We share our in-depth honest review of Persol sunglasses that has long been iconic ever since Steve McQueen wore them. Specifically, we discuss the style 649,714, and the Steve McQueen, and we will talk about whether it is worth your money or not.
Why Is persol iconic?
They Introduced The Maflecto System
It was started in 1917 by Guiseppe Ratti as a luxury sunglass brand focusing on athletes and aviators. In the 1930s, Persol was responsible for a leap forward in the sunglass world by introducing what they call the Maflecto System. Basically, it is a flexible metal item inside the temple that is constructed in a way so it is flexible and it adjusts more to your head shape so you do not have pressure points that are uncomfortable. To my knowledge, no other major brand actually uses that system today.
In 1957, Persol created the model 649. It was designed for tram drivers in Milan. The idea was that the large frame protected them from light and dust. Looking back, the model 64 clearly marked the beginning of Persol as a fashion sunglass brand even though at the time, they did not see themselves as that. I mean, just look at those sunglasses, don’t they want to make you be a tram driver in Milan?
A little later in the 60s, model 714 was introduced to the market which had a novelty in the sense that it could be folded. Apart from minor changes, it is basically the model 649 that can be folded. Persol sunglasses debuted in the US in 1962. By 1968, Steve McQueen famously wore them in the movie “Thomas Crown Affair”. The model was the caramel brown acetate with the light blue lenses. This appearance really put Persol on the map and the 741 style became synonymous with the brand Persol which is why we are reviewing that specific model and not all the others that they offer today. Steve McQueen wore those sunglasses so much that he did not just wear them in the movie but he would also be often seen wearing them in his spare time. Ultimately, these Persol sunglasses became the quintessential “Steve McQueen look” especially when paired with a Baracuta G9 Harrington jacket.
Persol was acquired in 1995 by Luxottica which is the world’s largest eyewear brand. With over 9 billion dollars revenue a year, it seems like almost every major brand has their sunglasses produced by Luxottica. Nevertheless, Persol sunglasses are still made in Italy and the iconic hallmark of them is that silver arrow that you can see at the beginning of the temple.
What Makes Persol Sunglasses Famous?
Basically, it comes down to star power. Apart from Steve McQueen in the 60s and 70s, Jay-Z, Pierce Brosnan, Leo Dicaprio, and Ryan Gosling are all big fans of Persol sunglasses these days. Overall, they are worn by the public no matter young or old and it is truly one of those items that have not gone out of style in the last 50 or 60 years. No matter if you like the classic 649 style or the foldable 714, the designs have not changed much since the 1960s and it is just a popular sunglass choice with all kinds of people.
The secret behind this is that they probably flatter men of all ages. If you are a younger fellow, it makes you look more mature. On the flip side, if you are an older gentleman, they make you look vintage, cool, and seasoned, not outdated. In my opinion, another secret for their success is they really bridge the gap between formal and casual extremely well. Most sunglasses are either formal or casual alone. Persol sunglasses, the 649, 714, and the Steve McQueen, they are right in the middle of that spectrum. Because of that, they can be worn with a three-piece suit, just like Steve McQueen did in the Thomas Crown Affair, or you can wear it very casually at the pool or with your Harrington jacket. At the end of the day, this style of Persol sunglasses has proven to be one of the most versatile frames out there.
Persol 649, 714, & Steve McQueen Models
They are all manufactured in Turin, Italy. They are made out of acetate which is much more expensive to handle because it has to be cut and hand polished so there is more waste. At the same time, you do not see the seams of injection molded sunglasses which you usually find in the market today.
Similarities & Differences
So of all those styles, they are so similar, why are reviewing three different pairs of sunglasses? Well, first of all, the 649 is the least expensive version, it is the entry version, it is the oldest version and it is not collapsible. Also, if you compare the three frames, it is a little more straight in the front and less angled than the 714 and the Steve McQueen. Otherwise, in terms of shape and height, they are pretty much the same. The entry price of the 649 is $260 and you have to add $50 for polarized lenses. If you want to go with the 714, you have to add $60 to that so basically, the price is $320 and $370 for polarized lenses. If you want the original Steve McQueen model, you have to shell out $480.
To make the 714 collapsible, you have a hinge in the middle and you can bend down the temples of the sunglasses. Now, the Steve McQueen one is slightly different in the sense that you fold the temples towards the sunglass lenses. Also, if you look at the temples, the 714 and the 649 have that arrow design that points away from the frame versus the Steve McQueen pair of sunglasses have a total of three arrows. Actually, that’s a really small detail on the Steve McQueen sunglasses so unless you like the color combinations of the Steve McQueen models and dislike the others, I do not think it is worth the extra mark up.
Are These Persol Models Worth it?
Persol 649
Well, I think $260 for the 649 style is definitely worth it. It is a very classic style; you can wear it for years to come. You can wear it formally, informally, casually, or anything in between and unless you lose them, the cost per wear is probably really good. Today, you can wear sunglasses year round and the style has been proven to be timeless which is exactly the kind of product we, at the Gentleman’s Gazette, like.
It may seem expensive up front but they have a nice solid weight, the lenses are also good, I particularly like the polarized lenses. On top of that, you get those frames in small and standard. Since I have a bigger head, all of those models are a standard size. They got a nice cardboard box and inside, the sunglass case seems to be imitation leather. At the end of the day, for me, it is all about the sunglasses. At $260, I think it is a worthwhile investment if you can afford them.
Persol 714
The 714 model lets you fold the sunglasses in a very compact way. Personally, I’ve had that model for two years and I’ve only folded them that way twice. It just takes more time and it is almost impossible to put on sunglasses that are folded with just one hand quickly so I usually just wear them like a regular pair of sunglasses and so you might just want to go with the 641 style, not with the 714. That being said, I like the slightly more angled crown of the 714, the 649 is just a little flat. That being said, I’d probably still go for the 714 simply because of the style, for pure value, I prefer the 649.
Steve McQueen
The Steve McQueen edition is basically the same model as the 714 with the exception of temple design. The Steve McQueen is folded forward, the 714 is folded downward on the temple. Otherwise, the case if the Steve McQueen is a lot nicer but like I said, I would not use it anyways but if you really like the color acetate combination with the blue lenses, it is just a cool iconic look and of course, it is always a good story to tell. In my opinion, though, $480 which is $220 above the basic version is not really justified so if value is important to you and you want to go for the basic style, the 649 is where it is at.
Good morning Raphael and happy 4th to You and yours as well……..
Just curious, is there a reason why all your references to “Persol …” and “Steve McQueen” appeared to be scored or lined out?
Thank you,
James
I’ve had the 649 a few years now. Wanted them and then found them on sale somewhere for about $75, so snap, bought them up. The only problem I have found is when going to get them lensed, or re-lensed, even the “expensive” eye wear places give me the scare: “We won’t accept responsibility if we damage them” After visiting four different vendors, I found one without the disclaimer. BUT they charged a gazillion for lenses. So.. worth it? yea. I prolly am gonna buy the folding 714’s, if I find them on sale some where… I keep about 3 pairs in use. One in the car, one on my head, and one ready for the pool,beach.
Thanks for sharing, Michael.
A great online site for the Persol sunglasses range is Grandoptical based in Spain. I have bought the models 714 and 649 from them and found their service good, but not always super rapid and very competively priced.
George Clooney, too, often wears Persol.
How about “Are They Worth It?”
I have worn both the 649 and the 714 for several years along with Ray Ban Wayfarer and Aviators. I love each but the multiple hinges on the 714 need adjusting and I can’t find anyone to do it. The Persols can be found discounted at reputable dealers.
As with most fashion items , if you feel it suits you and it gives you the right feeling wearing it then, to a degree, price becomes irrelevant .
Nice looking glasses. I seem to be rather hard on sunglasses, collecting scratches anywhere and everywhere. Consequently I wear shatterproof glass lenses, mainly Vuarnet, and eye protection sunglasses for horseback riding.
Eyevan uses a method similar to the persol mafflecto in a few of their models as well (look up the 768) – they sandwich a thin frame of titanium between the frame acetate to give it a considerable springiness which feels like they conform to your face.
The thing I’ve never liked about Persol is that the slits they employ are prone to collecting dirt and dust. They’re classics for sure, though. Timeless design.
Why tell us all about Jay-Z, Pierce Brosnan, Leo Dicaprio, Ryan Gosling and Steve McQueen when you promise things like style backed by history, not the cult of the celebrity?
What do you mean when you say that some sunglasses are dressier than others? Would a pair of Rayban Wayfarers RB2140 be “dressier” than a pair of Steve Mcqueen Persols?
Thank you very for your work. Take care!
Excellent article as always.
The first popular culture influence for Persol though was, Marcello Mastroianni wearing the 649s in “Divorce Italian Style”.
Me, I came for the style and have stayed for the comfort of Persol, including their vision wear.
This is a great article about my favorite sunglasses. I do wish that you would correct the typos in a few places with the model numbers though. I have only seen Steve McQueen wear the light frames with the blue lenses once, in the cemetery scene in The Thomas Crown Affair. He almost always wore Persol dark Havana frames with brown lenses in both his movies and in his personal life. He even wore the brown lenses in the remaining scenes in The Thomas Crown Affair in which he wore sunglasses. I have the 649 for a couple of reasons. The 714 has five hinges and the 649 only has two. That is three extra hinges that can come loose, need adjustment, or break. I think the 649 is sturdier than the 714. I have read that some people have problems with the 714’s temple arms scratching the lenses when they are stored in the folded position. I read that one person put his cleaning cloth between the arms and the lenses when folded to try to prevent this. Steve McQueen had plenty of money to replace his 714 if there was a problem, but I don’t. Besides, I have to have prescription lenses put in mine, so the possibility of the 649 being sturdier made sense to me. One other comment I would like to make. The photo of Steve McQueen driving a car was taken with Steve McQueen driving his Jaguar XKSS at break-neck speed on Mulholland Drive in 1963. The photographer stood up in the passenger seat to get the shot. You stated that he was wearing a pair of 649 in the photo. While it is difficult to tell, they may be a pair of 714. It looks like there is metal above the nose and a glint of metal on the temple arm. However, there is also a similar reflection above the left lense, so these may just be reflections of light. The nose pad does look a little more like a pair of 649. I have had a hard time deciding which model they are. Personally, I hope they are a pair of 649 to provide provenance that Steve McQueen wore the same model that I wear. Thank you again for a great article.