A pair of Persol sunglasses gives itself away with a few small details: a silver arrow at the hinge, a keyhole cut into the bridge and a temple that flexes to fit your head. The 649 is the model the company calls its unmistakable brand icon, and the 714 is the folding version that followed. Both are still in production.
Here is what makes them different from other pilot-shaped sunglasses, how the two models compare and where to buy a pair.
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The company
According to Persol's own history, the brand started in Turin in 1917 and has become a globally recognized example of Made in Italy craftsmanship. Persol describes its approach as meticulous attention to the tiniest details, and three of those details define the 649 and 714.
The details that matter
- The Supreme Arrow. Persol calls its arrow-shaped hinge the unquestionable emblem of the brand. The company says it was inspired by the swords of ancient warriors. It now comes in different sizes and can also be flexible.
- The Meflecto system. Persol says Meflecto was patented in the 1930s as the first flexible stem system designed for comfort. It lets the temples adapt to the shape of the wearer's face.
- The keyhole bridge. Persol says particular care goes into eliminating edges on the underside of the bridge to make the fit more comfortable, part of its goal of eyewear that feels made to measure.
The frames themselves are cut from acetate. Persol says its cellulose acetate is naturally derived and goes through thirty manual processes before it becomes a finished frame. For lenses, the company offers premium glass lenses by Barberini as well as its own Signature Lenses, and it highlights enhanced visual clarity and its expertise in polarized filters. Persol says every lens carries the Persol signature logo.
The 649
Persol describes the 649 Original as a fully constructed acetate aviator frame and says its shape has become the brand's unmistakable icon over time. The keyhole bridge, the arrow and the Meflecto system are, in Persol's words, the details that made it a timeless classic.
Persol keeps reinterpreting the shape. The company lists a version in genuine horn, an all-black edition with a total black Supreme Arrow, and a slimmer model called the PO9649S that Persol says keeps the same pilot shape in a lighter, thinner execution suited to both men and women.
The horn versions are the most unusual. Persol says each is an artisanal frame made from genuine horn, a natural material it describes as extremely light and comfortable, with the arrow engraved into the horn. Every pair has its own natural stripes, so no two frames are identical, and each comes boxed with a cream that softens the frame. Persol has also released special editions of the 649 with partners, including a limited version made in collaboration with Dedar that has a total-blue look, two red logos on the temple tips, a dedicated box, a fabric pouch and a shopper bag.
The 714
The 714 Original is the folding version of the 649. Persol says it was introduced in the 1960s, and elsewhere dates the folding model to 1963, calling the 714 the first-ever folding glasses. The company says each pair requires ten additional manufacturing steps compared with its standard models.
Persol also sells the 714SM Steve McQueen edition, which it describes as celebrating the actor with all the details of the original model he wore. The original 714 combines, in Persol's words, the iconic pilot shape, keyhole bridge, timeless acetates and foldable system into a masterpiece of Italian craftsmanship. If you want the folding idea in a lighter frame, Persol's PO9714VM keeps the 649's shape with super-thin profiles and a smaller, lighter folding system.
649 vs 714
- Get the 649 if you want the classic shape in its simplest form and you usually keep your sunglasses in a case.
- Get the 714 if you travel or want sunglasses that fold small enough for a shirt or jacket pocket.
Both share the same pilot shape, keyhole bridge, arrow and Meflecto temples, so the choice comes down to the hinge.
How to wear them
Pilot-shaped sunglasses suit a classic wardrobe. Pair a 649 or 714 with a leather jacket from our Schott Perfecto 618 guide or a waxed jacket like the Barbour Bedale. If you also wear prescription glasses, our MOSCOT frames explainer covers another family of classic acetate frames, and our Seiko 5 Sports guide finishes the look.
Buying tips
The 649 and 714 come in several lens and frame combinations, including photochromic lens options, so check the exact model number and lens type before you buy. Persol sells both directly, and its site lists every current color combination along with the lens options available for each frame. Buying from Persol or an authorized seller is the safest way to make sure you get the real thing.
Where to buy
649 Original at Persol
Persol PO0649 sunglasses
Persol PO0714 folding sunglasses
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