How the Oakley X-Metal XX stole the best of the Romeo and Juliet to create all around great pair of sunglasses
Table of Contents
Background and History
Released in 1999, the Oakley X-Metal XX takes the positive feedback from the Romeo 1.0, Mars and Juliet, and combines them into an all-around great pair of sunglasses. By 1999, Oakley X-Metals propelled by the Juliet, had begun increasing in popularity. No longer were they just the fantasticly designed glasses, people began seeing the innovation behind them.
Now Oakley had enough convincing in ’99 to release the X-Metal XX, marking the first year where two new X-Metals were released. With a retail price starting at $275, the price while high was in-line with the other sunglasses in the X-Metal family.
Also known as the XMXX, Oakley produced the X-Metal XX from 1999 to 2006 when it was ultimately discontinued.
Oakley X-Metal XX Overview
Frame, Size and Design
The Oakley X-Metal XX frame features a full rimmed design, combining the hammer earstems of the Romeo with the contour and shape of the Juliet. In addition, the orbitals are enlarged to provide more coverage for larger faces. These enhancements make the XMXX the second-largest X-Metal frame after the Romeo.
Overall the reception was positive, most wearers find the XMXX to be one of the most comfortable X-Metals despite the 45 gram weight. This makes the XX the second heaviest X-Metal after the Romeo. Still this is no surprise as X-Metals tend to be on the heavier side with a trade-off for strength.
Oakley also gained fans’ attention with the debut of two new finishes on the XX – Titanium Dioxide or “Ti02” plating and 24-karat gold. These both added a pop to the traditional X-Metal frames. And despite the fragile appearance of the gold, the pair is still made of X-Metal that is able to withstand the weight of a car!
Early XMXX’s included a serial number denoting where in the production cycle they were created, however around 2004 Oakley stopped this tradition and began producing non-serial X-Metal XX’s. This was the same pattern across most X-Metals, hence the desire for collectors to find “serial” pairs of these coveted sunglasses.
Lenses
The X-Metal XX features XYZ optic lenses for zero distortion. Oakley accomplished this through a precision cutting process. These sunglasses were also customizable with prescription lenses when originally sold by Oakley. Unfortunately today you’d require custom cut lenses to make these into an Rx pair.
If you own a pair of XX’s and need replacement parts you’re not completely out of luck. Oakley no longer sells lenses or parts for the XX but you can still find them online. Your best options are eBay or an aftermarket lens manfacturer which we’ve covered in our related guide here.
Original Colorways
The X-Metal XX was available from Oakley in four original colorways which we’ve listed below for reference:
- 24K Gold / Gold Iridium
- Plasma / Ice Iridium
- TiO2 / Black Iridium
- X-Metal / Black Iridium
Where to Buy
Similar to other X-Metals, your only option to buy a pair of X-Metal XX’s for sale will be the aftermarket. We’ve already covered our favorite stores and online sites for buying rare Oakleys and still saving. But your best bets are usually eBay and our Oakley Forum X-Metal Exchange here. Running a quick search through our Exchange revealed over 100 listings for X-Metal XX’s.
Now if you’re buying a pair, be ready to pay as XMXX’s can sell for 2x+ what they originally retailed since being discontinued. If you’re uncertain about the value of a pair, check out our dedicated value thread where members can ask the community their opinions.
Final Thoughts
The Oakley X-Metal XX’s are arguably one of the most underrated X-Metals. While the Juliet, Mars and others often get a lot of credit as some of the most popular sunglasses, the XX brought the best aspects of those pairs into one. The one gripe we still have with the XX is the weight, however Oakley began to improve that in later pairs such as the Romeo 2. Overall you can’t go wrong with a pair of X-Metal XX sunglasses.
Are you a fan of the XX? Do you think it’s over or under-rated? Let us know in the thread below.
