S.T Dupont's latest lighters are likely the most expensive to date...

[JohnS]

S.T.Dupont's latest made-to-order lighters will likely be the most expensive to date. Personally, I'm glad that  my trusty $10 single-flame gas lighter nearly always 'does the trick'!

S.T. Dupont’s New Maharajah & Maharani Lighters Top Out at $130,000

April 5, 2024 - Charlie Minato News, PCA 2024

In 1941, the Maharaja of Patiala—Yadavindra Singh—commissioned S.T. Dupont, a Parisian company best known for making luggage, to make 100 gold lighters. That order was a revolution for the company, which today is best known for its lighters.

S.T. Dupont has paid tribute to its start in the lighter business with many different Maharaja-themed items. The newest collection to honor the Maharaja is likely the most expensive to date, as the least expensive lighter is roughly $40,000 and the most expensive models top out at nearly $130,000.

The collection includes two Maharajah models and two Maharani models. Maharaja (the version with the -h is an alternate spelling) refers to the great rulers of India, while Maharani is the female equivalent. The Maharajah uses green lacquer, while the Maharani uses red lacquer.

At the 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show last month, Coles of London—S.T. Dupont’s U.S. distributor—showed off the two less expensive options.

The S.T. Dupont Maharajah Exclusive lighter is based on the company’s iconic Ligne 2 soft flame lighter but made out of precious metals and decorated with stones. The lighter itself is made of solid white gold that is plated in palladium. It also includes:

• 24 G VS2 diamonds (.1ct total)
• Mother of pearl inlay
• 4 half pearls
• Striped green malachite
• Silk yarn tassel

There is also the S.T. Dupont Maharani Exclusive lighter, which is made out of solid yellow gold that is plated with brass gold. It includes:

• 49 G VS2 diamonds (.3ct total)
• Mother of pearl inlay
• Silk yarn tassel

Both of these lighters are priced at $39,950 each. S.T. Dupont says it will produce up to 88 of each lighter.

The company also has more exclusive lighters that are priced at $129,950 each. Yes, nearly $130,000.

Those lighters are known as the S.T. Dupont Maharajah Ultra Exclusive and S.T. Dupont Maharani Ultra Exclusive.

The S.T. Dupont Maharajah Ultra Exclusive is made of 57.92g of solid white gold, which is plated with palladium. It also includes:

• 450 G VS2 diamonds (2.47ct total)
• Mother of pearl inlay
• Striped green malachite
• Four half pearls
• Silk yarn tassel

As for the S.T. Dupont Maharani Ultra Exclusive, it is made of 31.18g of solid yellow gold, which is plated with brass gold. It also includes:

• 500 G VS2 diamonds (2.57ct total)
• Mother of pearl inlay
• Silk yarn tassel

Both Ultra Exclusive models are limited to up to eight numbered pieces.

These items are part of S.T. Dupont’s Haute Creation collection, meaning they are made to order.

Source: https://halfwheel.com/s-t-duponts-new-maharajah-maharani-lighters-top-out-at-130000/437505/

[Li Bai]

That's it !

I'm selling the house I might be able to afford 3 1/2 of these. It might cost me a divorce though so maybe only a couple 🤔

[99call]

Yuk. How has Dupont managed to make something so incredibly ugly. They look like something you could win in a 1980's seaside arcade grabbing arm machine

[Li Bai]

  On 4/6/2024 at 10:30 AM, 99call said:

Yuk. How has Dupont managed to take something so incredibly ugly. They look like something you could win in a 1980's seaside arcade grabbing arm machine

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Yeah well...they're obviously not made for western customers (they're not to my taste either tbh) but you gotta love the craftsmanship.

By the way well done FOH, I can't use the word "craftsmanship" without thinking of Kirby now 😂😂🤣

[SigmundChurchill]

Jeez, and I freak out when I drop my “cheap” $250.00 Dupont. 

[BrightonCorgi]

I'd rather see ST Dupont focus on making a lighter that doesn't leak or need servicing every 3-4 years. How about refueling device instead of the seltzer cartridges?

[El Hoze]

  On 4/6/2024 at 1:50 PM, BrightonCorgi said:

I'd rather see ST Dupont focus on making a lighter that doesn't leak or need servicing every 3-4 years.  How about refueling device instead of the seltzer cartridges?

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I was going to say something similar. I wonder if this comes with free shipping return labels for when it needs to be sent in for service every 20th time you use it. 

[99call]

  On 4/6/2024 at 11:56 AM, Li Bai said:

Yeah well... They're obviously not made for western customers (they're not to my taste either tbh) but you gotta love the craftsmanship.

By the way well done FOH, i can't use the word "craftsmanship" without thinking of Kirby now 😂😂🤣

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The word craftsmanship also encompasses some power to decide your work. For example I've heard through stone carver friends of "craftsmen" who took commissions from Silvio Berlusconi to carve marble busts of him as Superman (pulling open his shirt to unveil a big 'S'. If you have mastered these skills it's your responsibility to do them justice and make beautiful things, not disgusting shit for idiotic playboys that have zero taste.

Dupont have made beautiful lighters. These are not them.

[loose_axle]

Hard pass, they're rivalling El Septimo in making the tackiest blingy lighter that costs the earth...  

[ShaazK]

Lads, clearly positioned for Ambani/Adani with the Maharaja pitch, or the Chinese market hence the limited pieces of 88 or 8.

Gift for the guy that has everything...but style.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BrightonCorgi]

  On 4/7/2024 at 4:46 AM, ShaazK said:

Lads, clearly positioned for Ambani/Adani with the Maharaja pitch, or the Chinese market hence the limited pieces of 88 or 8.

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They were giving those lighters out at the wedding... 😃

[BuzzArd]

Wow. Can’t even imagine buying a lighter for that kind of coin…