Find out how the Oakley X-Metal became arguably the most popular Oakleys of all time by ignoring what everyone else believed!
Keep reading as we review what exactly Oakley X-metal is, its history, and every pair of X-Metal sunglasses!
Table of Contents
What is Oakley X-Metal?
Oakley X-Metal is a proprietary five metal alloy material comprised primarily of titanium. It was developed in the 1990s by Oakley and eventually used to create the first titanium eyewear.
This innovation of X-Metal created eyewear that is strong enough to withstand the weight of a car but could still be worn on your face.
Until recently, the exact composition of X-Metal was unknown. But thanks to some of our amazing members, we finally have the answer:
Commonly referred to as Ti–6AL–4V (or Ti 6-4), this designation refers to its chemical composition of almost 90% titanium, 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium, 0.25% (max) iron and 0.2% (max) oxygen.
The Ti–6Al–4V alloy is an α–β titanium alloy that exhibits high strength, low density, and good corrosion resistance. It is one of the most commonly used titanium alloys.
Other minor compounds, <0.5%
https://www.oakleyforum.com/threads/xmetal-what-is-it.119152/
Cr, Mg, Zr, Ni
Background and Inspiration
The X-Metal was born through the need for innovation.
Jim Jannard, who questioned the status quo, wanted to create a pair of sunglasses out of titanium. In his own words from our Q&A on the forum, Mr. Jannard said:
I was a big fan of titanium and no one had done Ti eyewear. I thought that combining Ti with sculpture would be a really great thing.
There were no factories doing what we wanted… so we bought a golf club casting company in Nevada and converted it to manufacturing Ti eyewear. Carlos was the single person that most contributed to this effort.
We were told by many that what we wanted to do was impossible. The idea of casting long and narrow parts (like the ear stems) was next to impossible. We ignored the warnings.
The next thing we had to contend with was making rigid pieces and putting them together in a flexible package. We used Unobtainium “glue” to put everything together. This was one of the most difficult and wonderful programs ever done at Oakley.
Thank Peter, Hans, Lek, Colin, Chris, and many others for what is now one of the most collectible Oakley programs ever conceived.
Behind the Scenes at Oakley: Q&A with Founder Jim Jannard
History
Original X-Metals
After laying the groundwork of establishing the Nevada factory, work began.
The X-Metal line was first announced in 1996 and released in February 1997 with the Oakley Romeo Sunglasses. These were the world’s first 3-D sculptured, all-metal frame made in the USA.
In Oakley’s secret Nevada bunker, it took a six-ton generator with 425,000 watts of power to push the five-axis machining that maintained a .0005″ precision as it created the X-Metal frames. This precision allows you to swap parts across pairs of the same model.
In Oakley’s words, the X-Metal line was an “evolutionary application of a new metallurgical process and a breakthrough in structural physics.”
And as mentioned above, X-Metals were the strongest sunglasses created with the ability to be run over by a car without breaking (Yes, they demonstrated this several times)!
And X-Metal frames were available in several finishes such as X-Metal, Plasma, Polished, and Carbon.
Ultimately, the Oakley X-Metal line became some of the most popular Oakley’s of all-time through its revolutionary design and construction.
In the end, Oakley produced various X-Metal sunglasses from 1997 to 2012.
Re-releases and “new” X-Metals
Since 2012, a handful of re-releases have occurred, including the Juliet.
That is until, in 2015, when Oakley announced two new pairs for the X-Metal family – the Oakley Badman and Madman.
With a starting price of $400+ and a non-conformist design, they clearly were a collector pair.
The Badman and Madman were met with mixed reception and were discontinued two years after their original launch in 2017.
Today you’ll still hear a good amount of debate on whether these two pairs actually count as “real” X-Metals, due to the pause in production.
Oakley X-Metal Frames and Models
Including the newest releases, there are ten total X-Metal models.
When asked how they came up with the new Oakley X-Metal models, Jim Jannard responded:
We had a design philosophy called “SLOGGING”. Spayed and logically offset geometry. That is the basis of all X-metal eyewear and many other models. I would explain it… but then others would know the secret
Behind the Scenes at Oakley: Q&A with Founder Jim Jannard
The full X-Metal lineup by release year is below. Plus, we’ve linked below to relevant guides on each pair.
- 1997 – Romeo 1.0
- 1998 – Mars
- 1999 – Juliet
- 1999 – X-Metal XX
- 2001 – Penny
- 2004 – Romeo 2.0
- 2008 – Half-X
- 2009 – X-Squared
- 2015 – Madman
- 2015 – Badman
Is the Over The Top an X-Metal?
While we’re talking X-Metal, one pair that can cause confusion is the Oakley Over The Top.
While they appear to be made of metal alloy material, they are actually made of O Matter. The metal appearance of the frame is a painted-on color.
This means they are not an X-Metal.
Oakley MUZM Series X-Metals
In March of 2021, Oakley released the MUZM Series 1975 X-Metal Edition Sunglasses set, including an all-new Juliet and Romeo sunglasses.
While we’ve seen similar re-releases with Frogskins and the Eye Jacket Redux, this was the first time Oakley re-released X-Metals.
But these weren’t simply leftover pairs. Instead, these were re-releases with some significant changes and upgrades.
First, the MUZM Series Oakley X-Metals are 3-D printed using a similar titanium alloy as the original. This new process and upgraded manufacturing line took Oakley over two years to create. But it also means it no longer requires 425,000 watts of power to create X-Metals (the old marketing slogan).
With a new 3-D printed frame, these feature several upgrades, including improved flex couplers, nose pieces, and Unobtainium parts.
Plus, these are the first X-Metal sunglasses to ever release with Prizm lenses!
Unfortunately, Oakley only produced 14 of the MUZM series 1975 X-Metal sets.
The limited quantity combined with an astronomical price means this is only for very serious collectors. To find out how much the MUZM X-Metals cost, check out our complete guide to the MUZM series Oakley X-Metals here.
Where to Buy X-Metals?
After being officially discontinued, Oakley sold some X-Metals on their website, usually with the story of finding extra pairs of a specific model in storage.
But these missing inventories have since dried up, and we haven’t seen anything similar in recent years.
Because of this, we don’t anticipate seeing the trend continue. Regardless, for any chance, you’ll want to sign up for the Oakley MVP Loyalty Program, where members often get alerts and newsletters on new and exclusive releases.
To buy X-Metals today, you’ll need to look on aftermarket sites like eBay or our X-Metal Exchange, where members can buy, sell and trade Oakley X-Metals. And with over 13,000 listings and 100,000 posts, you can likely find just about any pair you’re looking for!
But be ready to pay!
It should be no surprise that Oakley X-Metal prices command high prices today, often 2-3x+ their original retail price.
Final Thoughts
Oakley X-Metals define the Mad Scientist era. A time when Jim Jannard ruled and led disruptive design across Oakley.
It’s tough to find many Oakley collectors who don’t love X-Metals, or at least what they represent – the glory days of Oakley.
For that reason, these will always have a special place in our hearts as some of the coolest Oakleys of all time!
Looking for More?
Do you have any X-Metals in your collection? Want to add more? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Keep them coming.
Keep them coming. 
