Persol Sunglasses

Persol the brand

Listed as one of the oldest makers of eyewear, Persol is of Italian origin and was started in 1917 by Giuseppe Ratti. The original products were targeted towards pilots and drivers, as was most of the culture and style of the time. A silver arrow is the design element that still holds today; immediately recognizable as the Persol arrow.

Persol is still grounded in their craftsmanship from that era and even today each frame is made by hand in Italy. The brand was bought by the eyewear conglomerate  EssilorLuxottica and is owned by them now.

The Persol sunglasses range

Today the Persol sunglasses range has a very large selection to choose from. The designs although modern as well somehow manage to retain a classic feel to them, this speaks highly in favour of the brand; the ability to modernise without compromising on their classic elements. This is one of the main factors for Persol's success over the years.

One can find any number of shapes, from circular to square to cat-inspired or the retro shades that are a lot larger.

There are many classic lines but none as classic as the Persol 649 and Persol 714 variety. The Persol 714 is more so due to the fact that Steve McQueen was known to wear this style. He is said to have arrived on the set of The Thomas Crown Affair, donning a pair of the 714s, stamping approval onto the Persol brand. Today Persol has his name attached to this line, along with a special model that has 24k gold-infused.

The range of colours and patterns that are available in the frame are also quite varied, the same model can have 3 or over a dozen different colour options. They also have another variation that is related to the lenses, giving one the option to choose various tints or gradients. Between this and the different styles, one can customise their look to quite a degree.

Comments

Persol is still one of the foremost brands that make handmade sunglasses, the material and finish quality are top-notch. The price of Persol sunglasses is from a high range, some models like the Steve McQueen edition 714s are even more expensive.