eddiey18's Full Review: Persol Po 714 Crystal Polarized Sunglasses, 52 21
PERSOL 714 Polarized Sunglasses 95/58 52
Black Frame with Grey Polarized (greenish tint) lenses
The primary reason we wear Sunglasses is that we wore them to protect our eyes. I guess the other reasons are to look cool or to go incognito.
Sunglasses/shades need to provide UV and Glare protection. So when I look for Shades, I always make sure that they have UV protection and Polarized. Polarized lenses usually cost a little more but they are worth the extra. Polarized lenses are like horizontal blinds that block sunrays from above and below. This reduces glare from reflections from ocean or snow. Polarized lenses also makes the view appears more three dimensional. That is why most of my Sunglasses are polarized.
Optics - 9 These Persol that I have are polarized (UV protected) and they are black (dark grey) with a green tint. The lenses are glass lenses. I prefer glass ones than plastic ones. I do not care what they say about plastic lenses. They will all scratch more easily than glass ones. These lenses are very good and with green tint that does not discolor the view too much. They are very close to Maui Jim's Polarized lenses. Maui Jim has a grayish blue tint (I'm excluding the brown lenses). I would rate Persol lenses a very close second or may be even with Maui Jim lenses.
Workmanship - 9 Persols are very well made. These are hand made and the frames fit perfectly. The hardware is bright and shinny. I did notice some file marks underneath the screws on the folding hinges of the folding legs. These marks were put there by the craftsman fitting the frames. These are only visible under a 10 power glass. I would rate the workman ship very good. Cartier frames are jewel like and I could not find any thing wrong with them even with a 10 power glass. However, Cartier frames cost much more and the optics is not that great.
Comfort - 8 The frame of Persol 714 is plastic and the nose bridge is integral. There is no adjustment due to there is no nose pad. So it either fits you or it does not. If it fits you, you are in luck. The frame is not heavy but it is not the ultra light kind. The legs are flexible via a very good looking detail. The frame is comfortable to wear all day (provided it fits you). The frames do comes in 49mm, 52, and 54 mm. So one could have a choice on how big one wants them to look on ones face.
Style - 10 Steven McQueen wore Persol Sunglasses both on and off the screen. Both the 714 and the 649 have the same shape except the legs and the frame of the 714 could be folded into a smaller package. I mean this got to be one of the coolest shades around. It is easily recognizable but not gaudy like a pair of Gucci or Dior.
I love this folding function on the Persol 714. This is the main reason why I bought this. This glasses folds and goes into a leather case that measures 5.00 X 2.75 inches. I could easily put it in my pants. The leather case is very well made and it smells like a new pair of new Ferragamo shoes. It has this aroma of nice Italian leather.
Persol 714 is probably not a pair of shades you wear when you want to do something that involves sports activity. Metal framed Maui Jim would be a better choice. Persol 714 would be a very nice pair of shades to wear doing normal activities. I love that folding feature that allows me to carry it easily. This would be easy to carry when I travel. I normally have a pair of sunglass in each of my cars. If I want a pair of Persol 714 in my car, I would not bother to get the Persol 714. I would get a pair of Persol 649 which has an identical shape without the folding feature.
One word of caution. Persol 714 needs to be folded with care. I am normally very careful with things but I did not fold one of the legs correctly and created a scratch on one of the legs when it folded against the hinge on the other leg. Not a problem with the design or the product. It is my fault.
Persol 0714 Folding 24/57 sunglasses : Unisex, Tortoise plastic frame, Polarized brown tempered glass lenses, oval shaped. The sunglasses come with an...More at UnitedShades.com
Persol 0714 Folding 95/58 sunglasses : Unisex, Shiny black plastic frame, Polarized grey tempered glass lenses, oval shaped. The sunglasses come with ...More at UnitedShades.com
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