applications are open at drkeyewear.com.

The details: - The Kurai uses 29 individual components, which DRK describes as making it the world's most complex pair of sunglasses. - Each pair is assembled, finished and individually numbered by hand in a single specialist workshop in Japan. - Production takes 10 months per pair. - DRK says the frame required a manufacturing technique developed specifically for the project after conventional methods failed. - The temples are made from twisted titanium in a three-dimensional form. - Each temple ends in a sculpted dragon head that also acts as a counterweight to help balance the frame. - Hawk-shaped nose pads turn a functional part into a design detail. - Each lens is secured with micro torque-head screws designed to keep alignment precise over time.

Between the lines: - The launch borrows heavily from fine watchmaking, where complexity and visible engineering are part of the appeal. - Dmitri Belopolski, founder of DRK Eyewear, said the Kurai took three years to develop and was rejected as unbuildable more than once. - Belopolski said simplifying the design was never an option, framing complexity as the point of the product. - The limited release and application process reinforce scarcity and exclusivity.

What's next: - DRK is now accepting applications for the initial allocation of 333 pairs. - The brand appears set to continue building limited-production frames focused on engineering and craftsmanship rather than seasonal collections. - Social updates are available on Instagram and TikTok.

The bottom line: - The Kurai is DRK’s statement piece: a high-price, low-volume sunglasses launch built to sell craftsmanship as much as style.