Collectors Spotlight - March 2009 - cassius_20
The West Coast
cassius_20: Ken
How long have you been a collector of Oakley items?
At the moment, 11 years. I was not a hardcore collector till recent years. My first pair was a Christmas gift from my parents in 1998. One of the arms snapped so I had to send it to Oakley for replacement. At this time, the colourway was not available so I had to get another pair. Since I was still in high school, I had to sell it but regretted ever since. My interest with Oakley was broken off in 1999. Didn’t really start to collect till few years later, 2004 to be exact. I was flipping through eBay to see what was available. My first purchase through eBay was a Polished Juliet. After discovering O-Review, the addiction carried forward.
How did you get into collecting Oakley?
I blame O-Review for this addiction:) At first, I thought I only needed 1 pair of sunglasses for protection. After discovering this site, I believe there are MANY ways to protect your eyes, through different styles and different lens tints. My buddy in 1997 actually introduced me into the world of Oakley. Ever since I laid my eyes on his eye jackets, I knew I had to discover what Oakley was all about.
What is the first Oakley item you remember having?
That would have to be my Electric Mustard Straight Jackets. Being a fat kid back then comes with a disadvantage in head size. I couldn’t wear them for long periods of time because they were so tight that they would squeeze my head and would give me a headache. One day, while rocking my SJ’s going home from school, the left arm snapped. I think I almost cried. Oakley said they stopped producing that colourway so I had to get a replacement, which was a bland pair of polished aluminum/fire SJs. Unfortunately, I sold them. Thankfully, with the help of this site, a member named Tick was able to get me my first love. I still have a huge head, so this pair would usually sit in my cabinet.
What is your biggest Oakley regret? (if any)
There are three instances:
1. Selling my polished aluminum SJs. Technically, since my first pair broke, I would still consider this as the first in my collection.
2. Pair of mint iridium eyeshades on eBay. Got outbid by $2.
3. Did not enter factory co-pilot contest:(
What is your next Oakley purchase likely to be?
Who knows, whatever catches my eye I’ll pounce on. I really want to get into watches but that would have to wait till I am done university and get a full time job. When I am not studying, I’ll be staring into my display.
What do you consider the "jewel" of your collection?
Hmm, I would like to think all of my glasses are jewels, but the pairs that stand out for me right now would be my Ruby Mars, OTT, and my Why3s. I really like Ruby and +Red so any pair in my collection that has that tint will have a place in my heart.
How do you store/display your Oakley collection?
I used to have a space on my bookshelf where I proudly display my glasses but dust would always land on it. I had to store them in their packaging most of the time. Luckily, I picked up a single tower for cheap so I place all my glasses in there. Since my addiction is growing, I may need a double. But, since I live here in Canada where everything is scarce, I don’t know if I can pick one up for a reasonable price. I always dreamed where I could leave my glasses all-over my room without a particle of dust but we live in reality here.
Do you have a favorite Oakley retailer?
Not really. I would like to think the classifieds and eBay as my retailer. It’s hard to find rarities and vintage stuff in stores. Plus, I don’t like paying taxes:) Up to date, I think I only bought two pairs from an actual retailer. But, if it really stands out, I’ll definitely look into it.
Do you customize?
If it’s a rarity or vintage stuff, then I try to leave it be. But sometimes Oakley comes up with some bland colourways. This is when I delve into customization. But for the most part I try to leave my collection as original as possible.
What other Oakley products do you collect?
Right now I only collect glasses. The reason why I don’t collect anything else but their glasses is because Oakley started out as a company producing grips and sunglasses. I would like to remain true to one of the two aspects. As Oakley became a larger company and started offering other articles of clothing and accessories, it’s hard to keep up with the brand. Money is also an issue because being a university student with a part-time job does not let me collect other offerings.
What other hobbies/collections/passions do you have?
Car audio gear would be another hobby of mine. I used to work at another electronics store that dealt with high end car audio gear like Alpine, McIntosh, Focal, Xtant, and JL Audio. I was really into Alpine back in 2005 so I started ordering all their premium stuff. The markup is ridiculous so I had a huge discount. I still have most of the amps, head units, and speakers sitting in my room to be installed into my new car. On my desk while I am writing this profile is a set of three-component speakers that originally retailed for $4K from F#1 Status. Overkill equipment that lies in my closet would be a Dolby 5.1 DSP processor with a separate 5-channel amp and center speakers from F#1 Status. I thought about selling them from time-to-time but the clarity that is produced from these rival most. I would say before I started collecting Oakley, I would have continued collecting audio gear.
What advice do you have for new Oakley collectors?
Jealousy is a dangerous attribute. Don’t collect for the sakes of out-competing someone. Instead, look into what you really desire and try to reach that accomplishment. At times when I see other members with collections ten times the size of mine, I would stop and reflect on my personal collection. Remember each pair as in not a number but how hard you had to work for to attain that one. Even though my collection is a modest one, I believe over the years I had put a lot of hard work and time to get where I am today.
What do others think about your Oakley collection?
My friends think I am crazy. My mom and my siblings think I’m also crazy. Am I really crazy???
What's your fondest/most astounding Oakley memory?
Going to Puerto Vallarta last year and swimming in a dirty pool with a pair of $400 glasses was rather foolish.
Any final words?
I hope this has been an informative read about my little collection. Definitely want to thank Dann for my continuation into insanity.
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