Persol 714 vs 649

I recently purchased a new pair of 649 size 56. They were to replace my old 649 58. I bought the old ones second hand of the bay maybe ten years ago. They were old then. They have a different mechanism on the arms for accommodating any head stretch. The older frames seem better made to me. The size difference is absolutely minimal, slightly different shapes, but size is very similar.

Mind you, I have a really big hat size and even wear Jumbo Goliath IIs without them looking comical.

Thought I would throw my two cents in as I bought a pair of 649's online and they arrived today. I wasn't sure which size to go for. I tried on a few pairs in shops but found it hard to choose. Persol have a size guide on their website which involves holding a credit card flat on the middle of your nose. If the side of the card meets the end of your eye, they say the 54 is for you i.e. standard fit. If it extends past your eye, the 52 is better, and if your eye is wider than the credit card, the 56 is a better fit. Obviously this is a guide, and it's always going to boil down to personal taste. I'm a big guy and I have a wider head than most. So I went for 649's with 56 frame and 20 bridge and I am very, very happy with the fit. The 714's are neat, but I was wary of all those extra components and just never got the appeal of folding sunglasses. Take it from a guy who has lost two pairs of Oakley Enduro's in as many years due to how lightweight they are. The weight and size of the 649's is very reassuring for me!

To mikejungle who got a pair from what sounds like an outlet store; the fact that they cost less than 20% of regular retail price and are replete with defects suggests that they are factory rejects and are not representative of regular finished product. Persol's claim of handmade craftsmanship etc. is certainly a soft sell, but it's what I'd expect from a mega-corp like Luxottica. A hefty price tag and ubiquitous market presence does not guarantee quality. Case in point; as I rested my brand new pair on my desk with the arms extended I noticed they are not perfectly level and either the mold of one of the arms is off by a couple millimeters or the arms were not affixed correctly. A small detail but quite disappointing. I echo a previous poster's sentiment; never pay regular retail price! Lucky to have gotten a 40% discount on mine

Edit: I contacted the retailer and was advised that it is a common issue with acetate frames and any optician will adjust them using heat application.

I've been watching this post for awhile and joined the forum to add a perspective on the difference between models and sizes that is slightly different from what has been previously discussed. I'm certainly no expert but have been buying/selling liquidated sunglasses for several years, specifically Ray-Ban and Persol, and currently own two pairs of 649s and a pair of Steve McQueen 714s.

First off I want to say that every face wears sunglasses differently and no opinion is going to be as useful as trying these on in person. If that happens to be impossible then the previously mentioned "credit card" test that Persol recommends is a very worthwhile guide to correctly sizing your face, albeit with one caveat. I believe the "standard" size Persol offers for its 649 model (54mm) and its 714sm model (52mm) are correct, but the regular 714 model (54mm) fits very large. Trust me, there is a reason they don't offer them in a 56mm. To me, a "standard" size should sit between a larger and smaller size, both of which still maintain the visual esthetic of the original. I should mention that my face is considered "standard" by the aforementioned test.

While all three of these models are similar, they are by no means the same and the fit between the 714s and the 649 is very different. Some of the differences are literally measured in millimetres but can significantly effect the way the glasses fit on the face. The main visual difference between them is the thicker bridge and earstems of the 649. They are designed as an aviator style with a raised bridge and earstems that connect lower down. This causes the bridge to rest above the brow line. The 649 bridge is also a bit narrower vertically than the 714, therefore they sit higher on the nose and not as deep into the eye sockets. Because of this they really appear more centered on the face, with less protrusion over the temples or sagging over the cheeks. The thicker frame, coupled with the raised placement on the face and narrower overall width, makes the "standard" 54mm lens seem justified in its larger appearance. These factors also contribute to the perception that the 54mm lens is visually smaller when on the 649 versus when on the 714. And while the 52mm can feel very boxy and narrow on my standard face, and the 56mm oversized and heavy, neither are unattractive to the point of being ridiculous.

As a direct comparison, the 714 model is thinner framed and appears wider on the face. The 52mm frame of my 714sm is roughly the same width as my 54mm 649s. The added width in the bridge causes them to sit lower and deeper on the nose, giving the appearance of "drooping" over the cheeks. The thinner frame doesn't fully cover the brow line and the earstems connect higher up the frame. Because of this I wouldn't describe them as a true aviator style as they share some similarities to a wayfarer style despite having aviator shaped lenses. This isn't necessarily more or less attractive than the 649, just different. What it does mean is that the 54mm 714 model feels very wide, "droopy" and oversized compared to the 54mm 649. I can't even imagine how low and wide a 56mm model would sit on the cheeks. A 714 50mm isn't currently produced but I feel like it would be a much better option for smaller faces then the current "small" size of 52mm.

In time, perhaps with the addition of further "special edition" 714 models, Persol may adjust its definition of the "standard" size for its 714. Until that time I would definitely recommend using their current sizing recommendations for the 649 and 714sm, but not for the original 714 model.

I have the 714 Steve McQueen. I'm very pleased with them.