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The Persol Steve McQueen 0714SM sunglasses carry one of the most storied legacies in eyewear. When Steve McQueen stepped onto the set of The Thomas Crown Affair in 1968 wearing his personal pair of 714s—Light Havana acetate with blue crystal lenses—he wasn’t following a costume designer’s direction. The frames were his own, and the director loved them so much they became part of the film. That single decision turned an already innovative design into a cultural icon.
Introduced in 1960 as a folding version of Persol’s 649 model (originally designed for Turin tram drivers in 1957), the 714 was the first pair of sunglasses in the world that could fold. The engineering behind this isn’t simple. Each 714SM frame requires ten additional manufacturing steps compared to standard acetate frames. The folding mechanism incorporates hinges at the bridge and within each temple, allowing the frame to collapse to roughly the size of a single lens—compact enough to slip into a shirt pocket. Nearly seven decades later, owners still report smooth, reliable folding action.
The 0714SM you see here is the Steve McQueen edition, distinguished by inward-folding temple hinges, “Steve McQueen” branding inside the temples, and polarized lenses across all colorways. Available in black with grey polarized lenses, honey with polar gradient blue, classic tortoise, and several havana variations, each version honors the original Light Havana/blue lens combination McQueen made famous.
Persol’s patented Meflecto system—developed in the 1930s and still unmatched—is the reason these frames feel different the moment you put them on. Small nylon or metal cylinders are inserted into the acetate temples and intersected with a flexible steel core. The temples bend slightly to conform to your head shape, distributing pressure evenly and eliminating the squeeze you get from rigid frames. If you wear sunglasses all day, this matters. The system adapts to different face shapes without losing its spring, and it’s why Persol frames have been the choice of pilots, race car drivers, and anyone who needs comfort over long hours.
The signature Supreme Arrow—visible at each hinge and inspired by ancient swords—isn’t just decoration. It marks the flex points in the Meflecto system and serves as Persol’s unmistakable hallmark. The keyhole bridge, a Persol signature since the brand’s founding in 1917, sits lower on the nose for better weight distribution and a distinctly Italian silhouette.
These frames are fully compatible with prescription lenses, including progressive and single-vision options. The 54mm lens width and 21mm bridge fit most face shapes comfortably—reviewers consistently note the 54mm works well even for wider heads. At 140mm temple length, the fit is secure without being tight, thanks to the Meflecto flex.
McQueen wore his 714s in Bullitt (1968), Le Mans (1971), and The Getaway (1972). They’ve been in continuous production for over 60 years because the design simply works. Handmade in Italy from high-quality acetate, these aren’t fast-fashion frames. They’re an investment in a piece of design history that happens to fold flat and fit like it was made for your face.
