The History & Products of S.T. Dupont
S.T. Dupont is a Paris-based brand name and manufacturer of lighters, collectible pens, handbags and more!
With nearly 150 years of luxury history, many wonder what contributes to the longstanding success of the S.T. Dupont brand. For starters, consider these words from brand CEO Alain Crevet on what makes the brand’s offerings truly luxury and exclusive:
“We have a big belief in that smaller means more quality. Small and quality is beautiful. We are not trying to do what other people in this space are, where it’s almost like they are supermarkets of luxury. It’s not interesting. It loses its charm. We are a small team and we are all very passionate about what we are doing.”
Here we will get to the bottom of what sets S.T. Dupont apart as a brand of luxury pens, lighters, and accessories.
You will see that the compelling nature of the products lies in the brand’s history as much as in the craftsmanship of each individual piece.
The Early History of S.T. Dupont
S.T. Dupont was founded by its namesake, Simon Tissot-Dupont, a French craftsman that specialized in luxury leather briefcases and goods.
He founded the company after his carriage business was destroyed in a fire in 1872. The company remained focused on travel cases until the 1940s when it produced its first solid gold lighter.
It didn’t take long for S.T. Dupont to become one of the most well-known luxury accessory brands in the world.
Over the years, the company has produced pens and lighters for Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Pablo Picasso, Jackie Kennedy — and more recently Prince William and President Hollande of France.
S.T. Dupont Today: Resurgence With Style
In the last two decades, the luxury brand has taken a fascinating turn.
Just before the new millennium, S.T. Dupont started the road down to bankruptcy: they were losing as much as $10 million every year according to one source.
The connoisseur of fine pens and lighters had started branching out into ready-to-wear clothing items for men.
The simultaneous expansion and diversification cost the brand dearly.
That is until a new leader came onto the scene in 2006: Alain Crevet, S.T. Dupont’s new Chief Executive Officer and purveyor of all things truly luxurious.
Crevet quickly shut down the ready-to-wear side of operations, along with seven stores in the process.
Bringing a kind of austerity to the luxuriousness, he refocused the company on what it does best: handcrafted and technically superior fine items. It made a world of difference.
In an interview with Crevet, one writer summarizes just how much the business has changed in the last decade:
“Since [Crevet] has taken the helm of the heritage brand, business has boomed. In 2010, S.T Dupont reported 50 million euros of turnover with the goal of doubling within five years, and by 2014, the company had a turnover of 80 million, making a profit between 3 and 5 million.”
One product, in particular, exemplifies S.T. Dupont’s resurgence in France and around the world: the Complication Lighter.
Released in conjunction with the brand’s 75th anniversary of lighter-making prowess, the lighter introduced a mechanism that had never been heard of before.
The item combines the mechanical workings of a luxury watch with lighter components, creating an elaborate and truly eye-catching presentation.
Each lighter is made-to-order and runs $63,000.
Henry Neuteboom comments on the style and technical expertise of the new lighter:
“This piece is like a combination between a lighter and a complication watch, with a movement of 200 components, jeweled bearings, and a skeletonized case so that you can see the internal mechanisms.”
At the same time, S.T. Dupont remains dedicated to releasing accessible products alongside such specialized items as the Complication Lighter.
In Neuteboom’s article, Michel Ade, S.T. Dupont’s International Sales Director points out the release of another lighter with a much lower price tag:
“We have launched the Slim 7, the slimmest torch-flame lighter on the market. It is very elegant, at a price of 160 euro. Throughout our history, we have always been the first to innovate, and this product is an example.”
With the introduction of these new items, S.T. Dupont has reestablished itself as one of the preeminent creators of French finery.
A Rundown of Popular S.T. Dupont Products
While the brand may be most famous for its lighters and notable for its pens, the elegance does not stop there.
“S.T. Dupont’s product lineup is roughly divided into three categories: lighters, pens and other items, including bags, cufflinks, and belts. Globally, lighters account for 40 percent of the firm’s sales, while pens make up 25 to 30 percent and the other products account for the rest.”
~ Minoru Matsutani, writing for Japan Times
S.T. DUPONT PRESTIGE EDITION WHITE KNIGHT LIGNE 2 LIGHTER
Combining artistry with compelling tones, the lighter is made of palladium with a fine white gold gilding. The shield is front and center, a bold statement for any gentleman.
S.T. DUPONT LINE D TONY STARK CONVERTIBLE ROLLERBALL PEN
Released as part of S.T. Dupont’s new partnership with Marvel, this stylish pen brings elegance and strength together under the name of the Iron Man & Tony Stark collection. The honeycomb motif and deep gray color create an understated, classic look.
S.T. DUPONT BOUTONS DE MANCHETTE BLUE AGATE CUFFLINKS
Made with stainless steel and palladium finishes, each cufflink in this pair introduces a pop of color with a blue agate.
S.T. Dupont: A French Story of Luxury and Class
In this overview, you’ll have seen that the Complication Lighter highlights S.T. Dupont’s superiority in technical expertise, while the story of the brand drives home the true historical elegance of the brand.
Crevet puts it even more descriptively:
“So that’s more or less what defines S.T. Dupont. We’re very special, and we are a pure French brand –95% of our products are made in France — in that same village where the brand was born — in Faverges, in the Haute-Savoie — where we have always had the workshop and where everything is hand-crafted. So at the base, it’s very much a small family story.”
~ Alain Crevet, CEO of S.T. Dupont
For cigar aficionados and pen collectors alike, there is no question that S.T. Dupont provides everything you need in a luxury brand.
