Persol sunglasses

beauxgoris · 06-12-2009

Since Ray-Ban and a few others have their own thread I was hoping we could talk about classic Persol sunglasses.

I love the look as an alternative version to wayfarers. Also they have quite a history:

"The persol 649S, created in 1957, became instant legend when Marcello Mastroianni wore them in the Pietro Germi film "Divorce Italian style". A favorite of Steve Mcqueen’s both on and off the screen. 1994's French book "qualita: scenes d'objects a l'italienne" declared it one of the objects most representative of the Italian genius of yesterday and today. "

I have been loving the ultra classic 649 and the 714 Steve Mcqueen sunglasses. I've been reading that they come in both "52" and "54" size versions. I'm unsure about what size to purchase. I was hoping others could post photos of their Persol sunglasses or photos of them wearing their Persol's. Here are the glasses:

Here are the non-folding version:

folding version:

photo credit: eyegoodies.com

beauxgoris · 06-12-2009

Steve Mcqeen:

photo credit: www.skylighters.org

"Persol Model 649s, designed for tram drivers in Turin who needed large glasses to protect their eyes against wind and dust, first hit the stores in 1957.

The uniqueness of the 649 design made it an instant success, and many knock-offs were created by Persol's competitors.

Persol, founded in the early 1920s, started out making aviator glasses for the Italian Air Force and racing googles for the legendary Italian driver Fangio. In 1961 Persols became iconic when Marcello Mastroianni wore them in the film "Divorce Italian Style."

The 649's lenses are made of real crystal and have the Persol trademark arrowhead etchings in the corners. The collapsible frames also sport the patented "Meflecto" joints, Meflecto GTOs to be precise.

The particular Persols McQueen wore in that ultracool crime caper "The Thomas Crown Affair" were actually customs, with icy blue lenses, made by Hollywood eyeglass designer Dennis Roberts. Roberts, the owner of Optique Boutique, made 800 (not a typo!) pairs of sunglasses for McQueen alone in his lifetime, many of them riffs on the popular Persols. He also created outlandish eyeware for Elton John, Elvis Presley (including the famous TCB glasses), one-eyed Black Rat Packer Sammy Davis, Jr., Jimi Hendrix, Liberace, Peter Sellers, Bobby Darin, Cary Grant, Jim Morrison, and John Belushi (the yellow-tinted "Bees"), among others.

If you run across a pair of 649s in your own attempts to be like Steve, check for the word "Ratti" on the temples — this identifies the original factory at which Persol used to manufacture their sunglasses, and is an indicator that you have your hands on an "original" — made before Persol was sold to mass manufacturer Luxottica. Only on the older, true vintage pieces, will you find the words "Ratti" inscribed on the stems."

beauxgoris · 06-12-2009

The black on Michelle Williams:

photo credit: michellewilliams-fan.com

Ryan Weld · 06-12-2009

I've always wanted a pair of tortoiseshell Persols, but they are too narrow for my face.

Thefrenchy · 06-12-2009

Excuse my crazy face

beauxgoris · 06-12-2009

Thefrenchy - thank you for posting a photo. Those look fantastic on you! What size are your glasses? 54 or 52?

Thanks so much!

p.s. I wear Ray-Ban wayfarers in the "54" size - I'm just worried that these might look too big on me in that size. However the smaller version on Michelle Williams (above) look too small for my giant head..... Just not sure.

Does anyone know what size the "original 714" was? (Steve Mcqueen's version)

Thefrenchy · 06-12-2009

Thank you

They're 52

robertocavalli · 06-12-2009

sweet! they are gorgeous. very italian indeed

beauxgoris · 06-12-2009

I wonder why they look so tiny on Michelle Williams?

beauxgoris · 11-12-2009

bump

beauxgoris · 14-12-2009

I love these glasses, but they keep sliding down my nose.

I wonder if there's anything I can do to correct this?

beauxgoris · 16-12-2009

I went with these:

image: eurosunglasses.com

beauxgoris · 23-12-2009

ugh - I'm so bummed I can't keep these on the bridge of my nose (I have a tiny nose and the bridge area on these glasses is quite thick/heavy). Any suggestions? Someone mentioned going to a eyeglass store and having them bend the arms so they curve behind my ears more - but I'm worried it will pinch and give me headaches.

sigh

softgrey · 02-01-2010

there's definitely a 'cool' factor with this brand...in a groovy vintage sort of way....
but- they really don't look good on everyone...
i have tried several styles over the years and haven't ever found one that works on my face...

so these are a 'no go' for me...

beauxgoris · 04-01-2010

So I switched sizes and that seemed to help. I had "52's" but traded in for "54's" and they go with my face much better. I do have to have the back ear pieces adjusted though so that they still don't slip down at all. They remind me of wayfarers - but more grown up... cooler - or maybe just more elite since they're less known. (but I still love all my ray-ban sunnies too!)

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06-12-2009	1
beauxgoris trendsetter Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 1,262	Persol sunglasses Since Ray-Ban and a few others have their own thread I was hoping we could talk about classic Persol sunglasses. I love the look as an alternative version to wayfarers. Also they have quite a history: "The persol 649S, created in 1957, became instant legend when Marcello Mastroianni wore them in the Pietro Germi film "Divorce Italian style". A favorite of Steve Mcqueen’s both on and off the screen. 1994's French book "qualita: scenes d'objects a l'italienne" declared it one of the objects most representative of the Italian genius of yesterday and today. " I have been loving the ultra classic 649 and the 714 Steve Mcqueen sunglasses. I've been reading that they come in both "52" and "54" size versions. I'm unsure about what size to purchase. I was hoping others could post photos of their Persol sunglasses or photos of them wearing their Persol's. Here are the glasses: Here are the non-folding version: folding version: photo credit: eyegoodies.com

06-12-2009	2
beauxgoris trendsetter Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 1,262	Steve Mcqeen: photo credit: www.skylighters.org "Persol Model 649s, designed for tram drivers in Turin who needed large glasses to protect their eyes against wind and dust, first hit the stores in 1957. The uniqueness of the 649 design made it an instant success, and many knock-offs were created by Persol's competitors. Persol, founded in the early 1920s, started out making aviator glasses for the Italian Air Force and racing googles for the legendary Italian driver Fangio. In 1961 Persols became iconic when Marcello Mastroianni wore them in the film "Divorce Italian Style." The 649's lenses are made of real crystal and have the Persol trademark arrowhead etchings in the corners. The collapsible frames also sport the patented "Meflecto" joints, Meflecto GTOs to be precise. The particular Persols McQueen wore in that ultracool crime caper "The Thomas Crown Affair" were actually customs, with icy blue lenses, made by Hollywood eyeglass designer Dennis Roberts. Roberts, the owner of Optique Boutique, made 800 (not a typo!) pairs of sunglasses for McQueen alone in his lifetime, many of them riffs on the popular Persols. He also created outlandish eyeware for Elton John, Elvis Presley (including the famous TCB glasses), one-eyed Black Rat Packer Sammy Davis, Jr., Jimi Hendrix, Liberace, Peter Sellers, Bobby Darin, Cary Grant, Jim Morrison, and John Belushi (the yellow-tinted "Bees"), among others. If you run across a pair of 649s in your own attempts to be like Steve, check for the word "Ratti" on the temples — this identifies the original factory at which Persol used to manufacture their sunglasses, and is an indicator that you have your hands on an "original" — made before Persol was sold to mass manufacturer Luxottica. Only on the older, true vintage pieces, will you find the words "Ratti" inscribed on the stems."

06-12-2009	3
beauxgoris trendsetter Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 1,262	The black on Michelle Williams: photo credit: michellewilliams-fan.com

06-12-2009	4
Ryan Weld rising star Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Australia Gender: homme Posts: 184	I've always wanted a pair of tortoiseshell Persols, but they are too narrow for my face.

06-12-2009	5
Thefrenchy Bourgeoisie moderne Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Paris. Gender: homme Posts: 10,591	Excuse my crazy face __________________

06-12-2009	7
Thefrenchy Bourgeoisie moderne Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Paris. Gender: homme Posts: 10,591	Thank you They're 52 __________________

06-12-2009	8
robertocavalli rising star Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Athens, Greece Gender: femme Posts: 140	sweet! they are gorgeous. very italian indeed

11-12-2009	10
beauxgoris trendsetter Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 1,262	bump

14-12-2009	11
beauxgoris trendsetter Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 1,262	I love these glasses, but they keep sliding down my nose. I wonder if there's anything I can do to correct this?

16-12-2009	12
beauxgoris trendsetter Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 1,262	I went with these: image: eurosunglasses.com

23-12-2009	13
beauxgoris trendsetter Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 1,262	ugh - I'm so bummed I can't keep these on the bridge of my nose (I have a tiny nose and the bridge area on these glasses is quite thick/heavy). Any suggestions? Someone mentioned going to a eyeglass store and having them bend the arms so they curve behind my ears more - but I'm worried it will pinch and give me headaches. sigh

02-01-2010	14
softgrey flaunt the imperfection.. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: downtown... Gender: femme Posts: 50,054	there's definitely a 'cool' factor with this brand...in a groovy vintage sort of way.... but- they really don't look good on everyone... i have tried several styles over the years and haven't ever found one that works on my face... so these are a 'no go' for me... __________________ "It is not money that makes you well dressed: it is understanding." ChristianDior

04-01-2010	15
beauxgoris trendsetter Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 1,262	So I switched sizes and that seemed to help. I had "52's" but traded in for "54's" and they go with my face much better. I do have to have the back ear pieces adjusted though so that they still don't slip down at all. They remind me of wayfarers - but more grown up... cooler - or maybe just more elite since they're less known. (but I still love all my ray-ban sunnies too!)