My first Rep Glasses order from Jimi.
I got a few glasses to try a few things out. I talked to a few TD's and all were pretty equally helpful. One TD did stop communicating with me. As I put in an order, and has never gotten back to me. I wanted to test out different sellers and have something to compare. But I think the holiday interrupted things. If that person ever does respond to my message I was planning on still ordering so I might do it in the reply to this or I might start a separate thread. All the TD's did seem pretty equally helpful while they were responding and the TD that stopped responding has a good reputation here, so i don't want to hold it against them.
With all that said, Jimi is the only one that has an actual website that you can order from. That makes things easier. He also was the only one who can take credit card directly through his website, which gives me added protection as a US citizen. It's also just 10x easier.
Anyways after I ordered i sat back and waited. I ordered 11 pairs of glasses. 10 of those with my prescription and one with the regular sunglasses lenses that it came with. One of those 10 also had a custom gradient tint. I'd have to go back and look to be sure but I think it took a total of like 10 days to get QC on all glasses. I approved and they were sent to me. We'll packaged well packed and wrapped in bubble wrap and secure in the box. Unfortunately one of the glasses didnt survive. The DITA Hyperlux 3000. Smaller lens and rimless design. I literally unboxed this about 1 hour ago and texted pictures to Jimi right away and we're working on a solution already, Jimi has already reached out to the shipping company because it was damaged in transport. I'll update the comments with the resolution.
For the actual review. The acetate chrome hearts both Vagilionaire and Pen15 felt significantly higher quality than the rest. The JMM full acetate ones (Petrus, Dayton, Molino55) weren't all that far behind but the hinges felt cheaper and less smooth. To me. The "gold" chrome hearts Bonenenoseur weirdly felt better smoother and even slightly heavier than the silver ones. Both Bonennoseur (i got one in green with green gradient lenses and the gem set black ones) were from the 925 silver line and cost more than double what the 2 acetate ones cost. I can't visibly see the difference in my particular glasses and won't pay the premium on future orders.
The JMM Worland felt cheap. Like $5 gas station glasses cheap. The metal felt cheap the hinges felt cheap. The acetate actually looks better than I expected though. The other glasses that had hybrid constructions felt better than that Worland. The Sartre and Silverton. But all of them with nose pads rattle and made them feel cheap.
For looks alone though they look great. Wearing they dont feel luxury compared to some higher tier glasses I have already. Not even premium, just like Tom Ford, Cazal and Cutler and Gross. But regardless of what they look like they do look like the real deal. Anyone not intimately familiar with the brand and all of their offerings and colorways won't know they're not authentic. Even if you tell them they're JMM or Chrome Hearts and they look it up on their phone and compare they won't know. But once you take them off and let them touch them theres no hiding the difference. If thats what matters to you.
Not a replica, but I have bought glasses from cheap brands like Jollynova and Southhood. And lower tier designers like Donahue and James Oro. The quality of the acetate on these is better than the cheap online brands and as good as the lower level independent designers. The hinges and metalware is on par with the cheap brands but probably a slight step down from independent designers.
The lenses I got from Jimi were all near enough to my prescription that they weren't immediately obvious of any defects. All were clear. All free from anything obvious. I wear progressives and tried each pair on one at a time and read a poster across the room and then read fine print on some papers I had at hand. I got various levels of lenses from various brands and had one pair custom tinted. Including even tried a couple glasses with the cheapest progressive lenses Jimi had available. Something like $29.99? Obviously no coatings or anything on them but they're perfectly fine as expected lenses. I'm very satisfied with my lenses.
Overall I'm already planning another order and I will most likely use Jimi again. Depending on the situation with the DITA. I wanted to compare other TD's but one hasn't responded and another quoted me higher prices than what was posted visibly online on Jimis website and raised additional hurdles in order to accept payment. I will say in the future I will probably stick to full acetate frames with built in bridges vs nose pads. But if thats my biggest complaint I think that says more than anything.
***********EDIT TO ADD***********
I have gotten a bunch of requests for the website, and several in the comments have asked. I don't want to advertise for anyone or sound like the bots that are on so many of these posts. So I was not including the website. But it is literally posted right here on the group header.