History
The GoldenEye is a Custom Products AXL with a 24-karat gold electroplate finish, billed at release as “the yo-yo industry’s first and only 24-carat gold-plated yo-yo and yo-yo stand.” The yo-yo itself sold for $80, with the matching gold display stand available separately for $40, making the full set $120. It shipped in a plastic case with a royal blue velvet carrying bag and two strings, and included both ball bearing and metal fixed axle options.
The debut run lacked face engraving — a distinguishing detail from later manufacturing iterations. The gold plating is extremely delicate and collectors are advised to use only a soft polishing cloth. The GoldenEye uses a Modified shape (like the AXL), while its butterfly-shaped counterpart was released as the GoldenFly. Both products are long discontinued. A “Very Rare” variant exists without the “24k” stamp engraving on the body, noted as extra rare by collectors.
The original manufacturer is listed as Mesa Custom Machining Corporation in Gilbert, Arizona — the parent company behind the Custom Yo-Yo and later Custom Products brand.
