PCA 2023: S.T. Dupont

Normally, the S.T. Dupont booth is one of the most interesting but tedious tasks of the PCA Convention & Trade Show assignments that I give myself. Given what is on display, it’s always one of the prettiest booths I assign myself to cover, but there are typically a lot of new items. Further complicating matters is that the details like prices, production numbers and ship dates are rarely consistent between the new items, sometimes differing between items in a single collection.

Then there’s the French component. Whether it was Lotus or Davidoff of Geneva USA, or now with the company’s current U.S. distributor, Coles of London—all three companies would have some idea of what new items were going to be on display at the trade show. Then the S.T. Dupont team from France shows up with a variety of items that even the distributor hasn’t heard of. Because the distributors were unaware the items existed, that makes those details like price, shipping dates and production numbers even more difficult to find out. This has happened every year I’ve covered S.T. Dupont, until now.

This year, it seems like the French component wasn’t as big of a factor. Pretty much every launch S.T. Dupont had on display at PCA 2023 was something I knew about before the trade show started. That meant that it took about a third of the time to cover the S.T. Dupont booth compared to other years.

As for the booth, it’s similar to the concept of last year’s booth—display cases mainly on the perimeter with seating areas in the center—but it felt larger, likely due to less stuff being inside of it. The 24 Hours of Le Mans collection got its own section of the booth—complete with a checkered flag floor and booth models in leather racing suits—which was noticeably different than last year. Like most accessory companies, almost every item in the booth is in a case, though the Coles of London employees were more than willing to take anything I wanted out of cases, even if it wasn’t necessary. One thing I love about S.T. Dupont, there are “NEW” signs in the cases with new items.

S.T. Dupont Big D

This is the big launch from S.T. Dupont this year. There are three new flat flame torch lighters models. This is the largest of the trio, roughly the size of S.T. Dupont’s Le Grand lighter. The lighters are activated via a side squeeze ignition. While it’s similar in size, the lighter is noticeably lighter in weight than the Le Grand.

The Big D has the widest flame, similar to the company’s MegaJet.

• S.T. Dupont Big D Black Lacquer/Chrome, Black Lacquer/Golden, Blue Lacquer/Golden — $425
• S.T. Dupont Big D Diamond Head Chrome/Golden — $450

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: October 2023

S.T. Dupont Slimmy

Similar to the Big D, but this size is more or less a Ligne 2 size. In addition, the flame is similar to the Slim 7’s flat flame. If asked to choose between the three new flat flame lighters, this is the one I would choose.

• S.T. Dupont Slimmy Black Lacquer/Chrome, Black Lacquer/Golden, Blue Lacquer/Golden, Coral Lacquer/Chrome, White Lacquer/Golden — $350
• S.T. Dupont Slimmy Diamond Head Chrome/Golden — $370

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: October 2023

S.T. Dupont Twiggy

The narrowest and tallest of the bunch, this seems to be the successor to the company’s candle lighter, though it’s not nearly as tall. Again, you’ll get a flat flame.

• S.T. Dupont Twiggy Black Lacquer/Chrome, Black Lacquer/Golden, Blue Lacquer/Golden, Coral Lacquer/Chrome, Light Blue Lacquer/Chrome White Lacquer/Golden — $350

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: October 2023

S.T. Dupont Le Mans 24 Hour

This year marks the 100th anniversary of one of the world’s most famous car races: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the name implies, it’s a race that is run for 24 hours in Le Mans, France. S.T. Dupont partnered with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the organizer of the race, for three different collections.

For those wondering, this year’s race—especially the first 12 hours—was fantastic. It was won by Ferrari.

The entry-level part of the collection features five different cigar items, as well as pens and leather goods. The colors are references to iconic racing cars: red with white, green and gold is a classic Ferrari livery; the orange-on-teal scheme was made popular by the Gulf Racing Ford GT40; and Martini Racing (not pictured) donned the white with red and various blue colors at Le Mans using Porsches. There is no licensing agreement with any car companies or race teams.

• S.T.Dupont Maxijet 24 Hours of Le Mans — $330
• S.T.Dupont Slim 7 24 Hours of Le Mans — $290
• S.T.Dupont Line 2 24 Hours of Le Mans — $1,795
• S.T.Dupont Cutter 24 Hours of Le Mans — $280
• S.T.Dupont Ashtray 24 Hours of Le Mans — $575

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2023

S.T. Dupont Le Mans 24 Hour Prestige

There are also three higher-end Prestige sets that use a turquoise color. The Prestige Smoking Kit comes with a customized S.T. Dupont Le Grand lighter, which features both soft and torch flames. There’s also a Prestige Writing Kit that comes with a pen, an additional pen nib and a pen stand, the latter of which is designed to look like the trophy given to winners at Le Mans.

Both of those kits also come with a model car that looks like an LMP2 car, one of the three competitive classes that raced at this year’s Le Mans.

S.T. Dupont is also offering the Prestige Collectors Set, which includes both the Smoking and Writing Kit as well as cufflinks and a keychain that has a racing helmet.

• S.T.Dupont Le Mans Prestige Smoking Kit — $5,750
• S.T.Dupont Le Mans Prestige Writing Kit — $5,750
• S.T.Dupont Le Mans Prestige Collectors Set — $10,950

Production: 188 Pieces

Release Date: July 2023

S.T. Dupont Le Mans 24 Hour Haute Creation

Even more exclusive than the Prestige is the Haute Creation, which also comes in three different options.

The Smoking Kit includes a customized Le Grand lighter that comes with a model of a V-12 Engine that serves as its base. The Writing Kit has a pen that also goes into an engine base. There’s also the Collector’s Set which comes with both the Smoking and Writing Kits as well as cufflinks and a model LMP2-like car. It is only offered in the black and gold color combination.

• S.T.Dupont Le Mans Haute Creation Smoking Kit — $18,950
• S.T.Dupont Le Mans Haute Creation Writing Kit — $16,950
• S.T.Dupont Le Mans Haute Creation Collectors Set — $35,950

Production: Made to Order

Release Date: July 2023

S.T. Dupont Petrol

This is a new matte blue colorway for three existing items. Officially, these are listed as shipping in September, but it sounds like it may be sooner.

• S.T. Dupont Défi XXtrême Lighte Petrol — $335
• S.T. Dupont Double Cigar Cutter — $225
• S.T. Dupont MaxiJet Petrol — $265

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: September 2023

S.T. Dupont Picasso 2023

My math says it’s been five years since S.T. Dupont debuted a new Picasso-themed collection, while it’s been 25 years since the first Picasso collection debuted.

This year, “Jacqueline in a Straw Hat” (1962) is used for the theme.

Both pen options come with fountain pen and roller ball nibs, the differences are the sizes of the pens and the prices.

• S.T. Dupont Slimmy Picasso White — $375
• S.T. Dupont Ligne 2 Picasso White — $1,895
• S.T. Dupont Ashtray Picasso White — $550
• S.T. Dupont 3-Cigar Case Picasso White — $375
• S.T. Dupont Eternity Line D Pen Medium Fountain Pen/Rollerball — $1,795
• S.T. Dupont Eternity Line D Pen Large Fountain Pen/Rollerball — $1,995

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: October 2023

S.T. Dupont Haute Creation Year of the Dragon

Next year will mark the Year of the Dragon on the Chinese Zodiac calendar and some companies have already shown off their Year of the Dragon releases. S.T. Dupont’s flagship Haute Creation division has created a custom Ligne 2 lighter that features 18k gold plating There’s also an accompanying pen, though I was not given a price.

If you are already committed to spending $15,000 on a lighter, I’d imagine you want the elaborate dragon base to go along with it, though it will set you back almost as much as the lighter itself. Like the lighter, it’s made of bronze and plated with 18k gold.

I’m told that Coles of London sold some of these during PCA 2023.

• S.T. Dupont Haute Creation Year of the Dragon Lighter Without Base — $15,200
• S.T. Dupont Haute Creation Year of the Dragon Lighter With Base — $29,400

Production: 88 Pieces

Release Date: Made to Order, Six Month Delivery

S.T. Dupont Haute Creation Casino Pocket Complication Lighter Black

Introduced last year, the Casino Pocket Complication Lighter is a larger soft flame lighter that incorporates gears similar to those found in watch movements. The button you can see on the side will spin the roulette wheel.

On the back of the lighter, there’s an engraved payouts list.

While the normal Complication Lighter features both a soft flame and torch flame, this lighter only has the soft flame that is activated via the thumbwheel like a Ligne 2. Unlike the regular Complication Lighter, this version is small enough to fit in most pockets. And yes, it pings.

Last year the lighter was offered in rose gold, yellow gold or platinum, now it gets a more sinister-looking black finish.

MSRP: $60,000

Production: Made to Order

Release Date: Made to Order, Six Month Delivery

S.T. Dupont Haute Creation Skull Dice

This lighter is very similar to the Casino Pocket Complication, except that it’s a skull theme. If you look closely in the skull’s eyes and mouth, you will see that there are dice inside. Similar to the Casino lighter, a button on the side moves the watch-like gears to roll the dice (plural).

The side of the lighter features all sorts of engraving, while the back can be configured with various plates. I’m told that when you order the lighter you get one plate, though perhaps there’s an option to order more.

MSRP: $60,000

Production: Made to Order

Release Date: Made to Order, Six Month Delivery

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.