S.T. Dupont sells a lighter for €500,000

A lighter set with precious stones from the luxury house S.T. Dupont has just been sold for the remarkable price of €500,000, earning a place in the Guinness Book of Records. The buyer is a Hong Kong billionaire, the former chairman of Merrill Lynch Asia, who is deeply attached to French culture and fascinated by the history of the country of Louis XIV, and who commissioned it specially a few months ago. He is also the owner of the future Louis XIII casino due to open in Macau.

S.T. Dupont mobilises 80 people

Named « Louis XIII Fleur de Parme », made of 400 grams of solid gold, it is set with 152 sapphires and includes numerous references to Louis XIII and Louis XVI, following the wishes of the businessman, already a collector of S.T. Dupont lighters. He wanted an object paying tribute to the seventeenth century. It is finely decorated with several references to royalty, such as the fleur-de-lys, the crown of France and a cabochon-set sapphire. It was designed by a direct descendant of the Sun King, Princess Tania de Bourbon Parme, a designer by profession. Six months of work were needed to complete it, involving 80 people at the luxury house.

Made in the workshops of Philippe Tournaire in Savigneux, this S.T. Dupont lighter worth €500,000 contains 400g of solid gold. Photo GQ & ST Dupont

A fine showcase for the luxury brand

This striking lighter is nevertheless destined to remain a table lighter, mounted on a base and topped with the crown. Stephen Hung will not be able to carry it in his pocket because of its size. To satisfy its wealthy client, the brand therefore made a pocket lighter, without the crown and fleur-de-lys but less bulky: it contains « only » 280 grams of solid gold, set with 53 sapphires.
As for the designer, the businessman offered her a post on his team to advise him on the French artistic aspects of his future casino.