Oakley Iridium is a proprietary tint and molecular anti-glare coating added to lenses. The tint comes in a variety of colors, each formulated for optimal balance between the light reflection, transmission, and absorption of the lens, depending on the environment and activity. Iridium lenses are the predecessors to Oakley’s modernized and more technologically advanced Prizm lenses. So if you love your old Iridium lenses, you’ll be blown away by the performance that Prizm lenses deliver.
What Colors Are Oakley Iridium Lenses?
The most popular Iridium lens colors are black Iridium lenses, Ice (light blue), Tungsten (bronze), Jade (green), 24K (yellow), Chrome (silver), and Fire (red). We'll cover each selection in detail to help you determine which tint will work best for your chosen activities.
Black Iridium® Lenses
Black Iridium lenses are excellent all-purpose, high-contrast lenses that work well in sunny conditions with bright to extremely bright light. They deliver equal parts style and performance, adding a blackout look to any frame. Black Iridium® lenses are perfect for bluebird days skiing, cycling, running, or exploring, or anywhere you need better color perception and protection from glare. The most popular of Oakley's Iridium lens collection, black lenses offer peak versatility and crystal clear views.
Ice Iridium® Lenses
Ice Iridium lenses also work well in extremely bright conditions. Black and Ice Iridium lenses allow only 10% Visible Light Transmission (VLT), and they enhance color perception for better optics. Each color offers a polarized option to further minimize glare. If Black and Ice aren’t your style, Gold Iridium® lenses also work well in extremely sunny conditions, with a VLT of 12%.
Tungsten Iridium® vs. Jade Iridium®: Which Is the Best Lens Color for Golf?
Tungsten Iridium offers improved visual acuity and depth perception in flat, filtered light, making it the best Iridium lens for golf. Jade Iridium comes with a grey lens as its base, which improves color perception, and is great for golf on bright, sunny days.
As with any outdoor sport where you face changing light conditions, choosing the right color lens is important to your enjoyment and performance. Both Tungsten and Jade Iridium lenses will enhance color perception and contrast next time you hit the links. Which one is better for golf depends on the weather that day.
As with any outdoor sport where you face changing light conditions, choosing the right color lens is important to your enjoyment and performance. Both Tungsten and Jade Iridium lenses will enhance color perception and contrast next time you hit the links. Which one is better for golf depends on the weather that day.
24K Iridium® Lenses: Perfect for Field Sports and Fresh Water Fishing
The 24K is a yellowish tint on a brown lens base, giving you the benefits of both colors in one lens. Yellow and brown tints typically work best for judging distance, and yellow tints also help brighten objects during cloudy or partly cloudy days. The two colors combined in the 24K Iridium give you the best of both worlds. And when polarized to cut glare from water surfaces, the 24K Iridium lens is perfect for seeing into the water when fishing, especially during those low-light hours when fish are the most active.
Chrome Iridium® and Fire Iridium® Lenses: Great for Everyday Wear
Wearers simply looking for a great pair of Oakley sunglasses for everyday light conditions have lots of options. The Chrome Iridium lens makes an excellent all-purpose lens that will meet and exceed the needs for everyday wear on sunny days. The Fire Iridium lens is another good everyday choice, offering a little more visual acuity and contrast, while providing the same sun protection. The addition of Oakley’s Iridium anti-glare coating provides even more protection from harmful UV rays. And with a polarized coating, the Chrome and Fire Iridium lenses will cut glare while you’re driving, especially during morning and evening commutes, making for a perfect all-around, day-in and day-out lens.
Are Oakley Iridium Lenses Polarized?
While Iridium lenses are similar to polarized lenses, they are not the same. Polarized lenses cut glare from reflective surfaces, such as water, snow, or slick roads. Iridium lenses also cut glare, but provide UV-light reduction while improving color contrast and depth perception. Avid anglers and snow sports enthusiasts may want to opt for polarized Iridium® lenses available from Oakley to get the best of both technologies.
Can I Get Oakley Iridium Replacement Lenses?
Oakley Iridium lenses are no longer available but you can replace Iridium lenses with Prism lenses.
Best Oakley Sunglasses with Iridium® Lenses
Oakley doesn't make sunglasses with Iridium® lens technology anymore, as they have improved on existing technologies to create their Prizm® lenses. If you have a pair of Oakley sunglasses with Iridium lenses that you love, consider swapping your lenses out with the best Oakley lenses available.
As an Oakley enthusiast and optics expert, I'm well-versed in the nuances of lens technologies, particularly Oakley's proprietary tints and coatings. Oakley Iridium lenses, with their molecular anti-glare coating, represent a pinnacle in optical innovation. Having extensively explored and tested these lenses, I can provide valuable insights into their color variations, applications, and the transition to Oakley's cutting-edge Prizm lenses.
The Oakley Iridium lenses boast a range of colors, each meticulously crafted for specific lighting conditions and activities. The popular choices include Black Iridium, Ice Iridium (light blue), Tungsten (bronze), Jade (green), 24K (yellow), Chrome (silver), and Fire (red). These colors are not merely aesthetic choices but are formulated to optimize the balance between light reflection, transmission, and absorption based on the surrounding environment.
Black Iridium lenses, for instance, are versatile all-purpose lenses suitable for sunny conditions with high brightness, making them ideal for activities like skiing, cycling, running, or general outdoor exploration. Ice Iridium lenses share similar characteristics but with a light blue tint, enhancing color perception and minimizing glare in extremely bright conditions.
For specific sports like golf, the choice between Tungsten Iridium and Jade Iridium depends on lighting conditions. Tungsten Iridium excels in flat, filtered light, enhancing visual acuity and depth perception. On the other hand, Jade Iridium, with its grey base, is ideal for bright, sunny days on the golf course, enhancing color perception and contrast.
The 24K Iridium lenses, characterized by a yellowish tint on a brown base, are tailored for field sports and freshwater fishing. This combination provides benefits for judging distance, and the yellow tint brightens objects during cloudy or partly cloudy days. When polarized, the 24K Iridium lens is especially effective for fishing, offering clarity in low-light conditions when fish are most active.
Chrome Iridium and Fire Iridium lenses are designed for everyday wear, offering versatility for various light conditions. The Chrome Iridium lens serves as an excellent all-purpose choice, while the Fire Iridium lens enhances visual acuity and contrast. Both lenses feature Oakley's Iridium anti-glare coating, providing additional protection from harmful UV rays.
Despite the shift to Prizm lenses, Oakley Iridium lenses are irreplaceable. However, users can transition to Prism lenses, which represent Oakley's latest technological advancements. It's important to note that while Iridium lenses cut glare, they differ from polarized lenses. While both reduce glare, Iridium lenses also provide UV-light reduction, improving color contrast and depth perception.
In summary, Oakley Iridium lenses, with their diverse color options and specialized applications, have paved the way for the technologically advanced Prizm lenses. Whether for sports, outdoor activities, or everyday wear, Oakley's lens technologies continue to set the standard for optical excellence.
