Maui Jim, the fastest growing maker of premium polarized sunglasses, will make waves in the sun wear world with the launch of seven new sunglass styles that will be added throughout 2012 to the company’s On the Water Collection of high-tech sunglasses.
The Collection takes a deep dive into the eye protection needs of serious water sports enthusiasts who fish, boat, stand-up paddle, sail, canoe and kayak.
Debuting in July will be three of the seven new styles. By the end of the year, a total of 27 sunglasses for men and women will be offered in the Collection.
“By the time a person turns the age of 60, their unprotected eyes will be exposed to as much UV light as a nuclear blast,” said Richard Walker, director of product development at Maui Jim. “For sportspeople who spend significant time around water, the reflections and glare from the sun’s rays bouncing off the waves enhance the risk for eye damage that can result in conditions that cause vision loss. Unfortunately, not all sunglasses afford the same protections from the sun. So, each style in our Collection uses technologies that are designed to work with your face size and shape to shield your eyes when enjoying time on a lake, river, stream or ocean.”
Bigger Lenses Made from the Best Materials for Water Sports
When it comes to eye protection around water, bigger is better. All of the styles in the On the Water Collection feature larger lenses made from lens materials that offer the best optics for water sports. Large lenses, that not only completely cover the eye, but also curve around it, do a better job of blocking damaging rays. Therefore, the Collection features a series of larger lenses in varying shapes that are designed to cup around the eye.
Not all lens materials are designed for all sports. In the Collection, Maui Jim’s SuperThin Glass lenses have the crispest edge-to-edge optics and are 20 percent thinner and lighter than conventional glass lenses. SuperThin Glass is a good choice for sports with a low risk of glasses getting bumped or falling off the face. Maui Evolution® lenses are perfect for active lifestyles around water because they fuse the best properties of SuperThin Glass and polycarbonate materials into a lightweight, scratch- and impact-resistant lens with high-performance optics. Polycarbonate lenses afford sharp optics and the most durability against shattering. Most of the styles in the On the Water Collection can be made with superior MauiPassport™ prescription lenses in powers from +3.00 to -3.50.
Lens Colors for Various Water Sport Conditions
Lens color is not a style feature. It is a functional feature. Only Maui Jim offers four lens color options because the color of the lenses is designed to improve vision in different light conditions. Neutral Grey lenses offer the highest level of light reduction for bright, sunny days.HCL® Bronze lenses enhance contrast in variable conditions. For example, bronze lenses are good for days when puffy clouds occasionally float over. They also are great for fishing in brackish water because they enhance contrast in murky conditions. Maui HT™ (High Transmission) lenses are high performance lenses with 25 percent visible light transmission and 75 percent absorption that brighten visibility and enhance definition while boosting color, contrast and depth of field. Mau i Rose™ lenses are designed to produce the highest contrast for everyday conditions and are excellent for fast-moving sports.
Layers of Lens Protection
The sun’s rays while on the water come from all directions: Above, below and behind each lens. Unfortunately, many manufacturers only put protection on the fronts of their lenses. Maui Jim fully wraps each lens with up to nine layers of proprietary PolarizedPlus2® lens technology. The most advanced polarization on the market, this technology cuts 99.9 percent of harmful glare from any flat, smooth, or shiny surface, which makes it possible to see below the surface of water, an invaluable feature for boaters and fishermen. Additionally, Maui Jim sunglasses cut 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Each style in the Collection has unique, bi-gradient mirror technology that adds protection from light through the top and bottom of each lens – basically, Maui Jim sunglasses squint for you to reduce eye fatigue.
An added benefit of PolarizedPlus2 technology is color enhancement. Maui Jim is the only company to usethree rare earth elements in its lenses which, when combined with the glare-protecting elements of each lens, result in significantly truer, more vivid colors. Blues are bluer. Greens are brighter. Reds are vibrant. Yellows pop. And whites are true.
Snug Fits and Wide Temples
All frames for water sports share similar classic features to not only block the sun’s rays, but also enhance the best features of PolarizedPlus2 technology to improve vision. Glasses should fit snugly, minimizing gaps between the glasses and the face. Additionally, all of the frames in the On the Water Collection have wide temples to reduce side-glare. The frames in On the Water Collection are all either full-frame nylon or Grilamid for lightweight, long-wearing comfort.
Functional, Anti-Corrosive Features Repel Water, Grease and Scratches
Maui Jim’s unique waterproof and oleophobic lens coatings repel water and grease, and make smudges and fingerprints easier to wipe away – both on the front and back sides of the lenses. Clearshell® scratch-resistant technology for Maui Evolution® and Polycarbonate lenses helps them perform better fo r longer – which means clearer sight. Many of the styles have rubber on the temples and/or nose bridges for added stability and grip. All of the hardware is anti-corrosive; and all styles feature spring hinges for added comfort.
The 27 sunglasses in the On the Water Collection range in price from $219 to $309 US.
