Persol 649 Series PO0649
Verified catalog entry: Persol's signature frame since 1957 — hand-finished acetate with the patented flexible Meflecto stem.
- Frame shape
- Rectangle
- Frame color
- Havana
- Lens
- Crystal Green Standard
- Polarized
- No
- UV protection
- UV400
- Retailer
- Amazon
- Material
- Acetate
Pros
- Handmade in Italy
- Meflecto flexible temples
- Arrow hinge detailing
Cons
- Premium price
- Not polarized
The story behind the frame
Persol was founded in Turin, Italy, in 1917; its name comes from the Italian per il sol, meaning for the sun. Its early products included protective goggles for pilots and racing drivers.
The 649 was introduced in 1957 for Turin's tram drivers, who needed eyewear that shielded them from wind and dust. Its broad brow, keyhole bridge, silver arrow hinge, and flexible Meflecto temple system made it a classic, and it remains one of the brand's defining frames. Learn more in our history of sunglasses.