Breaking News: OP Sunglasses in fact TOM FORD

Ok folks, just heard from Selfridges in London. They say there is a mis-conception about OP Airman featured in QoS. They say they have had numerous enquiries and would like to point out it's TOM FORD who are releasing a SE Version.

Here are the details they provided:

Tom Ford 108/s
Colour used by Daniel Craig - 19V

Retailing at £250, released early October with a special case etc.
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Comments

  • cpoulos62cpoulos62 Station UPosts: 451MI6 Agent
    Thanks for that information. Do you have the link to the press release?
  • Arlington BeachArlington Beach Posts: 12MI6 Agent
    edited August 2008
    Nope, I like you guys enquired when the OP's were being released whilst I was at lunch today in Oxford Street. The lady rang head office and said she had received a recent e-mail with the specifications I put into the last post. They've had numerous enquiries from people thinking it was OP's doing these, when it is in-fact TOM FORD. They are rolling these out in October as a SE series at a mere £250
  • Arlington BeachArlington Beach Posts: 12MI6 Agent
    Nope, I like you guys enquired when the OP's were being released whilst I was at lunch today in Oxford Street. The lady rang head office and said she had received a recent e-mail with the specifications I put into the last post. They've had numerous enquiries from people thinking it was OP's doing these, when it is in-fact TOM FORD. They are rolling these out in October as a SE series at a mere £250
  • Shatterhand67Shatterhand67 Safe HousePosts: 424MI6 Agent
    edited August 2008
    Are the OP Airman and TF glasses essentially the same or are there design differences. Is it possibly that they are actually manufactured or sub contracted by OP but Ford will be doing the special edition in their name due to the fact that there may have been a special arrangement because they are "clothing" Bond?

    I emailed Mantis and am awaiting the official Mantis stamp of approval. I may have to cancel my OP order. (Although I must say they are excellent sunglasses...I love my gold ones...best sunglasses I ever had).

    I have one more question...If the Ford sunglasses are not subcontracted by OP and they are their own manufacturer, can anyone speak to their quality compared to the OP's? Looks like the Fords will be a tad more expensive.

    Thanks!

    ?:)
    "I musht be dreaming."
  • Shatterhand67Shatterhand67 Safe HousePosts: 424MI6 Agent
    Just a quick addendum to my last message:

    Are the Ford sunglasses going to be marked with any 007 or QOS logos or references? Because, if that is the case I will be more likely to stick with the OP's as they look close enough for me. For me it's the same thing with the Omega watches. I like the regular edition watches but I would not wear anything that had markings like they have in the special edition watches. Just my 2 cents.
    "I musht be dreaming."
  • Arlington BeachArlington Beach Posts: 12MI6 Agent
    No idea folks but TOM FORD is a very exclusive high brand designer and the likely hood of him teaming up with OP is I think very remote.

    Just think too, he's designing the wardrobe for Bond so it is natural the sunglasses are included and I find it unlikely Selfridges of all people would also have exact specifications if it were not true...
  • Shatterhand67Shatterhand67 Safe HousePosts: 424MI6 Agent
    I'm in the US not Uk but I just did a brand search on Selfridges website and the only thing I could find on their website under the Tom Ford name was fragrances.
    "I musht be dreaming."
  • Arlington BeachArlington Beach Posts: 12MI6 Agent
    TOM FORD have no UK store as yet I believe. Selfridges yes have a concession store in their perfume area on the 1st floor.

    If you want a contact, call Veronique at David Clulow Sunglasses/co Selfridges 400 Oxford Street
    London W1A 1AB on 0207 318 3108
  • David SchofieldDavid Schofield EnglandPosts: 1,528MI6 Agent
    No idea folks but TOM FORD is a very exclusive high brand designer and the likely hood of him teaming up with OP is I think very remote.

    Just think too, he's designing the wardrobe for Bond so it is natural the sunglasses are included and I find it unlikely Selfridges of all people would also have exact specifications if it were not true...

    But, of course, the new London Tom Ford concession is at Harrods, not Selfridges...
  • ufboy73ufboy73 usaPosts: 103MI6 Agent
    No idea folks but TOM FORD is a very exclusive high brand designer and the likely hood of him teaming up with OP is I think very remote.

    this is inaccurate. tom ford is predominantly a fashion designer. this would make it highly likely that he would team up with another company for manufacturing purposes. in fact, his own branded suits (not bespoke, of course) are manufactured and produced by zegna).

    Of course, in the current context, this could mean that glasses were produced by OP to his own specifications or that the glasses are identical to OP but rebadged as TF. I guess we will have to wait to see which is the case, however, both would not be at all uncommon given that his is a design house.
  • Shatterhand67Shatterhand67 Safe HousePosts: 424MI6 Agent
    I spoke with Oliver Peoples in NYC this morning and it does not appear as if the shipment they got on of the Airman sunglasses is screen accurate. I was told that the rubber ear pads on the arms are gray. Screen accurate would be black ear pads and arm tips. Hmmmmmmmm!
    "I musht be dreaming."
  • Shatterhand67Shatterhand67 Safe HousePosts: 424MI6 Agent
    edited August 2008
    OK...here's another update that makes things interesting. OP NYC said that the rubber ear pads and plastic tips are not available in black even as an aftermarket replacement and they cannot switch them out so there may be something to this Tom Ford thing. They said the only colors that are available are gold (which is actually creamy yellowish in color to go with gold frames or gray to go with the silver frames). The rubber ear pads in the movie photos are definitely black.
    "I musht be dreaming."
  • laser944laser944 Posts: 16MI6 Agent
    Oliver Peoples have been collaborating with Paul Smith for many years I would not be susprised if Tom Ford have a similar arrangement and put their own unique finish to a standard op frame
  • Shatterhand67Shatterhand67 Safe HousePosts: 424MI6 Agent
    laser944 wrote:
    Oliver Peoples have been collaborating with Paul Smith for many years I would not be susprised if Tom Ford have a similar arrangement and put their own unique finish to a standard op frame

    So does that mean my earlier guess could be correct...that they are one and the same but one is branded as "Tom Ford"? It looks as if the only difference on these is going to be the rubber ear piece...that is assuming that Ford put the black after market pieces on.

    Sigh!
    "I musht be dreaming."
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    edited August 2008
    It is a very common thing, that fashion designers are contracting specialized manufacturers for their lifestyle products.

    No designer is producing his fragrances in own factories, the fahion watches are made by well-known watch companies (DKNY, Giorgio Armani by Fossil etc) and so it is with sunglasses and normal glasses.

    But I still wonder, how this info would match with the fact, that Adam Simmonds clearly indicated, that the OP airman sunglasses are seen in the movie and that OP has been doing initially a LE because of this.
    Doesn't make sense...
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Shatterhand67Shatterhand67 Safe HousePosts: 424MI6 Agent
    edited August 2008
    Bondtoys wrote:
    But I still wonder, how this info would match with the fact, that Adam Simmonds clearly indicated, that the OP airman sunglasses are seen in the movie and that OP has been doing initially a LE because of this.
    Doesn't make sense...

    I agree with Bondtoys. Why would OP be doing a LE tied into the movie...but then wouldn't it stand to reason that the LE version be screen accurate. Otherwise there is absolutely nothing to differentiate them from the Airman glasses that they had made previously. This would make them an extra run but not a special limited edition in any way. Just my two cents.

    Maybe these guys should take a page out of Master Replicas playbook and consult with The Mantis. We all here know that David put "THE MAN" in "THE MANtis."

    {[]
    "I musht be dreaming."
  • laser944laser944 Posts: 16MI6 Agent
    I am of the opinion that Tom Ford already has an arrangement with op {see their latest range}and selected the airman frame for their Bond QOS wardrobe and put their unique branding onto to them
  • laser944laser944 Posts: 16MI6 Agent
    Just a quick addendum to my last message:

    Are the Ford sunglasses going to be marked with any 007 or QOS logos or references? Because, if that is the case I will be more likely to stick with the OP's as they look close enough for me. For me it's the same thing with the Omega watches. I like the regular edition watches but I would not wear anything that had markings like they have in the special edition watches. Just my 2 cents.
  • laser944laser944 Posts: 16MI6 Agent
    Just a quick addendum to my last message:

    Are the Ford sunglasses going to be marked with any 007 or QOS logos or references? Because, if that is the case I will be more likely to stick with the OP's as they look close enough for me. For me it's the same thing with the Omega watches. I like the regular edition watches but I would not wear anything that had markings like they have in the special edition watches. Just my 2 cents.
    If that is the case why not buy them off ebay for £100 with brown lenses and save yourself a load of money
  • The Bond ExperienceThe Bond Experience Newtown, PAPosts: 5,490Quartermasters
    I find it hard to believe these are NOT OP...the frames and attachments are DEAD on...and yes, I think OP goofed on these new Airmans and did not make them with dark ear rubbers. Airmans made a year or so ago DID have dark ear pieces.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    edited August 2008
    If these Tom Ford rumors turn out to be true, it will be a true desaster for all parties:

    OP re-issuing the sunglasses, but with the incorrect earpieces:

    Tom Ford being short-cut by their contracted manufacturer with exactly the same model.

    And then , the limited run of "initially (whatever this may mean)" 150 units from OP each is pointless.

    I have confirmed information from my optician, that he is able to order the Airman in silver from OP now and they will hit the market in September.

    I have not been able to find the Tom Ford 108/s model on their webpage, the line runs up to 107, not further. But I am waiting for additional infos from my optician of choice regarding this.
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • The Bond ExperienceThe Bond Experience Newtown, PAPosts: 5,490Quartermasters
    Spoke to the Tom Ford store in NYC yesterday and perhaps I spoke with someone that wasn't as informed but they knew nothing about Limited edition James Bond sunglasses.

    We probably shouldn't jump to any conclusions yet but I wonder who from this board order OP Airman's for $400 plus expecting glasses that were DEAD ON to the ones in the film...
  • Shatterhand67Shatterhand67 Safe HousePosts: 424MI6 Agent
    The Mantis wrote:
    We probably shouldn't jump to any conclusions yet but I wonder who from this board order OP Airman's for $400 plus expecting glasses that were DEAD ON to the ones in the film...

    I for one expected DEAD ON. I got a pair in gold with green lenses earlier this year thinking that I would probably not get the QOS ones when they came out. But I liked the gold ones so much that I decided to spring for the QOS glasses as well. However, I'll now not be buying the silver ones from OP due to the oversight they made.

    I'd still like to get a pair but I guess I'll have to wait until fall to see what comes out from Tom Ford (not with Tom Ford as he's already "out" haha)...or if OP smells the coffee and corrects the mistake.

    As far as my thoughts on OP are concerned, I think Jay Leno said it best when he posed the question "What the hell were you thinking?" to Hugh Grant on the Tonight Show following the Divine Brown incident.
    X-(
    "I musht be dreaming."
  • The Bond ExperienceThe Bond Experience Newtown, PAPosts: 5,490Quartermasters
    Yeah, I have a feeling OP didn't realize how particular (and rightfully so) Bond fans are...
  • Arlington BeachArlington Beach Posts: 12MI6 Agent
    Tom Ford have a perfume concession store on the ground floor of Selfridges.
  • PaperbillPaperbill FloridaPosts: 812MI6 Agent
    I am confused....are they OP or Tom Ford? I have a pair of OP on order, should I cancel?
  • Shatterhand67Shatterhand67 Safe HousePosts: 424MI6 Agent
    Paperbill wrote:
    I am confused....are they OP or Tom Ford? I have a pair of OP on order, should I cancel?

    Bill...it's up yo you. Basically, here's what happened: The Airman sunglasses that both Adam Simmonds and OP NYC got have the correct lense and frame but the incorrect ear rubber thingamajigs. They are gray and the screen accurate color is black. Tom Ford is supposedly releasing something in October or November and it is possible the Tom Ford sunglasses are the Airman made by OP but branded as Tom Ford.

    I myself had these on order but I am going to withdraw my order and wait to see what Ford comes out with as I want to have the screen accurate sunglasses. I don't care if they are branded as OP's or TF's...hope that helps clarify the convoluted last two days for you.
    "I musht be dreaming."
  • ufboy73ufboy73 usaPosts: 103MI6 Agent
    pardon my language here but this just strikes me as a complete marketing clusterf***.

    Its bad enough that brands associated with bond films just seem to do a lousy job in publicizing their involvement (even after the releases) but this has got to take the cake. You have a manufacturer re-releasing a model because, apparently, it was used in a large scale production...and then a couple months later you have a branded (and seemingly more SA) version of the manufacturers wares being released.

    I wonder who the genius was at OP/TF that had this brilliant sequencing of events planned out.

    sorry - just had to rant...but it strikes me as borderline comical. the only thing that would add to my amusement now would be if OP and TF were completely unaware of what the other was doing and finally found about it from us!
  • David SchofieldDavid Schofield EnglandPosts: 1,528MI6 Agent
    But even if the Ford rumour is true - and I very much suspect it isn't - aren't the OPs available now the real thing and any Ford repros merely imitiation?

    Consider - we KNOW the original Craig glasses were OPs. Okay, they had black bits on them. OP have now reproduced these, albeit without the black.

    Now IF - and I stress the IF - Ford produces a version, isn't it jut that - a COPY of the OP orginals, not the original brand worn by Craig!?

    Indeed, a Ford version is no more authentic than the (admittedly authentic-looking) copies made by Magnoli of Bond items. We all like his CR jacket but it is essentially just a copy of the Armani orginal. Ford would be doing just that, black tips or not.

    Feel free to agree or disagree.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    edited August 2008

    Consider - we KNOW the original Craig glasses were OPs.

    In fact, we don't know this for sure...
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
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