Sunglasses With 24-Karat Lenses Are Easy on Both Eyes and Ears

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Steve McQueen, patron saint of guys who like to drive fast, was rarely photographed in anything other than Persol sunglasses. He wore his favorite pair—tortoise-framed 714s customized with blue-tinted lenses—in Bullitt, The Getaway, and The Thomas Crown Affair. Introduced in the 1960s as a more compact version of Persol’s original 649 model, the 714 was the first pair of sunglasses to fold conveniently inward, ensuring safe storage in places as small as a breast pocket. The unique pilot shape, keyhole bridge, swordlike accents on the edges, and acetate frames are all present in a limited edition dubbed 714SM ($790), but it’s the warm Havana brown color and alluring 24-karat-gold-plated lenses that really steal the show.