Persol Eyewear in Pendleton, SC
Turin craftsmanship since 1917, the original Italian sunglass.
A house built on discipline, not trend.
Persol was established in Turin in 1917 by Giuseppe Ratti as a house of precision optics for aviators and sportsmen. From the beginning, every frame was engineered as much as it was designed, from the flexible temple system to lenses chosen for clarity.
The 714 folding frame worn by Steve McQueen became one of the most recognizable objects of the twentieth century, and Persol has remained a reference for the Italian sunglass ever since. A century on, the collection is still built to outlast trend cycles.
“Per il sole, for the sun. A hundred years later, still the standard for what a sunglass should be.”
Detail you can feel before you can see.
Meflecto System
The flexible temple, first introduced in 1938, uses interlocking metal cylinders to conform to the head, which is why a Persol disappears on the face.
Silver Arrow
The signature Freccia arrow on the temple is the house mark that has identified Persol frames for generations.
Italian Optics
Lenses are finished for edge to edge clarity and glare control, and set into acetate with the precision the house is known for.
Silhouettes worth knowing by name.
The Steve McQueen icon, a folding sunglass like no other.
The everyday Turin sunglass first designed for tram drivers in 1957.
A modern keyhole optical carrying every Persol signature detail.
The commemorative edition with blue graduated lenses.
Who Persol suits
- Anyone buying a sunglass as an investment rather than a summer purchase.
- Drivers and travellers, who feel the Meflecto comfort most over long days.
- Classic taste with an appetite for engineering, and a preference for warm tortoise over black.
The Persol styles we carry
Styles change often — call or visit to see what's on the wall today.
The wall is small and changes as pieces sell, so call the boutique on 864-502-0102 to check what is in today.
Fit notes
The Meflecto temple means a Persol tends to settle rather than clamp, which is why the frames feel lighter than they look. Bridges run on the Italian side, slightly narrower than American cuts, so we check the bridge fit first and adjust the temple curve for your ear position. Folding models need a little extra care at the hinge, and we set those by hand.
Lens notes
Persol frames take prescription lenses beautifully, in sun or clear. For sun we usually recommend a polarized lens for driving and water glare, and we will explain where polarization helps and where it does not, such as reading certain dashboards and screens. Crystal lenses are heavier and exceptionally clear, and we will talk through that tradeoff in person.
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Try Persol in the boutique.
Book a private styling appointment in Pendleton, South Carolina. Our opticians will guide you through the collection, investment sunglasses, travel and driving, classic taste with a taste for engineering, and custom lens options tailored to your prescription.
Persol is available at O'Boutique Luxury Optical in Pendleton, South Carolina, serving Clemson, Anderson, Seneca and the Greater Upstate. See the rest of the designer eyewear collection, read about our eye exams and optical services, or contact the boutique.
7511 US 76 Suite 400, Pendleton Plaza · Pendleton, SC
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