Hi there,

I wasn't such a big fan of X Metals (more of sports and lifestyle modern Oakley from Radar era), but couldn't resist to buy a Juliet when I had the change for a nice price. €175, without box, without coin but with original Ice Iridium lens and two spare lenses in original box (Fire and Gold) and great overall condition.

Now I am wondering the about the following things:
1. There is a serial on the Juliet, but what does this say? My Juliet is J1017218.
2. I had a hard time finding which model I had since there's no SKU. Is it possible to check with the serial what model that is? My conclusion it's the Plasma with Ice Iridium.
3. Did every X Metal come with a coin?
4. Did every X Metal come with an X metal logo soft Vault?
5. There are two types of X Metal coins when looking on the internet. Which one is related to my Juliet, the old or the new one?

Please let me know if I'm too lazy, but it was hard to find some definitive answers on this questions.

Are there more things I need to know about X Metals?

I’m very afraid this buy will trigger wanting more X Metals.

Thanks!

I wouldn't worry about being "Lazy". There was always a lot of variation out there related to x metals with different generations of the same models, frame finish variations. And with some much customization out there it just adds to that confusion if your new to it.

Id say your serial is actually JI017218 which would be consistent with an Ice/Plasma 1st Gen Juliet. If it were a second or third gen it would have an A or B as a suffix to the serial number.

I wouldn't worry about being "Lazy". There was always a lot of variation out there related to x metals with different generations of the same models, frame finish variations. And with some much customization out there it just adds to that confusion if your new to it.

Id say your serial is actually JI017218 which would be consistent with an Ice/Plasma 1st Gen Juliet. If it were a second or third gen it would have an A or B as a suffix to the serial number. - MicahS

Thanks! Checked again, and its indeed JI017218. This is the knowledge in your head or is there also some kind of database with ranges of serial numbers?

I wouldn't worry about being "Lazy". There was always a lot of variation out there related to x metals with different generations of the same models, frame finish variations. And with some much customization out there it just adds to that confusion if your new to it.

Id say your serial is actually JI017218 which would be consistent with an Ice/Plasma 1st Gen Juliet. If it were a second or third gen it would have an A or B as a suffix to the serial number. - MicahS

Thanks! Checked again, and its indeed JI017218. This is the knowledge in your head or is there also some kind of database with ranges of serial numbers? - mensma

That one I know kinda off the top of my head. The serial number prefixes in most cases kinda make sense to a degree.

For the plasma frames

JE=Juliet Emerald
JI=Juliet Ice
IP=Ice Polarized
P=Fire

Linegear has a serial number list you can check out Here

1. There is a serial on the Juliet, but what does this say? My Juliet is J1017218.

Serials denoted colorways, but also there were some suffixes as Micah noted. The early Plasma frames looked nice, but they tarnished very easily and left ugly black marks where touched or rubbed. A second generation came out which appended an 'A' at the end, followed by a third with 'B', where it remained.

We have a list of serials here, which I've compiled along with some help:
http://o-review.com/forum_detail.php?ID=11867
(You'll notice that the linegear article is formatted similarly because, you know...)

2. I had a hard time finding which model I had since there's no SKU. Is it possible to check with the serial what model that is? My conclusion it's the Plasma with Ice Iridium.

SKUs on the frames didn't begin until late 2004 or so, but only on the non X-Metals. Also the serial engravings also stopped in January 2005, so there was a period of time when the frames had no markings of any kind.

3. Did every X Metal come with a coin?

The larger flat coins came on the initial released from the Romeo to the Penny. After a brief pause in the yearly release of a new model, the Romeo II also had this came style coin, but reused the original Romeo. After another pause the Half-X and X-Squared started using a smaller coin with more relief detail, and I believe the existing models updated too.

4. Did every X Metal come with an X metal logo soft Vault?

I believe these were accessories, not included. The practice of including cases began in 2006 when the Women's specific models came out, since that market expected the addition on par with competitors. Usually the X-Metals were nestled in a pullout box within the main box, so there wasn't room for a case.

5. There are two types of X Metal coins when looking on the internet. Which one is related to my Juliet, the old or the new one?

Yours would be the original flat coin. The new ones tended to come out with what we consider the Hydrophobic lens releases when that was standard for a while. (This was abandoned since the coating wasn't durable). They're often labeled the 4th or 5th generation, but that's a whole other topic to cover.

There's a few more pages with random info here too:

http://o-review.com/information.php
http://o-review.com/forum_threads.php?search=wiki

Awesome Dann and MicahS, thanks for the help! Totally different world than all the newer stuff.