Oakley has been a leader in the eyewear world for 40+ years. Over the course of that long history, they’ve pioneered several eyewear technologies. They’ve also been known to create slick terms to market those technologies.
In this post we’ll review the common Oakley terminology you hear, and what it really means for you!
Table of Contents
Oakley Frame Terms and Technology
Unobtainium
Oakley Unobtainium is the name of the rubber material seen on earsocks and nose pieces of sunglasses. This material is specifically designed to maximize grip even in the sweatiest conditions. As a result, Unobtainium is most commonly found on Oakley’s sport pairs.
You may also find members refer to these as “rubbers” in slang.
O-Matter
Oakley O-Matter is a lightweight plastic material designed to be durable and comfortable.
The material is also designed for impact resistance of controlled flexibility while not deforming over time like acetate.
Oakley advertises it as twice as strong as acetate, but 25% lighter. You’ll find O-Matter on popular pairs such as the Gascan and Holbrook.
X-Metal
Oakley X-Metal is a proprietary titanium alloy material found most commonly on many of Oakley’s pairs in the 1990s and early 2000s. Pairs such as the Juliet and Penny helped make X-Metals one of the most collectible frame materials today.
O-Luminum
First appearing on the Hatchet, Oakley O-Luminum is based on an aluminum frame and designed to be lightweight and flexible.
While it’s no longer featured on any Oakley sunglasses, it was last available in the early 2000s.
C-5 Alloy
A proprietary combination of five metals, primarily based on Aluminum Oakley’s C-5 Alloy frame material was designed to be lightweight. It was primarily found on Oakley’s wire frame designs such as the Whisker.
Vault Case
Oakley’s Vault cases, not to be mistaken with Vault Stores, are Oakley-designed cases to store sunglasses and eyeglasses.
These are available in both “Soft” and “Hard” cases. Hard cases were primarily designed and available in X-Metal materials during that era. Soft cases are commonly available today in a clamshell design.
Switchlock Technology
Oakley “Switchlock” technology, is the lens changing system designed by Oakley to allow for easy and convenient swaps on lenses. With the quick flip of the switch, the lens releases and allows for an easier swap than in friction fit frames. This technology was originally made popular by pairs like Jawbone Sunglasses.
Read more in our dedicated Oakley Switchlock guide.
Oakley Lens Technology Terms
Iridium Lens Coating
Oakley Iridium coating provides the reflective property of Oakley lenses (e.g you people won’t be able to see your eyes in most conditions). They accomplish this by superheating metallic oxides and fusing them to the lens at the molecular level. This creates a uniform filtering layer that optimizes contrast and minimizes glare.
Plutonite Lenses
Plutonite is Oakley’s lens material that ensures maximum protection and visual excellence.
Using this material the lenses are durable and optically pure.
Oakley tests their Plutonite lenses under maximum circumstances to guarantee uncompromising protection against high-mass and high-velocity impact. This lens material also stops every wavelength (UVa and UVb) of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
For more information check out our complete guide to Plutonite lenses.
High Definition Optics (HDO)
High Definition Optics is Oakley’s proprietary technology which provides the cleanest, sharpest, and most accurate vision through lenses.
HDO lenses also meet all American National Standards Institute (ANSI) tests, demonstrating the high quality. It’s important to note that meeting ANSI standards is different than being rated Safety Glasses which must often meet ANSI Z87.1.
Prizm Technology
Oakley’s Prizm Technology, is the latest enhancement in sports lenses. Designed specifically to enhance color and contrast and released in 2015, Oakley has released several sport-specific lenses tailored to help you reach peak performance.
Oakley accomplished this by focusing on isolating light conditions and corresponding spectrum peaks to specific environments, then recreating the hues with lens dyes specifically tailored to match.
XYZ Optics
XYZ Optics refers to the production stage of the Oakley lenses where lenses are cut from a single sheet of material to maintain consistency. This is done for zero distortion and perfect clarity across lenses.
HDPolarized Lenses
Oakley’s take on Polarized lenses, HD Polarized lenses filter out 99% of reflected glare without distortion typically found in cheaper lenses.
Have another term you’re wondering about or think should be on the list? Post it in the comments below!
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