In 1941, an eternal flame came alive. It was S.T.Dupont’s. Since then, the maison mastered the art of flame and became renowned for its timeless lighters. Its founder, Simon Tissot Dupont, never knew that such a destiny was awaiting him. At the age of 25, he became the official photographer of the Imperial Court. In 1872, he created a luggage and leather goods workshop, producing exceptional and elegant pieces that suit all tastes.
When one of its most loyal customers, the Maharajah of Patiala, ordered one hundred Chinese lacquer minaudières for his consorts, with each to contain a solid gold lighter, this iconic journey got more exciting. Three years were spent creating this order and in 1941, the house produced its first luxury lighter. In 1945, S.T.Dupont paid a tribute to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor with an understated and elegant design that became an all-time classic. The latter can be easily identified by its wide vertical black Chinese lacquer band.
In 1950, the engineers in Faverges took the challenge of creating a gas lighter with a mechanism that is small enough to allow it to be carried in the pocket and in 1952 the first S.T.Dupont luxury gas lighter was officially launched after 2 years of hard work.
Crafted from solid brass and carrying the signature of the craftsman who made it, the Dupont lighter echoes a unique know-how that combines fine metalwork with the masterful use of the natural lacquer, a hallmark of the house. Innovation is at the heart of its values, which explains the creation of world’s finest luxury lighter with a torch flame suitable for use in extreme conditions.
This year, the house celebrates the 75th anniversary of the first petrol lighter with an exceptional limited-edition collection. Entitled “Phoenix Renaissance”, it is inspired by the legend of the firebird that returned to the temple of Heliopolis after being reborn – which is expressed here by the creation of a natural lacquer adorned with smoky and fiery nuances.
