Davidoff Cigar Case Beige Leather Collection

In 2014, Davidoff added two new colorways to a variety of its accessories. One was bright red, the other a stark white. And while I probably would have preferred the red version of those accessories, I’m not sure that any of them actually shipped. So, with a bit of encouragement from a sale, I purchased a white version of the Davidoff Cigar Case ($143.)

WHAT IS IT?

Specifically, I purchased the Davidoff Cigar Case “Leather Collection” in the two-cigar, double corona varietal. The case measures 6.5 x 2.2 x 1.1 inches in the common style of most cigar cases. There are two pieces—the upper part serves as the outer and as such wider half—that come together to form a singular unit. While the top piece might be wider, the bottom piece is actually longer by about 20mm, or about .8 inches. Davidoff’s cases, like a lot of high-end leather cases, are made in Spain and use buffalo leather. It’s not the lightest of cigar cases, but at 58 grams—or about an eighth of a pound—the case is not really heavy.

Of note, while the outside features a hard, textured leather with a wave like pattern, the inside features soft brown leather.

Davidoff makes a variety of different leather cases, including ones that are designed to hold two, three and five cigars. As such, this is amongst the smaller options from the company. For context, the three cigar version of this exact case is listed at Davidoff’s own online store for $22 more.

 

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The case has two pieces, slide off the top/exterior piece and you will see an opening with two round channels. Place your cigars within the bottom of the case and place the lid back on. There is a bit of flex within the case, but I wouldn’t recommend putting anything above 52 ring gauge inside. For those wondering: cellophane on, cellophane off—it doesn’t matter.

Because it’s leather and flexible, you can fit a 54 ring gauge cigar inside the case, though it’s awkward and almost unusable. Furthermore, getting a 54 ring gauge cigar out of the case, particularly undamaged, is going to be a problem.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?

It’s white. Bright white. Bright Beige?

Davidoff’s own Zino brand offers a white leather case, but outside of that, this appears to be the only other option that is currently made. So if you want a white leather case, this is one of only a few options.

PROS

• The Look — In a sea full of over polished black and brown leather, I’m all for a change. Whether that’s bright red, orange, blue or white—the difference in colors is appreciated. In addition, the textured pattern also adds a bit of depth compared to the overly puff leather I normally see.
• It’s Held Up — My first concern with this case was the white—err, beige—leather. All cases have to deal with the wear and tear caused by putting the case in your pocket, dropping the case, etc. But the white leather means that everything is amplified and the risk of smoke stains are present. After over three months of use, there are no signs of aggressive wear or really much of anything other than a few small blemishes. That being said, I imagine if I used this case daily and spent more time in smoke filled rooms, the leather would eventually begin to show discoloration.
• It Works — I can’t think of a cigar case I’ve used that I would say didn’t work, but it’s always important that the product does what it’s designed to do.
• Presentation — This is an ideal gift for a cigar smoker in my opinion. At $140—and often on sale—you get something that is well made, from a luxury name and packaged very well, but it’s not going to break the bank. Like all other Davidoff accessories, the packaging is a bit better than the run of the mill cigar accessory brands and there’s an included cleaning cloth.

CONS

• Price — This is one of the more expensive cases on the market. While Warped’s and S.T.Dupont’s more expensive cases offer some innovative designs, the Davidoff is just a very nice, very expensive leather case.
• Availability — While you certainly can find it online, it’s not particularly easy. In fact, typing in “Davidoff leather case white” on Google doesn’t put you in the right place to find the case.

THE COMPETITION

I’ve mentioned this before, but there a lot of different cigar cases. I’ve tried to keep my list to what would seem like logical competitors to the Davidoff and products that I feel comfortable providing commentary on.

Pocket cigar cases are super subjective. Most provide little difference in terms of the amount of protection they offer and there are very few notable features that separate the options. As such, I imagine that cigar cases are largely about looks and price.

With that said, the obvious competitor would be the Zino Cigar Case. The double corona-sized version is priced at $83, so over one-third off. Like the Davidoff Cigar Case, it’s made in Spain and offered in the bright white color. I’ve used these cases prefer and find them to be a bit more flexible than the Davidoff version, which could be a positive or a negative.

Other Competitors

• Brigham Leather Case ($27.95-32.95) — At roughly $30, the Brigham leather cases are my current recommendation for leather cigar cases. There’s a noticeable difference in quality, though it’s not as noticeable as the near five times difference in price.
• Visol Night Carbon Fiber 2 Finger Case ($120) — My preferred cigar case. It’s not really a direct competitor, but it’s what I use on a regular basis. The carbon fiber means this is a hard case, offering a bit more protection, but without the flexibility of being able to make the case smaller. One feature I love is the fact that I can also use the case as a cigar stand because carbon fiber has an extremely high burn threshold.
• Visol Legend Case ($45) — I’ve used the three-finger version of this case before and am not a fan. The case is extremely bulky and doesn’t offer any benefits to Visol’s carbon fiber case, other than the pricing.
• Prometheus Robusto Case ($75) — I’ve not tested this case, but it seems like a decent option. The color choices are quite limited compared to Davidoff’s offerings.
• Warped Banano ($139) — I reviewed a similar Warped case and liked it. These cases are also made in Spain and feature a singular piece construction, meaning there isn’t any obvious seams to create bumps. Unfortunately, my Warped case really has not aged well with regular use.
• S.T.Dupont Double Cigar Case ($220) — S.T.Dupont has recently introduced new cigar cases. I’ve not used them yet, but I look forward to testing them soon. Of note, these cases are metal on the bottom and leather on top, meaning they are much more rigid than a traditional leather case.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

If you are looking for a leather cigar case, I think this is a solid upgrade pick over the Brigham or Zino cases. While I like the compressible nature of both of those cases, the Davidoff case is certainly made better. It offers better protection, a greater presence and a more notable look than just about any other two-finger leather case I’ve used. Because most cases offer a similar level of okay, but not great protection and little in the way of differentiating features, no accessory is as subjective as a cigar case. If you like the white aesthetic, this is the way to go but otherwise there are a lot of options that will achieve the same level of performance at much lower prices.