Oakley X Metal Mars Michael Jordan Sunglasses - Flawless

Description: How the brainchild of Michael Jordan, the Oakley Mars Sunglasses, went on to become a cult classic and one of the rarest sunglasses of all time! When people talk about Oakley’s most disruptive designs, there are usually two that always come to mind – the Over The Top and the Mars. But most people don’t know the real history that made Oakley Mars into one of the most collectible Oakley sunglasses of all time. Originally envisioned by then Oakley board member Michael Jordan (yes the basketball player), he wanted a design that turned heads. And in March 1998, Michael got his wish when the Oakley Mars sunglasses were released to the public. To produce the Mars, Oakley acquired a golf club manufacturing business specifically for their absurdly cutting edge machining assets. The production of the Mars frames 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 frame. This complex process and radical design led to the frame only being produced for a few short years. Thanks to its out-of-this-world design, the Mars became a favorite in Hollywood movies. In 1999, they were featured on the face of Tyler Durden (played by Brad Pitt) in the movie Fight Club. Then, shortly after they appeared in 2002’s Blade ii on the face of a vampire towards the end of the film. Both films were a perfect fit for this disruptive design produced in the USA that embodied Oakley and fought the establishment. In 2004, after only 6 years, the Oakley Mars was discontinued by the brand. For many, this marked the end of one of the greatest Oakley designs. But the legacy still lived on. Over the years, the limited number of Mars produced, combined with existing pairs deteriorating, has only fueled demand for this cult classic. The Mars frame features a mechanical steam punk design. Made of X-Metal with Unobtainium nose pieces and earstems, it’s designed as a unisex frame. From temple to temple the Mars measures approximately 5.6″, giving them a medium size. And thanks to the low numbers produced, each authentic Oakley Mars is stamped with a unique serial number. You can easily find the serial number on both the inside of the left earstem and left nosepiece. If you’re talking Mars, you’ll likely hear about the leather colorway. Real leather formed tightly to the frame was offered with an eye-popping gold iridium lens. But, over time, wearers found the leather didn’t stand up to the elements as well as hoped. Sweat, water and wear and tear led to cracking and damaged leather. This combined with the already low production numbers has led to a very small amount of Mars remaining today. The only leather pairs which remain in like-new condition have been unworn since they were acquired over 25 years ago. They are true collectors items, with organic scarcity resulting from low production numbers and the deterioration of every pair that was worn by their owners. Luxottica’s hostile takeover of Oakley in 2007 effectively capped the glory days of the unique brand. What was once an innovative, cutting edge manufacturer of high-end eyewear has since become another brand in a highly consolidated industry. It was inevitable that Luxottica would capitalize on the nostalgia for the Mars line, and their recent rerelease of the Jordan Mars is nothing more than a cash grab. One needs only to look on YouTube at reviews from collectors who compare the quality of the originals to the rereleases to understand that there simply is no substitute for the originals. The attention to detail, craftsmanship, and materials are extremely lacking in the new models. Collectors of Oakley understand that the OG Mars are the pinnacle of Oakley collecting. This pair is flawless, the leather looks as it did when they were shown in the Oakley glass display case decades ago. The Mars Jordan coin, an X metal hard shell, and the original sleeve are all included. The original box is long gone but the matching serial numbers remain on the frames. The case alone sells for upwards of $300 and the coin sells for $100. The foam in the x metal case was replaced and is absolutely perfect. The original foam in these cases dissolves over time and the replacement was custom made and ordered from the UK. Unlike the original foam, this is built to last. The glasses have recently fetched $2900 in similar condition though I do believe these are as fine a pair as one will ever see for sale. PayPal only FedEx overnight shipping

Price: 3699.99 USD

Location: Dallas, Texas

End Time: 2024-12-06T22:20:04.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD