Collection: Persol Sunglasses

Persol sunglasses occupy a rare place in the world of designer eyewear: quietly iconic, fiercely well-made, and beloved by people who care more about craft than logos. This collection brings together genuine Persol sunglasses — the PO3019S, the folding PO0714, the PO0649, the PO3286S and many more — every pair 100% authentic and supplied by Ardor Eyewear as an authorised UK stockist. If you appreciate hand-finished Italian acetate, crystal lenses and details that have stayed unchanged for decades because they were right the first time, Persol is the house for you. Frame prices in this collection generally run from around £115 to £240, putting genuine heritage craftsmanship within sensible reach.

Below we trace Persol's story, decode the signature details that make a Persol unmistakable, walk through the standout models in this collection, and help you choose, fit and care for a pair. There's a full FAQ for UK shoppers at the end. Let's begin where Persol itself began — in Turin, more than a century ago.

The heritage behind Persol sunglasses

Persol was founded in Turin in 1917 by Giuseppe Ratti, originally making protective eyewear for pilots and sports drivers — people who genuinely needed their glasses to perform. The name comes from "per il sole", Italian for "for the sun", and from the start the brand was about function executed with Italian artistry. Over the following decades Persol became a quiet icon, its frames chosen by film stars, artists and discerning dressers precisely because they never shouted. Steve McQueen's association with the folding 714 model turned a clever piece of engineering into a cultural touchstone, and to this day Persol sunglasses signal taste rather than status.

What sets Persol apart is that the brand never chased trends. The details that defined a Persol in the mid-twentieth century — the arrow hinge, the Meflecto flexing temples, the crystal lenses — are still here, refined but unmistakable. Buying a pair of Persol sunglasses is buying into a lineage of craftsmanship, not a passing fashion.

The signature details that define a Persol

Hold a genuine Persol and three pieces of design DNA give it away:

• The Supreme Arrow: a silver arrow-shaped metal hinge adorning the temples, inspired by the swords of ancient Italian warriors. It's both decorative and structural — and the most recognisable Persol signature.
• Meflecto system: a patented flexing temple system using small cylinders that allow the arms to bend and adapt to the wearer's head, giving Persol its famous comfort. These are sunglasses engineered to be worn all day.
• Crystal lenses: many Persol models use genuine glass (crystal) lenses, prized for their clarity, scratch resistance and the way they render colour. The optical purity of a Persol crystal lens is a large part of why devotees stay loyal.

Add to that hand-finished acetate, made in Italy, in colourways like the famous Havana tortoiseshell with its layered, hand-built depth, and you have a frame that feels different in the hand from almost anything else on the market.

Standout models in this collection

• Persol PO0714 (Folding): the legend. A folding aviator that collapses neatly to slip into a pocket, descended from the McQueen-era 714. Engineering and elegance in equal measure, and a genuine conversation piece. If the folding aviator is your draw, the wider aviator sunglasses collection is worth a look too.
• Persol PO3019S: a refined keyhole-bridge acetate frame, classic and versatile, with the Supreme Arrow on full display. A brilliant introduction to the house.
• Persol PO0649: the model that has barely changed since the 1960s, with its distinctive shape and Meflecto temples — pure, timeless Persol.
• Persol PO3286S, PO3272S and PO3152S: contemporary takes on the keyhole and squared silhouettes, blending the heritage details with modern proportions.
• Persol PO3378S (Loris): a bolder, more architectural shape for those who want the craftsmanship with a stronger presence.

Across the range you'll find keyhole bridges, soft squares, classic aviators and rounded shapes, almost all carrying the arrow hinge and the option of crystal lenses. It's a collection to explore slowly.

Who Persol sunglasses suit

Persol has a particular appeal. These are sunglasses for the person who has perhaps owned the obvious brands and now wants something with more substance and less shout. They lean classic and grown-up — equally at home with tailoring, with denim and a linen shirt, or behind the wheel of a convertible. The acetate models in warm Havana tones flatter a huge range of complexions and suit most face shapes, particularly when you match shape to face: the keyhole and square frames bring structure to softer faces, while rounded models soften angular features.

While Persol is often thought of as a men's brand thanks to its heritage, many models are genuinely unisex, and the more rounded and lighter acetate shapes work beautifully on women too. If you're shopping for everyday designer style more broadly, the men's sunglasses hub and the curated designer sunglasses UK collection sit naturally alongside this one.

Choosing your pair: shape, fit and lenses

Shape: match the frame to your face by contrast. Keyhole-bridge squares and rectangles add definition to round or soft faces; rounded and softer Persol shapes balance strong, angular features; the folding aviator is broadly flattering and a safe, stylish choice for most.

Fit: Persol's Meflecto temples adapt to your head, which helps enormously with comfort, but you should still check the lens, bridge and temple measurements against a pair you already wear happily. A keyhole bridge sits a little differently from a standard one, so pay attention to the bridge width if you have a narrow or broad nose.

Lenses: many Persol sunglasses offer crystal (glass) lenses for outstanding clarity and scratch resistance, and several are available with polarised lenses to cut glare from roads and water. If glare reduction matters to you — for driving or by the sea — look for the polarised options, and compare with our dedicated polarised sunglasses collection.

Prescription Persol sunglasses

You needn't sacrifice your vision to wear Persol. Many frames in this collection can be glazed with prescription lenses — single-vision or varifocal — so you get the house's craftsmanship and your exact correction in one pair. Prescription orders are glazed to order and typically take around 7–10 working days, with free UK delivery; non-prescription pairs are dispatched promptly. And if you love the Persol look for everyday wear, the brand's optical frames live in the Persol glasses collection, ready for clear-lens prescriptions.

Persol against the icons

It's natural to compare. Where Ray-Ban offers instantly recognisable, globally famous icons and Tom Ford offers modern luxury glamour, Persol offers heritage craftsmanship and quiet connoisseurship. A Persol is for someone who wants the people who know to notice, and everyone else to simply register that they look well-dressed. If you're weighing your options, it's worth seeing all three side by side — browse the Ray-Ban sunglasses and Tom Ford sunglasses collections to feel the difference in design language. Many of our customers end up owning a pair from more than one house for exactly that reason.

Acetate, Havana and the art of Italian finishing

A word on the material, because it's central to why a Persol feels the way it does. The acetate Persol uses is a cotton-based plastic that is cut from blocks, tumbled, and hand-polished over many stages until it develops a deep, almost liquid sheen no injection-moulded frame can match. The famous Havana finish — that warm, marbled tortoiseshell — is built up in layers, which is why no two Havana frames look exactly alike and why the colour seems to have depth rather than sitting on the surface. This is slow, skilled work, and it is the reason a Persol holds its looks for decades while cheaper frames dull and yellow.

The weight and warmth of hand-finished acetate against the skin is part of the experience, too. Pair that with metal models in the range — slimmer, lighter, with the arrow rendered in the bridge or temple — and you have a house that covers both the substantial, statement end of the spectrum and the discreet, classic end. Whichever you choose, the finishing is the constant: this is eyewear made the way it was a century ago, by people who treat it as a craft rather than a commodity.

Styling your Persol sunglasses

Persol rewards a considered wardrobe. The Havana keyhole models are the eyewear equivalent of a well-cut sports jacket — warm, versatile and quietly expensive-looking, equally right with tailoring or with chinos and a knit. Black acetate Persols bring a sharper, more graphic edge for monochrome and city dressing. The folding aviator is the natural partner to summer linen, open collars and the kind of relaxed elegance the McQueen association still conjures. Because Persol never relies on visible logos, the frames slot into almost any outfit without competing with it — they elevate quietly, which is precisely the point. For evenings and brighter days, many wearers keep a polarised pair for driving and a crystal-lens classic for everyday wear, rotating between them as the occasion demands.

Caring for your Persol sunglasses

Persol frames are built to last decades, and a little care helps them do so. Clean crystal lenses with a microfibre cloth and lens spray or warm soapy water; glass lenses are highly scratch-resistant but still benefit from gentle treatment. Store your sunglasses in their case rather than face-down, and use both hands to put them on and off so the Meflecto temples and arrow hinges keep their precise action. Keep acetate out of prolonged high heat, such as a sunlit car dashboard, which can soften the material. Have the hinges checked occasionally; a properly adjusted Persol sits and flexes exactly as intended. Treated well, a Persol becomes the kind of pair you keep for life.

Why buy Persol sunglasses from Ardor Eyewear

Every pair in this collection is genuine Persol, supplied as an authorised UK stockist — authentic Italian craftsmanship, never a copy. You get free UK shipping, a 14-day returns policy (return postage covered by you), and the option to add your prescription to many frames. With the full breadth of the range in one place — folding aviators, keyhole classics and contemporary shapes — you can find the Persol that suits your face and your life, backed by a UK retailer that specialises in authentic designer eyewear.

Frequently asked questions

What makes Persol sunglasses special?

Three things: the Supreme Arrow hinge, the patented Meflecto flexing temples for all-day comfort, and crystal (glass) lenses prized for their clarity and scratch resistance. Combined with hand-finished Italian acetate and over a century of heritage, Persol offers craftsmanship and quiet character rather than loud branding.

Are Persol lenses made of glass?

Many Persol models use genuine crystal (glass) lenses, valued for outstanding optical clarity and excellent scratch resistance. Some models use other lens materials, and several are available with polarised options for glare reduction. The product details for each frame confirm the lens type.

Are Ardor's Persol sunglasses genuine?

Yes — completely. We are an authorised stockist and every pair is 100% authentic Persol, sourced through proper channels. We never sell copies or look-alikes.

Can I get Persol sunglasses with my prescription?

Many frames in this collection can be glazed with prescription lenses, single-vision or varifocal. Choose your frame and provide your prescription; glazing takes around 7–10 working days. For clear-lens Persol frames, see the Persol glasses collection.

What is the Persol folding model?

The PO0714 folding aviator is Persol's most famous design — an aviator that folds neatly to slip into a pocket, descended from the model made famous by Steve McQueen. It pairs clever engineering with timeless style and is one of the most distinctive sunglasses you can own.

Do Persol sunglasses suit women as well as men?

Yes. Although Persol has a heritage rooted in aviators and a classically masculine reputation, many models are genuinely unisex, and the rounder, lighter acetate shapes look excellent on women. As ever, matching frame shape to face shape matters more than the label.

How much do Persol sunglasses cost at Ardor?

Frame prices in this collection generally run from around £115 to £240, depending on the model and lens type, with prescription lenses added according to your requirements. That places genuine Italian heritage eyewear at a sensible UK price.

Can I return Persol sunglasses if they don't suit me?

Non-prescription sunglasses can be returned within 14 days under our returns policy, with return postage covered by you. As prescription lenses are custom-made, please confirm your prescription before ordering bespoke lenses.