Ray-Ban Wayfarer fans or sunglasses geeks

[Gutwrench]

This thread should be renamed "What are your shades?"

I thought a couple of times about creating a separate thread but I think this is the better way to go

So sorry to drag this off-topic. Several friends own and apparently love their Ray-Ban glasses. Clearly a great choice.
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So that second pair is useless unless you get corrected lenses put into them?

I also have contacts. I wear contacts during office hours so use regular shades during the commute. After hours and on weekends I use the prescription shades while driving.

 

[0388631]

This thread should be renamed "What are your shades?"

I thought a couple of times about creating a separate thread but I think this is the better way to go

I'm pretty certain that there was a thread on that. Olivers People are good shades, but I loathe how the prices on their products shot up and not because of Luxottica.

 

[AustinIllini]

Hahaha, let me clarify.

When buying Maui Jim prescription sunglasses you buy the complete pair of sunglasses with uncorrected lenses. They then replace those lenses with your prescription and return the original tinted lenses in a felt pouch. For $75 they put the original lenses into a new frame. So I got two pairs of sunglasses for the price of the prescription pair + $75. Pretty good deal, I thought. However, Maui Jim pre$cription price$ are $teep.

I don't think you're off-topic at all. I didn't create the thread

 

[0388631]

I also have contacts.

There are many things I'd rather experience than put contacts in my eyes. No thank you.

 

[Gutwrench]

There are many things I'd rather experience than put contacts in my eyes. No thank you.

I started wearing them years ago because fighting people while wearing glasses isn’t fun either.

 

[RickGrimes]

The sad part is most all are made by the same company Luxottica, so far all named here except Maui Jims.
Talk about monopoly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxottica

 

[nrvna76]

The sad part is most all are made by the same company Luxottica, so far all named here except Maui Jims.
Talk about monopoly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxottica

Costa Del Mar, Maui Jim, and Wiley x are non luxottica brands.

 

[AustinIllini]

The sad part is most all are made by the same company Luxottica, so far all named here except Maui Jims.
Talk about monopoly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxottica

I've heard really good things about Warby Parker.

I'm not a fan of Luxottica and what they did to Oakley was not cool, but I still like getting the classic styles from Ray-Ban and I like the overall feel of Oakleys

Maui Jim was definitely on my list for Aviators but I couldn't justify the high price tag.

 

[0388631]

I started wearing them years ago because fighting people while wearing glasses isn’t fun either.

Oh, right. You wrestled in high school and college. Were they allowed then or even now? Don't really follow the sport since it's mostly a mid-west and PNW sport it seems.

 

[RickGrimes]

I've heard really good things about Warby Parker.

I can also vouch for them. I have 2 pairs of RX glasses and 3 Pairs of their sunglasses all excellent quality.
These are my favorite pair and so glad I bought when I did they sold out of this color combo in like a day.

 

[MacNut]

I've heard really good things about Warby Parker.

I'm not a fan of Luxottica and what they did to Oakley was not cool, but I still like getting the classic styles from Ray-Ban and I like the overall feel of Oakleys

Maui Jim was definitely on my list for Aviators but I couldn't justify the high price tag.

Oakley eyeglass frames are horrible now. I have really decided against all Luxottica brands. Of course now Esslor runs the whole show.

 

[0388631]

That's a lot of brands, too. But I don't recall Oakleys ever being good, even way before the Italians sunk their claws into them.

 

[AustinIllini]

Oakley eyeglass frames are horrible now. I have really decided against all Luxottica brands. Of course now Esslor runs the whole show.

I like Ray-Ban quite a bit but yeah, Oakley quality is only so-so. Their marketing budget is high and they have some need MLB sunglasses, but some of the non-radar designs are terrible. Some of them try to be stylish but are instead just non-athletic and garish.

 

[balticgreen]

There are many things I'd rather experience than put contacts in my eyes. No thank you.

I felt that way for years but I was so tired of swapping glasses with sunglasses that I just decided "I'm going to make myself get comfortable with contacts." I had an awful time initially and the contacts tech at my eye doctor's office lost patience with me, but I eventually got it, lol. Now it's second nature and I pop them in and out like nothing.

I've heard really good things about Warby Parker.

I can vouch for them too. My Rx glasses that I wear when my contacts aren't in are Warby Parker. The whole sales experience with them was great and the glasses are good quality for a very reasonable price. I wouldn't hesitate to consider sunglasses from them, and in fact I will look at their sunglasses when my current RayBans need replaced.

 

[MacNut]

That's a lot of brands, too. But I don't recall Oakleys ever being good, even way before the Italians sunk their claws into them.

Oakley made their name with ski goggles, then branched into sports frames. Once they got bought by Luxottica it went down hill.

 

[0388631]

Oakley made their name with ski goggles, then branched into sports frames. Once they got bought by Luxottica it went down hill.

Shows how much I know. I always thought Oakley was a major surfing brand at one point and they had a loyal customer base. I have a few pairs from the 1990s that are still solid. Can't say the new stuff is as well built. Olivers Peoples are generally a good brand but I don't recommend them unless you can get them on sale. Their price has skyrocketed in the last 10 years and I blame an American TV show for that. Though they saw decent price jumps in the late 90s and early 2000s due to film stars wearing them in films and in public. They're good sunglasses, and I'd rate them higher than Raybans, but the price for certain models is too high. They've done a few re-issues of older designs so you're not paying something like $1,900 for out of manufacturing sunglasses, but the re-issues still cost the modern general MSRP range of $500-600.

Excuse my ranting.

 

[MacNut]

Shows how much I know. I always thought Oakley was a major surfing brand at one point and they had a loyal customer base. I have a few pairs from the 1990s that are still solid. Can't say the new stuff is as well built. Olivers Peoples are generally a good brand but I don't recommend them unless you can get them on sale. Their price has skyrocketed in the last 10 years and I blame an American TV show for that. Though their saw decent price jumps in the late 90s and early 2000s due to film stars wearing them in films and in public. They're good sunglasses, and I'd rate them higher than Raybans, but the price for certain models is too high. They've done a few re-issues of older designs so you're not paying something like $1,900 for out of manufacturing sunglasses, but the re-issues still cost the modern general MSRP range of $500-600.

So I learned something too. From the Wiki

Oakley was started by James Jannard in 1975 out of his garage with an initial investment of $300. The name "Oakley" came from Jim's English Setter, "Oakley Anne." Jannard began by selling what he called 'The Oakley Grip' out of the back of his car at motocross events. His motorcycle grips were unlike other grips available at the time. The material is still used to make the earsocks on Oakley glasses, and many of the nose pieces and now the bands of their watches. Oakley went on to produce number plates, gloves, grips, elbow guards, chin guards, and goggles for the BMX and motocross communities.[4] After selling Oakely Inc. to Italian Eyeware company Luxottica Group in 2007, founder James Jannard went on to found Red Digital Cinema.

In 1980, Jannard released a pair of goggles called the O-Frame. With the 'Oakley' logo present on the strap, the brand garnered increasing recognition and prominence throughout the sports industry.[5] In 1983, Oakley began selling ski goggles.[6]

The first Oakley sunglasses; Factory Pilot Eyeshades, were sport-oriented, resembling goggles and were released in 1984. These were followed in 1985 by the Oakley Frogskin, a casual sunglass style that was made in Japan.[4]

 

[0388631]

So I learned something too. From the Wiki

I have no idea how much I paid for the ones I bought in the 90s, but I know they were cheap for something good. It's kind of like how Raybans cost around $30 in the 80s. I don't know how much of a price effect Top Gun had at the time when it came out. I know Raybans had a major revival in the late 2000s because I saw so many people wearing them and they still enjoy a strong market for them today, a decade later. I cannot fathom the price increases in store for when Top Gun 2 comes out.

Though I'm more excited about a new, modern version of Danger Zone that Kenny Loggins is working on.

 

[MacNut]

I have no idea how much I paid for the ones I bought in the 90s, but I know they were cheap for something good. It's kind of like how Raybans cost around $30 in the 80s. I don't know how much of a price effect Top Gun had at the time when it came out. I know Raybans had a major revival in the late 2000s because I saw so many people wearing them and they still enjoy a strong market for them today, a decade later. I cannot fathom the price increases in store for when Top Gun 2 comes out.

Though I'm more excited about a new, modern version of Danger Zone that Kenny Loggins is working on.

Ray Ban's success is from product placement.

 

[AustinIllini]

I have no idea how much I paid for the ones I bought in the 90s, but I know they were cheap for something good. It's kind of like how Raybans cost around $30 in the 80s. I don't know how much of a price effect Top Gun had at the time when it came out. I know Raybans had a major revival in the late 2000s because I saw so many people wearing them and they still enjoy a strong market for them today, a decade later. I cannot fathom the price increases in store for when Top Gun 2 comes out.

Though I'm more excited about a new, modern version of Danger Zone that Kenny Loggins is working on.

Technically, Ray-Bans are priced the same based on inflation. The problem is, they shouldn't be susceptible to inflation because they get easier and easier to make with improved manufacturing.
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Ray Ban's success is from product placement.

For Wayfarers, definitely.

However, B&L/Ray-Ban developed the Aviators, which were completely a product of smart design for pilots.

 

[MacNut]

Technically, Ray-Bans are priced the same based on inflation. The problem is, they shouldn't be susceptible to inflation because they get easier and easier to make with improved manufacturing.
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For Wayfarers, definitely.

However, B&L/Ray-Ban developed the Aviators, which were completely a product of smart design for pilots.

Sure when the company was formed it was innovation. Now it's based on what you see in movies.