Persol 714 sunglasses

I declare myself the winner in this summer's Steve McQueen off between Pesco and me. Typically we find some extremely awesome thing about THE KING OF COOL and then abusively research until one of us shows up wearing, driving or holding it. Last week I received my Persol 714s.

McQueen was a huge fan of Persol and reputedly had hundreds of pairs. He'd send them to an optician/friend and have them modified with his well-known Thomas Crowne Affair blue lenses. McQueen also wore the 649s. I prefer the 714 because they fold and are easy to put in the pocket of my Belstaff Trialmaster (Pesco went with the Barbour International.)

They are substantial, a bit heavy on the face and pleasure to handle. Persols are extremely well-made as the price would suggest. I am enamored.

Jason Weisberger is Boing Boing's publisher. He often does what he ought, instead of what he should. On instagram and twitter he is @jlw

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aenik

sigh. Pesco and me.
- http://stalk.mkstvns.com/ Mike Stevens
  
  Is “Pesco and I” not correct? Jesus, everything I was taught in primary school… unless I’ve simply remembered it wrong, haha.
  - http://boingboing.net/ Jason Weisberger
    
    http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/i-or-me
    
    Changed. I’m actually not 100% sure but I am willing to trust aenik — comments are NEVER WRONG.
    
    Thanks aenik.
  - Antinous / Moderator
    
    ‘Pesco’ and ‘me’ are objects of the preposition ‘between’.
    - http://boingboing.net/ Jason Weisberger
      
      Comments are never wrong.
http://twitter.com/mgmars Michael Mars

Haven’t you heard? Glasses are the new fedoras.
http://johnkgoodman.com/ John K Goodman

they are nice! a little homage as well I think to the RayBan wayfarer, and my personal favorite, the Traditionals Premiere Combo A
- http://boingboing.net/ Jason Weisberger
  
  Those are lovely. The Wayfarer was my sunglass of choice for well over a decade. I am also a HUGE fan of the RayBan Round — which are the famous John Lennon ones. RayBan re-released them last year (?) as part of the Legends collection.
  
  I think I’ll likely swap between the Persol 714s and the RayBans (both) for a long, long time.
  - http://johnkgoodman.com/ John K Goodman
    
    Then I bet you would like these vintage folding Matsudas , very cool.
    
    And, I just saw another pair of the Premiere Combo A on there too in grey tortoiseshell with the original sticker on the lens, wow!
    - http://boingboing.net/ Jason Weisberger
      
      Wow. I really love those RayBans, they’re lovely.
      
      I remember some folding RB aviators as a kid but they were flimsy…
      - http://johnkgoodman.com/ John K Goodman
        
        and they’re sold! that was fast….here’s another pair of the same variety
http://twitter.com/SunShine_K SunShine_K

Ive had my McQueen Persol’s since early 2012, but I find they sometimes slip off my nose…A LOT.
JoshP

Been wearing my Belstaff Classic as a riding jacket for 11 years or so… Not one broken hem, the zipper is still pristine and the jacket still repels a bit of water from the original waxing. Unfortunately I got mine when they were experimenting with velcro neck closures and plastic waist buckles.
- http://boingboing.net/ Jason Weisberger
  
  Nice. My Belstaff Icon S is cute but really more for fashion than riding. The Belstaff Knockhill Trialmaster, however, feels like a milspec motorcycle jacket. I adore it.
  
  I hear that there are all sorts of changes, good and bad, coming with the new Italian ownership of Belstaff. I certainly love the new jackets look.
Antinous / Moderator

Steve McQueen was pretty much the creepiest loser of his generation. Not sure why anyone would want to emulate him.
- pesco
  
  I don’t want to emulate him. I’d just like to pilfer his closet.
- Layne
  
  From what I’d heard, he was actually a pretty decent guy.
  Grew up in a boys home and made it a point to try and support/improve those kinds of institutions after he became famous.
  
  He also invented the bucket seat…so there’s that.
  - Antinous / Moderator
    
    Fulminating supporter of the Vietnam War, cheated on and abused his wives physically and emotionally, drank/smoked/drugged himself to death at age 50. He was an unpleasant, out of control ten year-old in an adult body. He’s not even liked here, where people worship dead conservative celebrities. Because he lived here and people knew him.
http://www.facebook.com/matthew.thompson.5817 Matthew Thompson

I love my Persols. BTW, the 714s were also the glasses worn by Mastroianni in La Dolce Vita.
ROSSINDETROIT

The 714s are fantastic. Pick up a pair and work the precision hinges in the nose piece and stems. Fancy old world craftsmanship in a world of fads and trends. I had to settle for a different Persol model for my sunglasses, as I wear prescription lenses and they’re not recommended for the 714. My everyday Persols are 2938-V. Rugged and comfortable.
Chesterfield

Where did you buy them? The Persol website is confusing enough that I can’t figure out how to buy the damned things.
- http://boingboing.net/ Jason Weisberger
  
  Gaffos.com had them. Sorry I am iPad based right now and can’t find the exact link!
http://www.oeilgauche.com/ Ludovic Pessot

Bought them just in time for my trip to California last Spring, I wore them almost constantly whenever I was outside. Awesome glasses, very comfortable in spite of their weight. I never fold them though, ’cause it’s a bit of a hassle.