Persol Ratti Vintage Sunglasses

Persol Ratti VIntage glasses with Meflecto

"Persol" is the symbol of italian timeless elegance and style. The brand was founded in 1917 by Giuseppe Ratti, who wanted to supply the sports and aviation industry with high quality sunglasses.
The company developed the patetend Meflecto system, which was the first system that made the temple flexible and easily adaptable to nearly every face size. Persol is also known for its superior quality mineral lenses, which were used for many Himalaya expiditions.

Many movie stars made Persol become cult. Steve McQueen is probably the greatest icon "Persol" is associated to. He wore a special pair of Persol 714 sunglasses in the movie "Thomas Crown Affair".
Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan used Persol sunglasses in the James Bond movies. Don Johnson "Miami Vice" sunglasses and Arnold Schwarzeneggers sunglasses in "Terminator 2" are also Persols. My personal favourite is Marcello Mastroianni's black pair of Persol sunglasses in "Divorzio al italiana" and in "La dolce vita".

In 2006 a pair of "Persol 714" McQueen was sold at an auction for 70,000 $. Some "Persol Ratti" now retail for as much as 5,000 $.

Vintage Persol sunglasses are labeled "Persol Ratti" or "Persol Italy" and are probably the most sought after glasses by collectors and connoisseurs. 1995 the Luxottica group acquired the brand and started labeling it "Persol made in Italy".

Personally I like to refer to "Persol Ratti" as the Ferrari in the eyewear industry.