Founded over a century ago, Persol is undoubtedly one of the world's most respected and well-known eyewear manufacturers of all time, and one of the oldest still in operation. Headquartered in the Italian city of Turin, Persol boasts an ever-growing range of glasses. Although most individuals are well aware of the Persol name, far fewer know exactly what it is that makes the company so legendary and what sets Persol eyewear apart from the rest.
The history of Persol glasses
He originally founded the company we know today as Persol Giuseppe Ratti in 1917. Ratti was a photography enthusiast and eyeglass expert, and was employed by the Berry family opticians. In his daily work, he regularly interacted with airline pilots who complained of discomfort and glare on their glasses. This ultimately prompted Giuseppe to design what became Persol's inaugural offering – "Protector". From there, Ratti and his Persol brand grew, and with success came new innovations. One important example is the Persol system "Maflecto", which was patented in the 1930s and consists of a flexible metal part that allows the frame to rotate and bend to better adapt to the user's head. Although the company originally produced glasses exclusively for pilots and drivers, it didn't take long for the fashion world to take an interest in the glasses. The appearance of glasses in Hollywood blockbusters mainly contributed to this. In the 60s of the last century, they were worn that way Marcello Mastroianni, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. This gave Persol glasses an iconic status that continues to this day.
Quality and tradition
Aesthetic design is only one of the features of the products of the elite Italian manufacturer. Persol's glasses boast an exceptional level of attention to detail, use the best materials and are expertly crafted. All this makes Persol glasses unique, justifying the high prices and legendary status of the company in the fashion world. Persol's trademark is also the recognizable logo Silver Arrow, present on almost every pair of glasses.
The attractive features of Persol glasses have long caught the eye of the Hollywood elite, and in recent years they have been worn by everyone from From Jay-Z and Chris Brown, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Gosling to Justin Timberlake and Johnny Depp. The glasses appear in a number of notable TV series and movies, and were worn by them, among others Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale and Álvaro Morte as Sergio “El Profesor” Marquina in Netflix's Spanish hit La Casa De Papel.
The 7 most iconic models of Persol glasses
Now that we know the history of Persol and the aspects that make the company so respectable, let's delve into some of the most important models currently in production.
649 Original
Persol 649 Original first appeared in 1957 and were popularized by Marcello Mastroianni in the movie Divorce the Italian way. Originally, this model was designed specifically for public transport drivers in Turin. Embellished with the distinguished and distinctive Silver Arrow logos, the 649 Original is now available in a wide range of frame and lens color options. More than six decades after its release, the 649 remains an icon among eyewear and one of the company's best-selling models. And although Steve McQueen is better known for another model of Persol glasses, the “King of Cool” also wore 649 glasses.
BUY PERSOL 649 ORIGINAL GLASSES
Persol 714
The iconic 714 is actually based on the 649, although it has been largely revised and reworked with a thinner frame, a flatter line and a sharper point under the bridge with more space separating the two lenses. One of the most important features of the 714 is the additional hinge located in the middle of the bridge of the nose and a second pair of hinges found halfway up each arm, which together allow these timeless glasses to fold into a compact, pocketable form that can be stored in the included case. Like the 649, the 714 has been one of Persol's most popular selling products for decades, so the Italian company now produces the 714 in a wide variety of frame and lens options.
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Persol 714SM
This version of the 714 – which is also the world's first folding sunglasses – maintains the silhouette of the regular model but adds countless details. This limited edition 714 worn by Steve McQueen comes from Persol in a uniquely designed brown leather carrying case, with an antique brass clasp. The special edition also boasts an embossed Persol logo and “Steve McQueen” text, which is also embossed into the leather.
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Persol 3210
The look of the Persol 3210 sunglasses is more minimalist and boasts a smaller frame than its predecessors 649 and 714, although its details are no less elegant or timeless. Equipped with all Persol features, it has the Meflecto system, hand-crafted acetate frames, crystal lenses and smaller but still instantly recognizable arrow hinges. A new element of the 3210, however, is the bridge design, which consists of a slightly bent piece of metal. Like Persol's other highly popular models, the 3210 is available in a wide range of frame and lens color options, including a version of the iconic Italian brand's Key West Collection.
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Persol 3048
The Persol 3048 has been designed to be in line with modern wayfarer eyewear without losing any of the distinctive features that make Persol eyewear so sought after. The traditional silhouette of wayfarer sunglasses is created by acetate frames and Persol arms, which are hinged to the main body. Persol's Meflecto system is also still present, as are the crystal lenses. Anyone who isn't keen on the tortoiseshell look, but is still interested in the 3048, can also get this in a solid black acetate construction version, and can also choose from several semi-transparent solid color options.
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Persol 3199
Persol 3199 have a slightly different design. They have a wider brow line connected to a metal bridge that supports the lenses encased in a thin metal frame. The 3199 is available in regular solid frames and in tortoiseshell, and is sold with solid or gradient lenses, although one of the standout features of many of the 3199 models is the use of lightly blended acetates with dramatic contrasting colors that create an almost marbled look.
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El Professor Sergio (PO3235S)
One of the more famous examples of Persol glasses featured in film and television in recent times is the Netflix series Casa de Papel, in which the leader of “El Profesor” wore the iconic pair of aviators. The collaboration with the series resulted in four special models, including a replica of the professor's glasses “El Profesor Sergio”. These acetate-framed aviators have a number of unique details that set them apart from the existing 3235. The most notable details are the 24k gold-plated metal elements. As usual, the 3235 is sold in a number of frame and lens options, with ten variants currently on sale.
BUY PERSOL 3235S GLASSES – EL PROFESSOR SERGIO
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