2-tones coloured lensesColour finds its outline.
Colour plus a limbal ring, the dark border that frames the iris. The gaze becomes more defined, larger, more magnetic.
What "2 tones" means in a coloured lens
A 2-tones lens is built with two layers of pigment: a shade of colour over the iris area and a darker limbal ring along the outer edge. The pupil zone stays clear and transparent.
The limbal ring: what it is and why it intensifies the gaze
The limbal ring is the dark border that separates the iris from the white of the eye. It is not a graphic invention: it exists in the natural eye, and it is more marked in young eyes. With age it tends to fade, and it is one of the reasons why a "dull" gaze looks older to us. Reintroducing it with a lens produces an effect everyone notices but few can explain: the eye looks larger, the colour brighter, the contrast with the sclera sharper.
The effect on the eye: light, dark and in between
On light eyes, 2 tones turn a soft colour into a leading one: the dark border makes the tint "rise" and the gaze gains character even at a distance.
On dark eyes, the limbal ring works together with the covering pigment: the colour reads clearly and the defined outline avoids the flat effect typical of cheap single-tint lenses on dark irises. For maximum coverage with the realism of a shaded iris, the next step is the 3-tones lenses for dark eyes.
It is no coincidence that 2 tones is the most popular format in the Desìo range: the point of balance between the discretion of 1 tone and the constructed depth of 3 tones.
Who it is the right choice for
For those who want the change to show, but with elegance. The 2-tones lens is the lens for occasions when the gaze has to carry: an evening out, a photo shoot, an event. And it is also the everyday choice of those who love an intense, defined gaze without rebuilding the iris shade by shade.
Daily or quarterly? Two ways of wearing them
10 colours across the 2-tones collections are available in a double replacement format. Daily coloured lenses are the way in: you open them, wear them once and throw them away, zero maintenance, ideal for an event or for trying a colour without commitment. Quarterlies are for those who have adopted colour: with correct maintenance they offer the best cost per wear in the range. Both are also available with prescription.
For the professional
2 tones is the ideal entry point to cosmetic lenses for the undecided customer: the effect is immediately visible in the mirror, which is not always the case with 1 tone on light eyes, and this translates into a higher conversion rate at the first trial in store.
The double format covers two opposite purchasing patterns, and in consultation the rule holds: anyone who will wear them less than twice a week should be directed towards dailies; beyond that, quarterlies with a dedicated solution.
One fitting consideration: the limbal ring makes any decentring more visible than a single tint does. An assessment of centring and stability during the trial avoids the customer who comes back complaining about "the crooked edge".
The Qualimed 2-tones collections
- Attitude 2 Tones, the boldest expression of the Attitude collection: limbal ring and full colour, in 10 colours and a daily or quarterly format.
- Sensual Beauty, seven colours with a natural effect, calibrated for light and dark eyes. Quarterly version.
- Coffee Collection, three warm colours inspired by coffee blends, quarterly version.
- Two Shades of Grey, the elegance of grey in two interpretations.
- Very Peri, the deep violet with a red-purple undertone inspired by the Pantone colour. Monthly version.
- Pepper Grey, the tenth anniversary edition, monthly version.
In brief: 2 tones at a glance
| 1 tone | 2 tones | 3 tones | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour layers | 1 single tint | limbal ring + 1 colour | limbal ring + 2 colours |
| Effect | the most discreet and uniform | defined, intense gaze | the deepest and most natural |
| Ideal on | light eyes; dark eyes for a soft effect | light and dark eyes | dark eyes; maximum realism |
| Replacement | monthly | Daily, monthly or quarterly | Daily, monthly or quarterly |
Frequently asked questions
What is the limbal ring?
The dark border that separates the iris from the white of the eye. It is naturally more marked in young eyes: reproducing it in the lens makes the gaze more defined and the eye optically larger.
Are 2 tones or 3 tones better on my dark eyes?
Both cover a dark iris. 2 tones give a clean colour and a bold outline; 3 tones add inner shading that mimics a real iris. More character with the first, more realism with the second.
Are there daily 2-tones coloured lenses?
Yes: all the 2-tones collections are available in daily replacement as well as quarterly, including with prescription.