Okay, here's the deal with my X-Metal experience.
First let me say one thing. I have been very interested in getting a pair of X-Metals because everyone says they are "the shit." But, in reality, I have never paid more that 20 bucks for a pair of sunglasses. This is because of the two reasons. A) I usually step on, sit on, or lose my sunglasses within 3 to six months, so they are somewhat of a disposable item for me. B) As far as I am concerned, after $40-$50 dollars, sunglasses don't get THAT much better looking with each dollar (in my opinion). i.e., I don't feel that a $250.00 pair of glasses is really $230.00 better looking than a $30.00 pair.
So now you know my mind set as I went to see X-Metals.
Went to the store, and asked to see the X-Metals. They had just come in (by UPS) so they were still behind the counter. They come in a custom, designer hard Oakley box. Recessed onto the top of the box is a metal, "Oakley" disc, that you can remove. According to the sales manager, this disc is some sort of "coupon" that will entitle you to certain perks/gifts/benefits from Oakley in the future, although she wasn't exactly sure what they were. There also is a soft carrying case in the box as well.
According to the Manager, if I ordered the X-Metals, it would take about three weeks for my order to come in. She said that in 3 to 4 weeks, they should start receiving stock for the store, but she said she couldn't tell me how many pairs. She suggested, strongly, that if I wanted a pair, I should order them now, because she couldn't guarantee that I could get a pair when the stock came in. They go for $250.00 even.
When I saw the glasses, I have to say that I was a little disappointed, but this is because of what I thought they would look like. I thought that they would be high gloss, and colored. But in fact, they are gun metal gray, and the finish is flat. The side pieces wrap straight around your head (a la other Oakley models), and don't curve down over your ears (like, let's say....Ray Bans). The side pieces have a colored rubber wrap around (red) to cushion the side of your head. The lenses are dark, and didn't strike me as anything unusual. If you look at the glasses straight on, they VAUGELY resemble the "X" logo they are using to promote them (see their Web site if you haven't seen this, it kind of looks like the Batman logo). By this, I mean they are notched out at the top where the lenses meet at the middle (opposed to straight across). So where the notch at the top is, and where the nose bridge is, would form the middle of the "X". Remember, I am using poetic license in relating them to an "X". They have little ridges or "bumps"on the side where the sidepieces meet the lens frames that are in the shape of the X-Metal logo.
So.....The look was okay, but they didn't blow me away.
When I picked them up to try them on, I noticed their weight right away, and they felt good in my hands. I liked the balance. Then I put them on, and this is where it got good...............
Now, remember how I feel about $250.00 glasses, well..........These glasses looked "HOT" when they were on. I know this is going to sound wacky, but they literally felt like they "morphed" onto my face, and became a part of it when I put them on. I have never had a pair of glasses fit me so well, and FEEL so well on my face. And they do look awesome. I mean, I am a pretty good looking guy, but these glasses made me feel like a friggin' model. They are look like a high fashion, designer sunglass had mated with a pair of Oakleys, and made a perfect offspring. I have to admit, I was REALLY impressed when I put them on.
Regarding the $250.00 price, here's how it is. Out here in OC, you have thousands of people who can buy $1,000,000+ houses, so $250.00 for glasses is nothing. The question is, will they like them, and will there be enough people in the rest of the country, that is not quite as affluent, and the in the World, to buy these glasses. Only time will tell. The fact is, these glasses made me realize something. At some point, you loose the correlation between price and value, and it becomes a purely fashion oriented, self-indulging act to buy these glasses. And that is not a bad thing. So either, you are going to love them, and buy them regardless of the price, or you won't like them and spend you money on something else.
BCL |
