Everything to know about Oakley Penny Sunglasses including the revolutionary spring hinge technology!
Table of Contents
Release and History
The Oakley Penny was released in the Summer of 2001 as a part of the then successful X-Metal line.
We’ve already covered how most of the prior X-Metals (Romeo, Juliet, and X-Metal XX) are all larger frames each with its own quirks. This is why when the Penny hit the scene, it was Oakley finally acknowledging that some people do need a better fit.
At the time they retailed starting at $290, in line with the other X-Metal offerings.
The Penny rose to fame when they hit the big screen. Featured in 2003’s X2: X-Men United and 2006’s X-Men Last Stand on the James Marsden’s Cyclops character.
Although it’s been rumored that the pairs featured were not a publicly released finish/colorway and were instead modified by the movie studio’s prop department to fit the aesthetic of the movies.
Even the lenses were said to be modified with additional layers of Iridium coating.
Today one of the pairs can even be seen in the museum at Oakley Headquarters.
Keep reading for our full Oakley Penny review. Plus where you can find Penny sunglasses for sale.
Oakley Penny Sunglasses Review
Frame and Design
The Oakley Penny frame features a full-rimmed design that focuses on fit.
The biggest innovation is the spring hinge mechanism designed to help the frame hug your face. The Penny frame also features Unobtainium nose pieces and earsocks – all of which can be replaced.
Similar to the X-Metal XX, early Penny frames include serial numbers.
You can find this number laser etched into the ear stem of the frame.
The serial number represents wherein the production run your sunglasses were created (e.g a lower number means closer to the start).
However there are some Penny models which do not have a serial number, so you can’t use this as a way to tell real from fake Oakleys.
Size and Dimensions
As mentioned above, the Oakley Penny frame is smaller than other X-Metals measuring about 136mm from temple to temple.
Compare this to the Oakley Romeo at 152mm and you can see the difference.
The weight also decreases proportionally to the size, though not by much – coming in at 44 grams.
As we’ve discussed before the X-Metal line was heavier than your average sunglasses. But they are also able to withstand the weight of a car, so there is a strength-to-weight tradeoff.
Lenses
The Oakley Penny lenses were also shrunken down compared to the previous X-Metals to focus on a smaller fit.
The aggressively styled lenses are made with XYZ Optics technology for a precision cut and minimal distortion.
Oakley no longer sells replacement lenses for the Penny, like most other X-Metals. But, you can find them through several aftermarket lens retailers online which we’ve outlined before.
Original Colorways
The Penny was available from Oakley in six colorways. We’ve listed the complete colorways below for reference:
- Copper / VR28 Black Iridium
- Polished / Black Iridium
- TiO2 / Emerald Iridium
- Titanium / Ice Iridium
- Titanium / VR28 Black Iridium
- X-Metal / Ruby Iridium
How to Change Penny Lenses?
To change your Oakley Penny lenses all you’ll need is a T6 Torx screwdriver.
You can usually buy these pretty cheap at your local hardware store. But be sure it’s the right size!
Once you have your screwdriver, simply follow the 3 easy steps below to replace your Penny lenses:
- Lay your sunglasses upside down on a flat surface, so the bottom of the lenses are facing up.
- Unscrew the T6 screw holding the lens area together (hint: see picture below), and pop out the lens
- To install new Penny lenses, simply reverse this process and re-tighten the screw when done
Are Penny Replacement Lenses Available?
Yes, but the answer is complicated.
Since the Penny is discontinued you can’t buy replacement lenses direct from Oakley.
But, you can still buy Penny replacement lenses from several aftermarket manufacturers. For more information check out our guide to the best Oakley replacement lenses!
Where to Buy Penny Sunglasses?
Since Oakley Penny sunglasses are discontinued, you won’t find them on Oakley’s website.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t still buy them.
You can still find plenty of Penny sunglasses for sale through aftermarket sites like eBay and the Oakley Forum X-Metal Exchanges.
Because of their continued popularity with collectors, Penny’s are pretty common on these sites.
But don’t be fooled, that doesn’t mean they’ll be cheap. Oakley Penny’s often sell for $350+ depending on the colorway.
To find out more, check out our guide to buying rare and discontinued Oakleys.
Final Thoughts – Are They Worth It?
The Oakley Penny is like your friend who once was in a local TV commercial and no one lets him forget about it despite how hard he tries.
Most people recognize it from X-Men, heck look on eBay, and most of the Penny pairs for sale will have the X-Men keyword inserted into the title.
But the truth is, the Penny is a solid all-around pair for people with smaller heads.
Even with moderate to larger heads, the Penny’s aggressive lens shaping, and frame design accents most face shapes very well.
With that, we’ll give the Oakley Penny the most underrated X-Metal title.
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