While other eyewear brands are resurrecting classic cultural silhouettes like the aviator and wayfarer, Oakley’s lineup is so distinct that it’s perfectly fine just reviving sunglasses from its own catalog.
Following some recent bangers, the California-based firm continues its MUZM series with a revival of its innovative Scar shades from 2001. Despite some modern updates, these look straight out of the past while still as futuristic as ever.
Mad Science, Revisited
If you know your Oakley history, you know the early 2000s were something of a fever dream for the brand. Fresh off the cultural dominance of the X-Metal and Jacket families, Oakley was deep in its “biomechanical” design era, pushing frames that looked less like eyewear and more like something you’d find in a sci-fi film (and did on occasion). Introduced in 2001 and discontinued by 2004 after a brief three-year run, the Scar fit that mold perfectly. It was Oakley’s first mixed-material frame, pairing an O-Matter chassis with a bold integrated metal hinge, an architecture that was unprecedented at the time and is still copied by other brands today. That short production window is exactly why clean originals now trade at a premium among collectors.
It’s also worth noting that the Scar did get a brief moment in the mainstream spotlight when Pierce Brosnan’s Bond wore a tech’d-out pair in Die Another Day, with Q himself calling them “the future.”
What’s New (And What Isn’t)
The MUZM Scar is framed by Oakley as a direct reissue, with the polished black O-Matter frame, the high-wrap silhouette, and the signature metal hinge still intact. However, the hinge now incorporates the integrated Ellipse logo, but is still the centerpiece of the whole design.
What has changed is what’s behind the lens. The vintage Iridium tints have been swapped for Prizm Black (Prizm lenses didn’t debut until 2014), which brings better contrast and color fidelity in bright conditions, with an 11% light transmission rating for the sunniest of days. The Plutonite lens material carries over to block UVs. Meanwhile, the XL sizing, at 139mm, keeps things consistent with the original’s generous fit.
If there’s one area worth flagging, it’s that a colorway option would’ve elevated this. One polished black/Prizm Black configuration is clean, but the original Scar ran in some seriously bold combinations, like Electric Blue, Midnight, and Fire Iridium. Maybe we’ll see more down the road.
Spec Sheet
Model: Oakley MUZM Scar
Frame Material: O-Matter (Polished Black)
Hinge: Integrated metal hinge with Ellipse logo
Lens: Prizm Black (Plutonite)
Light Transmission: 11%
Light Conditions: Bright light
Frame Size: XL (139mm)
Edition: Limited, unspecified
Price: $224
Pricing & Availability
Limited in edition size, the MUZM Scar dropped today at $224 directly through Oakley’s website and retail stores.
Recap
Oakley MUZM Scar Sunglasses
Oakley’s MUZM Scar is a limited-edition revival of the brand’s cult 2001 mixed-material frame, brought back with its original high-wrap silhouette and metal hinge intact, now fitted with Prizm Black lenses. At $224, it’s a faithful reissue that dropped March 26 in limited quantities.
