Eames 670 Tufting Question  

I can't imagine
Herman Miller (and moreso Vitra) offered lots of custom versions of the chairs. I've seen oak frames, all white, all black etc... but I can't imagine that either company would remove something so inherent to the design as the buttons. Does your friend live near Zeeland? Perhaps these cushions were seconds that never made it to the tufting part of the assembly line? Or, as you suspect, an aftermarket re-upholstery.

Yes, they were purchased...
Yes, they were purchased close to Zeeland. The chairs were from an estate in Lansing, so, about 60 miles from Zeeland.
So, that is an interesting possibility that they were factory seconds.

Hmmm-somehow looks incomplete without...
The tufting is such a small part of the construction process-I can't imagine why it would be omitted.The chair just doesn't look good without it.It just looks bland.A good upholsterer could tuft it up in an hour or less,I bet!Well worth doing,IMO.

I am not able to examine the...
I am not able to examine the chairs personally, and do not know much about the 670 from firsthand experience to begin with. I wonder if the cushions generally have any excess leather on the underside that could be trimmed off for covering new buttons? I do not know how hard of a time she would have matching the color otherwise (or perhaps a good upholsterer would not find it difficult?). I agree that they look wrong without them.

A good leather
The leathers are sewn tight onto the zippers with no excess. But a good leather upholsterer should be able to match fairly closely.

There are pre-made leather upholstery buttons that match closely
You just need to go to a reputable leather upholsterer.

Thanks all. It sounds like s...
Thanks all. It sounds like she is now convinced that the chair will benefit greatly from having the buttons, and she will find someone who can do it. She should, as she got a good enough deal on both chairs that I could have strangled her. She just bought a late 50's house, and I emailed her some photos of some 670's, saying how great they might look in her house, and the next thing I know she finds two of them a couple weeks later, as her very first Mid-Century purchase. I guess maybe it helps to live near Zeeland.

i just learned looking at...
i just learned looking at that picture that two eames lounge chairs in one room seems a design overkill, this lounge chair is starting to be a modern design cliche, no offense but that's just me.