Rumor: New X-Metal

[Supero100]

Maybe this is the "evolution" of the x-metal line, or part of it anyway. Someone posted this at O-review

http://www.popularmechanics.com/out...culously-high-tech-sunglasses-frames-17023462

Thanks for posting!

Damn, though. It's so iterative. Yawn...

 

[Xmetal74]

That article makes the technology sound sophisticated. But what is really happening is Oakley is digressing to old technology previously used by lesser manufacturers. They are using new materials but that's not helping the fact that Oakley is trying to make their items cheaper.

Damnit Jim...why couldn't you just keep Oakley, or sold it to someone who actually cares about quality!

The days of x metals and the Elite line are gone forever!

I agree.... U should of kept oakley JIM!!! or sell it to someone who cares about great quality!!

 

[defiant00]

This may have already been said, but I don't see X-Metals coming back. Oakley closed the factory, and they can't produce them in CA (when Oakley first started dabbling in trying to cast Titanium, an accident blew a forklift through a wall, hence the purchase of the plant in Nevada). Maybe they could be produced in China, lord knows they have next to no safety regulations, but I for one am less enthused with the whole "Not Made in the USA" thing. Part of the reason I got into Oakley in the first place was because they were made in the US...

 

[defiant00]

And I agree, I wish Jim would have held on to the company, or made sure it stayed in the hands of people who shared his attitude and vision (i.e. Colin Baden and his ilk). When he sold out to Lux, he signed a multi-year non-compete agreement which I believe expires this year or next year, so who knows what might happen after that...

 

[DG85]

This may have already been said, but I don't see X-Metals coming back. Oakley closed the factory, and they can't produce them in CA (when Oakley first started dabbling in trying to cast Titanium, an accident blew a forklift through a wall, hence the purchase of the plant in Nevada). Maybe they could be produced in China, lord knows they have next to no safety regulations, but I for one am less enthused with the whole "Not Made in the USA" thing. Part of the reason I got into Oakley in the first place was because they were made in the US...

What were the profit margins on the X-Metal line? I would have to imagine that simplifying the production technology, finding a new facility and dare I say increase the pricing would be enough to make LUX to pull a Family Guy...and relaunch.

 

[Xmetal74]

This may have already been said, but I don't see X-Metals coming back. Oakley closed the factory, and they can't produce them in CA (when Oakley first started dabbling in trying to cast Titanium, an accident blew a forklift through a wall, hence the purchase of the plant in Nevada). Maybe they could be produced in China, lord knows they have next to no safety regulations, but I for one am less enthused with the whole "Not Made in the USA" thing. Part of the reason I got into Oakley in the first place was because they were made in the US...

the law to manufacture titanium has changed in california.. i think we will see.. a new generation of emetals .. possibly in '15.... we'll see....

 

[Xmetal74]

What were the profit margins on the X-Metal line? I would have to imagine that simplifying the production technology, finding a new facility and dare I say increase the pricing would be enough to make LUX to pull a Family Guy...and relaunch.

it cost oakley 25.00 to manufacture a pair of metals.. from start to finish... profit margins were obvisouly huge!

 

[defiant00]

The X Metals certainly didn't have the margin of say a Gascan, but Oakley was definitely not losing money on them, either.
Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to see a new X Metal line, but only if they can do it with the same groundbreaking design language that they were able to come up with the first time around. I know there'll never be another Juliet, but I don't want to see an X Metal Frogskin or Holbrook derivative, you know?

 

[kronin323]

 

[Rustpot]

it cost oakley 25.00 to manufacture a pair of metals.. from start to finish... profit margins were obvisouly huge!

Where did you get that number from?