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

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.

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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.