Ah the trusty JULIET. Take you back? The JULIET is a legend in its own right. They are without a doubt, the best frame Oakley have ever produced. These sunglasses stand proud, and define a range of sunglasses which is unrivalled. Their reputation speaks for itself, they’re renowned as the absolute Godfather of all sunglasses. They have done for Oakley what ….. Jeremy Clarkson did for top gear, Michael Jackson did for pop music and what Jonny Wilkson did for the England Rugby team.

Don’t try and come by here claiming to be an avid Oakleys fan if you haven’t heard of and don’t worship the JULIET! The JULIET set the benchmark for Oakleys to follow. It’s a classic, a legacy and a right of passage for anyone serious about sunglasses.

Ode to JULIET…...
Making your first purchase of JULIETS is like finding ‘the one.’ She’s super cool (like you never imagined was possible in a woman), she’ll remain in mint condition for years to come (nice), she’s reliable, trustworthy, a goddess. Like any good woman, she doesn’t come cheap. But once she belongs to you, she promises never to let you down, as long as you promise to take care of her too!?

Cyclops, the rise of the X-Men (metal) JULIET
Maybe it’s the X-Men following, or perhaps it’s the fact that they are just those kind of accessories that stand out from the crowd, but when I wear my JULIETS, I get noticed. Not necessarily swooning girls, but just people. People are interested in these sunglasses because they look different and they look individual. Definitely head turners. And if you’re a man who likes his Oakleys, I’m sure you’d appreciate this.

X-men. Top film. Begs the question, was it the Juliet that made x-men or x-men that made the Juliet? Either or, when you put on these sunglasses, you feel like you’re indestructible. No one can touch you with you’re new, heros identity

x-metal ruby iridium 24-125
x-metal black iridium 04-146

X-metal: As you can expect, the height of technology and innovation went into this frame. The x-metal itself is an alloy of 25 metals which have created a frame to fit naturally and comfortably round your temples and nose. It looks smart too.

The road test
Having owned my pair of JULIETS for over 5 years, I have never had any problems and only had to change the lenses twice. I’ve taken these sunglasses everywhere. They come with me on holiday, because I want the upmost protection for my eyes in the damaging sun. They come with me down the beach, out with the other half and on long drives.

Vision? Plutonite lenses as standard, but you can also opt for polarized. These give the sharpest, clear cut vision available from a pair of sunglasses. Making them great for sports, driving, cycling.

Quite frankly, these sunglasses are virtually indestructible, which is a God send for us guys. You can practically throw them around the place (although I wouldn’t recommend it) and they’ll come back without a dent. This is all down to the adjustable frame that includes temple shocks and interchangeable nose bombs. Not only does this mean they fit well, but they fit comfortably too. Although they are slightly heavier than my old pair (Oakley Square Wires), the difference is unnoticeable after a couple of days of wear and the JULIETS become an extension of my face.

Big work out? Or running in the rain? JULIETS have a HYDROPHOBIC lens coating which repels skin oils, rain, sweat, preventing build up on the lens. The lens is smudge resistant and easy to keep clean. It even eliminates static electricity, so dust and dirt wont stick to it! Now theres technology for you!

Don’t worry about actually wearing your JULIETS. They are strong and built to last. I was worried at first putting mine on, wearing my work of art out the house where they may get damaged! But after various road tests and ample shining reviews, I’m confident they can stand the test of time.

Colour
I’m sure everyone can front a pretty good case for their favourite JULIET, and understandably, they’re all damn swish. Mine? Its got to be the Plasma/Emerald Iridium 04-150. There’s something about the soothing emerald lenses which add class and above all, I like seeing the world though emerald eyes.

THE POLARIZED JULIET

And then there was the polarized Juliet. Dare I say better than the original? No I daren’t, because both are stunners, promising to deliver in their own way. It just depends what you want your JULIETS for. For me personally? I prefer the polarized lens, because I spend a lot of time in the care and the lenses reduce the glare from the cars in front, off the road etc. Oh and when I say ‘reduce glare,’ I mean they cut it, annihilate it, completely eliminate it right out.

THE DUCATI JULIET

If Ducati are going to endorse their name on a product, they weren’t going to take it as a light decision. Ducati are about the design. They embrace ‘unique style’ and are ‘distinctive, ‘sleek,’ ‘striking’ and ‘functional.’ So when it comes to the JULIETS, you can see why DUCATI and OAKLEY found a match made in heaven. JULIET epitomises everything DUCATI is about and together, a new creation has been formed.

Aside from all the qualities of an original JULIET, the DUCATI JULIET is presented in the DUCATI colours and includes a laser-etched script logo.

The Verdict?

Well if you haven’t got a pair, why not?! The glowing reputation says more than I could ever enhance. Yeah they’re sports sunglasses, but this doesn’t mean they don’t seep class. They’re expensive (around £200) and it shows through the metal framing in particular. If you’re in the market for sunglasses to last you a lifetime, timeless, top engineering, then look at these as an investment in the future of your eyes!