When a premium pair of metal eyeglasses snaps, most people assume they are headed for the trash can. If you take them to a standard retail optical shop, the staff will almost always tell you that they are unfixable and immediately steer you toward buying a costly new frame and a fresh set of custom lenses.

But the truth is, a broken metal frame shouldn’t force you into a premature replacement. Thanks to modern technology, laser welding glasses has become the ultimate gold standard for structural eyewear restoration. This high-tech process does not just temporarily patch your frames together; it actually restores them to their original factory strength. This guide breaks down exactly how laser welding works, why it outperforms traditional repair methods, and what kind of breaks it can seamlessly fix to save you hundreds of dollars.

What is Laser Welding for Eyeglass Frames?

A pristine pair of modern black and gold metal eyeglass frames on a solid white background.

To put it simply, laser welding eyeglass frames is a high-precision manufacturing process adapted specifically for delicate eyewear. Instead of using a clumsy open flame, an industrial micro-laser fires a highly concentrated, intense beam of coherent light directly at the tiny crack or fracture line.

This light pulse lasts for only a fraction of a second, but it generates enough localized heat to instantly melt the core molecules of both broken pieces at the exact same moment. As the metal pools together and cools, the two pieces fuse into a single, continuous structure.

To ensure the eyeglass repair remains incredibly strong, this whole process is executed inside an airtight chamber flooded with pure argon gas. Because metal absorbs oxygen and becomes weak and brittle when melted in open air, the argon gas serves as a protective shield. This advanced environment ensures the metal cools in its purest state, keeping the repaired joint completely flush, clean, and structurally sound.

Laser Welding vs. Soldering Glasses: Why the Difference Matters

Many people ask, can metal glasses frames be repaired using a standard jewelry torch? To understand why local jewelry shops and opticians fail, you have to look at laser welding vs soldering glasses.

  • Traditional Soldering (Metal Glue) – Traditional soldering introduces a completely different, lower-melting-point filler metal (usually a silver alloy) to bridge the break. The technician heats up your frames with a torch and coats them in this alloy. Because your original frame metal is never actually melted, the silver solder just acts like a layer of hot glue holding the pieces together. It creates a bulky, ugly, charred bump that breaks under the slightest pressure.
  • Modern Laser Welding (Molecular Fusion) – Laser welding does not rely on a weak secondary metal to act as glue. By melting the base metal of the frame itself, the two broken sides are structurally joined back together. The weld site actually becomes a seamless part of the original frame structure, completely outlasting old-school soldering methods.

Broken Metal Glasses Frame Repair: What Can Be Fixed?

A close-up of a pair of broken eyeglasses with the bridge temporarily held together by white tape.

Advanced laser technology opens up a world of possibilities for a broken metal glasses frame repair. Because the laser beam is microscopic and hyper-focused, it can fix complex breaks that would be impossible to tackle with an open-flame torch:

  • Clean Bridge Breaks – The bridge over the nose handles a massive amount of structural pressure every time you pull your glasses open. Laser welding fuses a snapped bridge back into a single piece that easily withstands daily flex and stretching.
  • Snapped Hinge Barrels – If the tiny metal loops that hold your temple arm screw break off, standard soldering will instantly ruin the mechanism. A laser welder can pin-point the tiny barrel and fuse it back to the frame without melting the delicate surrounding hinge assembly.
  • Rimless and Semi-Rimless Wire Breaks – Ultra-thin wire frames and lock-assembly pieces for rimless glasses require a delicate touch. The laser delivers intense heat to a microscopic spot for just milliseconds, allowing technicians to fix thin wire profiles without burning through the metal.
  • Pad Arm Detachments –  The tiny metal arms that hold your adjustable nose pads are highly prone to snapping off. Laser welding attaches them back to the main frame seamlessly, allowing them to be adjusted for comfort without snapping.

Why AAER’s In-House Laser Capabilities Set Us Apart

The reason true metal eyeglass frame repair is so rare to find locally is entirely down to equipment and training. Industrial-grade laser welders, argon gas shield systems, and microscopic alignment tools require a major financial investment and years of meticulous metallurgical training.

The vast majority of local opticians and high-street eyewear retailers operate purely as salespeople—they do not possess cleanroom repair facilities or specialized technicians. When they tell you your frames cannot be fixed, it usually just means they do not have the machinery to do it.

At American Eyeglass Repair, we don’t outsource our work. We have equipped our regional service labs with top-tier laser welding systems, allowing our master technicians to handle the most complex luxury frame restorations entirely in-house. Because we control the entire process, we can guarantee rapid turnaround times, perfect alignment, and an ironclad structural warranty on every single frame we service.

Two pairs of modern metal glasses frames showcasing professional titanium eyeglass frame repair options

Conclusion

Investing in a premium pair of designer eyeglasses means paying for exceptional engineering, and a sudden break shouldn’t mean wasting that investment. By bypassing retail optical shops and choosing professional laser weld glasses repair, you can save your original frames, protect your expensive custom-ground prescription lenses, and completely avoid the steep costs of buying a new pair. If it’s made of metal, our specialized laser technology can bring it back to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can titanium, stainless steel, and gold eyeglass frames all be laser welded?

Yes. One of the greatest benefits of a professional laser setup is its ability to safely weld exotic, premium metals. Whether your frames are made of titanium, memory metals, stainless steel, aluminum, or solid gold, our advanced lasers can adjust their wavelength and power settings to match the exact melting point of your frame’s specific alloy, ensuring a perfect molecular bond every time.

2. Will the laser welder burn or discolor the paint on my metal glasses?

No. Traditional soldering torches throw wide, uncontrolled heat that scorches paint, burns off delicate designer plating, and leaves behind ugly black marks. Because a laser welder focuses its energy onto a microscopic point for mere milliseconds, the surrounding metal stays completely cool. Your frame’s original paint, matte finish, or luxury gold plating remains perfectly intact and unharmed.

3. Is a laser-welded eyeglass repair permanent?

Absolutely. Because laser welding fuses the core molecules of your broken frames back into a single continuous piece of metal, the repaired joint becomes just as structurally strong as the rest of the frame. It will not break, melt, or fail under normal daily wear, lens cleanings, or standard pressure adjustments.

4. What if my metal frames broke right next to the glass lens?

We can still fix them safely! With traditional torch soldering, a technician would have to pop out your lenses because the widespread heat would instantly crack or melt them. With a laser welder, the heat is so hyper-localized that we can safely perform micro-welds directly on the frame rim right next to premium prescription lenses without causing any thermal damage to your glass or specialized lens coatings.

5. Can you laser weld a metal frame if it is missing a tiny part or screw?

Yes. If your glasses snapped and a small piece of the metal bridge or a hinge loop was lost, our master technicians can completely rebuild it. We maintain an extensive inventory of factory-grade metal wires, screws, and hardware components. We can carefully select a matching metal piece and laser-weld it directly onto your existing frames to fully restore their original shape and function.

6. Why can’t I just use a home soldering iron to fix my metal glasses?

Electronic or hobby soldering irons do not get hot enough to melt structural frame metals like titanium or stainless steel. Furthermore, home soldering kits use lead or tin solder paste, which completely fails to stick to premium eyewear alloys. Attempting a DIY solder fix will only coat your glasses in a messy layer of burnt metal slag that destroys the clean edges needed for a professional laser weld to work.

7. How do I get my glasses laser welded if there isn’t a specialized shop near me?

If your local shops cannot handle complex metal repairs, you can easily use our secure nationwide mail-in repair service. You simply safely package your broken glasses, ship them directly to our specialized lab, and our master technicians will laser weld, digitally realign, balance, and polish your frames before shipping them right back to your home with a full structural guarantee.

A premium pair of sunglasses is more than just eye protection—it’s an investment in your style, your vision comfort, and your favorite designer brands. But whether they get stepped on at the beach, crushed in the car, or drop onto the pavement, accidents happen. When your luxury shades take a hit, your first thought is usually a mix of panic and a simple question: can sunglasses be repaired?

The good news is that you don’t have to throw away your favorite pair or spend hundreds of dollars on a replacement package. Professional sunglasses repair can bring almost any pair back to life, whether you need a quick fix or major structural work. This guide breaks down exactly what types of damage can be fixed, what can’t, and how the repair process works to get your shades back on your face.

Sunglasses Frame Repair: Metal vs. Plastic

A close-up shot of newly repaired matte black sunglasses laying flat against a solid peach-colored background

When it comes to a sunglasses frame repair, the material of your shades dictates the exact fix required. Metal and plastic frames break in entirely different ways, and they require completely different professional tools to repair cleanly.

Metal Frames

If your metal sunglasses snap at the bridge, the rim, or the temple arm, they can easily be restored using precision laser welding. Unlike old-school soldering which leaves a messy, weak bump, a professional laser welder fuses the metal molecules back together at a microscopic level under a protective gas shield. This keeps the repair completely seamless and restores the frame to its original factory strength without damaging the paint or designer plating.

Plastic and Acetate Frames

High-end plastic sunglasses are usually made of cellulose acetate. If an acetate frame snaps cleanly in half, it cannot simply be glued back together. Professionals use a process called ultrasonic welding or core wire insertion. By applying localized heat and fusing the plastic back together, or inserting a hidden metal reinforcement pin across the break, the frame’s structural strength is fully restored.

Sunglasses Hinge Repair: The Most Common Fix

If your sunglasses are loose, crooked, or missing an entire arm, you are likely dealing with a hinge failure. The hinge is the highest-stress point on any pair of shades, making sunglasses hinge repair one of the most frequently requested fixes.

Hinge damage usually falls into three categories:

  • Stripped or Missing Screws

Over time, standard screws can back out and fall away. Professionals don’t just drop in a generic replacement; they tap the threads and insert a factory-grade screw that matches the tension of your specific brand.

  • Broken Hinge Barrels

If the tiny metal loops that hold the screw snap off, the arm falls off entirely. A technician can use laser welding to attach a brand-new metal barrel directly to the frame without harming the surrounding material.

  • Spring Hinge Failures

High-end shades often use spring hinges for a snugger fit. If the internal spring snaps or gets jammed open, the mechanism needs to be carefully disassembled and rebuilt using specialized micro-tools.

Sunglass Lens Repair: Scratches vs. Total Replacement

When people search for sunglass lens repair, they are usually trying to fix a scratch right in their line of sight.

It is important to be completely honest here: deep scratches on sunglass lenses cannot be buffed or polished out. Attempting to grind down a scratch at home using DIY kits or abrasive polishes will permanently warp the optical clarity of the lens, creating a blurry spot that causes severe eye strain and headaches. Furthermore, buffing premium lenses will instantly strip away crucial factory coatings, such as anti-reflective layers or polarizing filters.

The real solution to lens damage is a precision sunglass lens repair via custom replacement. If your lenses are deeply scratched, cracked, or shattered, a specialist can swap them out for brand-new, premium lenses. These replacements are custom-cut to perfectly snap into your existing frames, matching the exact tint, polarization, and UV protection of your original designer shades.

Newly repaired square-frame sunglasses sitting on a patch of grass near the coastline under a soft warm sky

What CANNOT Be Repaired?

While professional technicians can work miracles on broken eyewear, there are a few scenarios where a pair of sunglasses is truly past the point of saving:

  • Shattered Cheap Plastics 

Inexpensive injection-molded plastic sunglasses (like cheap promotional or gas station shades) cannot be welded or fused back together. The material degrades instantly when exposed to heat.

  • Extensively Crushed Acetate

If a plastic frame has been run over by a car and crushed into dozens of tiny fragments, there isn’t enough solid material left to rebuild or reinforce the structure safely.

  • Corroded Base Metals

If cheap metal frames have completely oxidized, rusted through, and crumbled, the metal loses the structural integrity required to hold a clean laser weld.

Sunglasses Repair Cost vs. Buying New

A pair of newly repaired transparent, clear-frame sunglasses resting on the deck of a boat with bright ocean water behind them

Is it worth fixing your shades, or should you just browse for a new pair? Looking at the average sunglasses repair cost makes the choice incredibly simple.

If you own a luxury brand like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Maui Jim, or Tom Ford, a new pair can easily cost anywhere from $150 to over $400. If your prescription is built right into the sunglass lenses, that replacement price tag climbs even higher.

A professional repair costs only a small fraction of a new pair. Choosing a repair allows you to keep the exact style you love, preserves your expensive custom lenses, and keeps your favorite designer frames out of the landfill—saving you hundreds of dollars in the process.

Finding a Sunglass Repair Near Me

If you are looking for a reliable sunglass repair near me or sunglasses repair near me, it is crucial to skip the standard mall kiosk or local jewelry shop. Standard watch repair counters and high-street optical outlets do not carry the specific components, plastic-fusing tools, or argon-shielded laser welders required to fix high-end shades safely.

At American Eyeglass Repair, we specialize in high-end, factory-grade restorations for all major designer sunglasses brands. Because premium, precision options are rarely available locally, we operate a highly secure, fast mail-in sunglasses repair service alongside our physical locations. You can send your broken shades directly to our master technicians and receive them back quickly, fully aligned, polished, balanced, and structurally guaranteed.

Don’t let a broken hinge or a snapped frame ruin your favorite investment. Whether your sunglasses need a simple tune-up or a complex structural rebuild, our team has the exact tools and expertise to make them look and feel brand new.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you fix sunglasses that have been bent completely out of shape?

Yes, a bent sunglasses frame repair is entirely possible. Technicians use specialized heating elements to soften plastic frames or relax the structural stress in metal frames, allowing them to gently reshape the glasses. The process includes a full digital realignment to ensure the shades sit completely level on your face and fit comfortably behind your ears.

2. Can you replace broken nose pads on sunglasses?

Absolutely. Missing, cracked, or discolored nose pads are a quick and easy fix. Repair specialists can replace clip-on or screw-in nose pads instantly. If the metal nose pad arm itself has snapped off a metal frame, it can be seamlessly laser-welded back into place without affecting the frame’s finish.

3. How do I know if my sunglasses are worth repairing?

If your sunglasses are a high-quality brand or feature custom prescription lenses, they are almost always worth repairing. Because the cost of a professional laser weld or hinge rebuild is a fraction of the price of a luxury replacement, repairing your shades preserves your original investment and keeps your favorite style in rotation.

4. Can you repair a broken spring hinge on designer sunglasses?

Yes, sunglasses hinge repair is one of the most common services performed on premium eyewear. High-end brands often use spring hinges to provide a snug, comfortable fit, but these internal mechanisms can eventually jam, snap, or pull completely out of a plastic frame. A specialized repair technician can disassemble the hinge, replace the internal spring components, or laser-weld a new factory-grade hinge barrel back onto the frame to restore that original, perfect tension.

5. What should I do if my sunglasses are run over or stepped on?

If you suffer a catastrophic accident and end up with broken sunglasses repair needs, do not throw them away or try to bend them back yourself. Safely collect all the pieces—including any snapped arms, loose screws, or popped-out lenses—and store them in a hard case. Avoid using superglue at home, as it ruins the clean surface area needed for professional tool bonding. A master technician can evaluate the fragments; as long as the frame isn’t completely crushed into dust, a combination of laser welding and alignment can often save them.

6. Can you fix the frames on matte, shiny, or patterned sunglasses without ruining the finish?

Yes. Unlike traditional soldering torches that scorch a wide area, modern sunglasses frame repair relies on advanced micro-lasers. The laser fires an ultra-focused beam of light for just milliseconds, targeting only the exact line of the crack. Because the heat is strictly contained and shielded by pure argon gas, the surrounding material—whether it’s a shiny gold plating, a matte black finish, or a tortoiseshell acetate pattern—remains completely untouched and unharmed.

7. How can I get my sunglasses repaired if there isn’t a specialized shop near me?

If a Google search for sunglasses repair near me or sunglass repair near me only brings up standard retail optical shops that refuse to fix broken frames, you can use a secure mail-in repair service. You simply safely package your broken shades, ship them directly to a specialized laboratory, and master technicians will laser-weld, align, balance, and polish your sunglasses before shipping them right back to your doorstep with a structural guarantee.

Titanium is one of the best materials used in modern eyewear. It is incredibly strong, feather-light, and flexible. But because it is so resilient, many people assume it is indestructible—and that if it does break, it’s unfixable. If you take a broken pair of frames to a standard retail optical shop, they will likely tell you they are a total loss and try to sell you an expensive replacement package.

But here is the good news: high-quality titanium eyeglass frame repair is absolutely possible. You just need the right process. This guide will answer all your questions about fixing your favorite frames and explain how to get them back to perfect condition without spending a fortune.

Can Titanium Glasses Be Repaired?

 A sleek pair of lightweight round titanium frames repaired by professional frame repair

Yes, titanium glasses can be repaired, but it requires a very specific approach. You cannot fix them the same way you would fix ordinary metal glasses made of nickel or stainless steel.

Most local repair shops and jewelers turn down titanium glasses repair for a few simple reasons:

  • Air Sensitivity – When titanium gets hot enough to melt, it reacts instantly with the oxygen in the air. This makes the metal incredibly brittle, causing it to snap right apart again if it isn’t protected.
  • Trapped Heat – Titanium doesn’t spread heat out easily. If a regular technician uses a standard torch, the heat pools in one spot and can instantly burn right through thin wire frames or melt delicate details.
  • Different Varieties – Manufacturers use different types of titanium, including pure titanium and ultra-bouncy “memory metal” alloys. Each type handles stress and heat differently.

To make a titanium repair last, a technician has to block out the air and use a highly controlled heat source so the metal doesn’t lose its natural strength.

The Technical Challenge: Titanium Eyeglass Frame Welding vs. Traditional Soldering

 Raw titanium mineral ore on a black background representing durable metal eyeglass frame materials

The secret to a lasting repair comes down to titanium eyeglass frame welding versus ordinary soldering.

Traditional soldering is like using hot metal glue. A jeweler melts a softer metal (like silver) over the break to hold the pieces together. This works fine on basic metals, but titanium completely rejects standard solder. The silver alloy won’t stick to it, leaving behind a messy, burnt bump that snaps off almost immediately.

The Laser Welding Alternative

Instead of an open flame and metal glue, true restoration requires a specialized laser welder. The laser fires a tiny, intense beam of light that lasts for just a fraction of a second. This instantly melts the core titanium atoms of both broken pieces at the exact same time, fusing them into one solid piece again.

To keep the metal strong, this whole process happens inside a special chamber filled with pure argon gas. The gas pushes out all the oxygen, preventing the titanium from becoming brittle. The result is a clean, seamless weld that keeps your glasses just as strong and flexible as they were when they left the factory.

Bent Titanium Glasses Frame Repair: Restoring Alignment Safely

Not all damage is a clean break. Sometimes glasses get stepped on, crushed in a bag, or badly warped. When it comes to a bent titanium glasses frame repair, you have to be incredibly careful.

While titanium can bend a bit, it suffers from a problem called “work hardening.” Every time you bend a piece of metal back and forth, it gets weaker and more brittle. If you take a pair of pliers and try to forcefully bend a warped titanium bridge or temple arm back into place, it will often snap right in half.

This is especially true for memory-metal frames, which are designed to resist changes to their shape. To fix them safely, professional technicians use controlled, localized heat to relax the metal before gently massaging the frame back into alignment using specialized molds. This fixes the shape without causing invisible micro-fractures that ruin the frame’s integrity.

How to Fix Titanium Eyeglass Frames (And Why DIY Kits Fail)

Polished titanium rods demonstrating the premium industrial metal used in laser welding eyeglass frames

When premium glasses break, it is tempting to look up how to fix titanium eyeglass frames at home using superglue, Gorilla Glue, or a hardware store soldering iron.

Save yourself the trouble: DIY glues and adhesives cannot hold titanium glasses together.

The broken surface area on a thin wire rim or an eyeglass bridge is tiny. While superglue might hold the glasses together while they sit on your counter, the moment you put them on your face, clean the lenses, or flex the temples, the glue will fail.

Even worse, household glues make professional repairs harder. Adhesives burn and char under a repair laser, ruining the weld. Before a professional can fix your frames, they have to spend time meticulously scraping away every single trace of old glue, which can risk damaging the frame’s original coating.

Titanium Frame Repair Cost vs. Full Frame Replacement

Is fixing your glasses actually worth it? When you look at the math, the average titanium frame repair cost is a massive money-saver compared to buying a replacement.

Replacing premium eyewear usually means buying:

  • New Titanium Frames: $250 to $600+
  • New Prescription Lenses: $150 to $450+
  • Optician Fitting Fees: $50 to $100

Why do you have to buy new lenses if only the frame is broken? Because prescription lenses are custom-cut to fit the exact shape and curvature of one specific frame model. If your frame breaks and that model is discontinued, your expensive lenses won’t fit into a different style of frame.

Choosing professional laser welding preserves both your high-end frames and your current lenses. For a low, predictable repair cost, your glasses are completely restored without changing the shape of the frame, saving you hundreds of dollars.

Titanium Frame Repair Near Me: Choosing the Right Specialist

If you are hunting for a quality titanium frame repair near me, look for technical capability rather than the closest shop. Standard mall eyewear stores and local jewelers simply do not have the high-tech laser systems or argon gas chambers needed to work on titanium safely.

When choosing a repair specialist, make sure they offer:

  1. True Laser Welding – They should use precise laser welders with an active argon gas shield, not open torches.
  2. Material Knowledge – They should know how to handle pure titanium differently from memory-metals.
  3. Full Realignment – A great repair should always include reshaping and balancing your glasses so they fit comfortably and sit straight on your face.

At American Eyeglass Repair, we have spent decades mastering the art of high-end frame restoration. Because true precision options are hard to find locally, we offer a fast, secure mail-in repair program alongside our walk-in centers. This allows anyone across the country to send their broken luxury frames directly to our master technicians. We provide quick turnarounds, flawless laser welding, and a solid structural guarantee.

Conclusion

Your titanium eyeglasses are a masterclass in high-end design, and a structural break doesn’t mean they belong in the trash. While a typical optical retailer might tell you a breakdown is permanent, advanced laser welding restores your frames to factory-grade strength without altering your custom lenses or compromising the metal. By relying on specialized tools and an argon-shielded clean environment, you can entirely avoid the steep expenses of a full frame and lens replacement.

Don’t throw away a great pair of glasses over an accidental break. Whether your titanium frames are snapped, bent, or missing parts, our team has the tools and expertise to bring them back to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will titanium frame repair leave a large, visible scar on my glasses?

When performed correctly using an advanced laser welder, a professional repair leaves an incredibly small, almost invisible seam. Because laser welding fuses the core atoms of the metal under a protective gas shield without using messy silver solder, there are no giant charred bumps or discoloration left behind on your frames. After the structural weld is complete, the area is gently smoothed out, keeping the original aesthetic and fine layout details of your premium designer eyewear completely intact.

2. Can “memory metal” or Beta-Titanium frames be repaired if they break?

Yes. Beta-titanium and memory metals (like Nitinol) are specialized titanium alloys engineered to bounce back to their original shape. While their extreme flexibility makes them tricky to work with, they can absolutely be repaired using precision laser welding. Because the laser pulse lasts only a fraction of a second, it securely fuses the broken joint without ruining the unique, springy flexibility of the rest of the frame arm.

3. Why can’t my local jeweler fix my titanium glasses?

Most jewelers use traditional torch soldering or basic brazing. Titanium has an incredibly high melting point and absorbs oxygen instantly when heated in open air, which makes the metal brittle and causes the repair to fail immediately. Jewelers also use silver or gold solder as a bonding glue, but titanium completely rejects these alloys. Titanium requires an industrial laser welding system inside an airtight chamber filled with pure argon gas—equipment that standard jewelry shops simply don’t have.

4. How long does a professional titanium laser weld repair last?

A professional laser weld is a permanent fix. Because laser welding doesn’t just glue the pieces together but actually melts and fuses the titanium molecules back into a single piece, the repaired joint becomes just as structurally sound as the rest of the frame. It will easily withstand daily wear, lens cleanings, and normal adjustments for years to come.

5. Can you repair a broken titanium frame if a small piece or screw is missing?

Yes. If your titanium glasses snapped at the hinge or bridge and a tiny structural piece was lost in the accident, a specialized repair center can rebuild it. Master technicians keep a wide inventory of titanium replacement parts, screws, and wire stock. They can laser-weld a new titanium component directly onto your existing frame, restoring it to full functionality.

6. Will laser welding ruin the color or coating on my titanium frames?

Standard open-flame torches will scorch and discolor frame coatings. However, laser welding uses an ultra-focused beam of light that targets a microscopic area for just milliseconds. Because the heat is strictly localized to the crack and protected by an inert argon gas shield, the surrounding paint, plating, or luxury finish remains completely unharmed.

7. What should I do if my titanium glasses break?

If your frames snap or warp, do not attempt to superglue or solder them at home. Store all the broken pieces safely in a hard case so they don’t get lost or further bent. Avoid scraping the broken edges, as keeping the original fracture clean allows the laser welder to achieve a perfectly aligned, seamless molecular bond when you send them in to a specialist.