PERSOL 649, STEVE MCQUEEN AND THE 714: A CINEMATIC STORY

The Persol 649 is one of the most recognizable shapes in Italian eyewear. Its history spans the trams of Turin, Italian cinema, and the image of Steve McQueen.

The 649 was born to work

In 1957, Persol designed the 649 for Turin’s tram drivers: a large frame, conceived to protect against sun, air, and dust while driving open trams. It was, therefore, not created as a fashion accessory, but as a functional object.

However, the shape soon found another life. Marcello Mastroianni helped cement it in the Italian cinematic imagination by wearing a 649 in Divorce Italian Style (1961).

Steve McQueen: 649 and 714 are not the same thing

Steve McQueen owned and wore Persol 649s, even off-set. The model most precisely associated with The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), however, is the foldable 714: Persol developed its structure by using the broad silhouette of the 649 as a base.

For this reason, speaking of the “Steve McQueen Persol” can cause confusion. The 649 belongs to the history and visual language of the actor; the 714 is the foldable version that became the cinematic icon.

Why this story is still relevant

The charm of the 649 does not depend on a simple citation. It depends on the fact that its initial function, the Persol construction, and its subsequent appearances on screen have created a model that has remained recognizable for decades.

In product descriptions, it is correct to speak of the model's historical connection with McQueen, but do not attribute a single vintage pair to the film without documented provenance.

Discover the vintage Persol available and always verify the model, measurements, materials, and condition of each individual piece.