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a phoenix
from the
flames
From the ashes of a carriage company
grew S.T. Dupont, one of the world’s
leading brands that has become the
byword for highly desirable products.
Losing your carriage company to a fire seems
a touch ironic given the prestigious brand and world
leader in luxury lighters that Simon Tissot-Dupont’s next
enterprise would become. Understanding the wanderlust
of the time, in 1872 he set about creating exceptional
leather products from his Parisian workshop for high-
ranking politicians and diplomats. His vision was the Art
of Travel, which involved meticulously designed travel
cases and personalised accessories that became a priceless
talisman for elite explorers. 143 years later, this passion
for excellence has built an international reputation for
creating highly desirable products, synonymous with
innovation and craftsmanship.
We sat down with Frederic Krill, Master Engraver and
Dominique Lesueur, Export and Travel Director to discuss
the launch of S.T. Dupont’s latest limited edition collection
and the connection of the region to the brand.
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above: writing instruments
from the Diamond family
of the Shoot the Moon
collection, adorned with
midnight-blue Chinese
lacquer, engraved
wth delicate platinum
patterns and set with
white diamonds.
“We worked with the team to try and find a theme that
combines Dubai, the monuments of Dubai, the height, the
greatness and extravagance; to having the event in Burj Khalifa
while highlighting the art and luxury on the lighter and the
inaccessible untouchable that becomes reality,” Krill opened.
‘Shoot the Moon’ is a collection that sees a collaboration with
another famous 19th century visionary, Jules Verne. “We have
an artistic director that defines a thematic collection, often one
or two years ahead, which is inspired by contemporary history
of the S.T. Dupont House, since it was founded in 1872. So for
example Jules Vernes’ book was released in 1865. We also had
a recent collection called the Orient Express and others around
Art Nouveau, and Art Deco. However, we can have collections
thattaketheoppositedirection.Lastyearforexample,theWhite
Knights collection took us back to the history of France but not
specifically to the history of S.T. Dupont. So we can sometimes
have drastic direction changes,” Krill says.
Considered one of the founders of the science fiction genre,
Verne foresaw travel into outer space, which would change the
history of mankind forever. Drawing inspiration from his most
famous work, the otherworldly novel, “De la Terre à la Lune”
(From the Earth to the Moon) in which three adventurers
reach the moon on board a vessel shot out of a huge canon, the
craftsmen at S.T. Dupont designed and created new, exceptional
and ultra-sophisticated objects. Krill said, “The idea is not to
take an opposite direction with our clients but do something
that is unusual. Obviously the easy solution would be to tell
ourselves that Dupont was founded in 1872,
so we should produce collections that are
always reflecting the past and its evolution.
But that would be a bit predictable, a bit
boring. And that’s also why we work with
Frederic and one or two other craftsman
of the same technical quality but not
specifically the same engraving technique.
But even if we have a Creative Director that
decides on the creativity frame, those artists
and craftsmanship have the liberty to bring
their vision and individuality to S.T. Dupont.
Their reinterpretation of the brand DNA,
the type of things that let us have a central
collection during the year sometimes, but
also things on the side that are unique and
unrelated. So there is a creativity, at Dupont
we proliferate ideas and collections.
The Limited Edition ‘Shoot the Moon’
collection features three unique lines and
oot-the-moon_A4_ENG_v11.indd 14 23/07/15 14:33
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3. celebrates imagination and excellence. Frederic explains, “I try
to find inspiration from countries I travel to. Putting myself in
the clients shoes and seeing how can I transcribe what’s magic,
iconic and dreamy.” The Prestige series is marked by articulated
gold parts and decorations engraved on hand-painted Chinese
lacquer. The colour of the lacquer is reminiscent of 19th-century
leathergoods,withcomplementingmoonstonesineachpiece.To
mark the year the novel was published, 1,865 numbered editions
have been made, taking up to six months to complete. “The more
technical the collection, the higher the price and more limited
the quantity. We can have collector boxes with a diamond finish
that will be upon exclusive demand. These are projects that have
an extremely long process and require different techniques of
engraving so our engineers in the Haute Savoir Manufactory
have to work on it as well.” said Dominique.
Inspired by the finest French artillery, the writing
instruments are fitted with a twistable piston system on the
clip and a rotating ring featuring the various phases of the
moon. Once placed on its case, the pen becomes a spectacular
representation of the canon that hurls Jules Verne’s rocket
invention to conquer the moon. “It’s one thing to have the
sketches and the idea but then we need to make sure we can
execute it. Production, designs, budget, etc. We of course
need to be able to sell these collections so the cost involved is
important,” he added.
The lighter’s special mechanism moves an arrow which
is symbolic of the same journey from Earth. The engraving
illustrates a stylish astrolabe, the essential tool of ancient
explorers. While the lighter’s roller imitates the shell-shaped
rocket that would send humanity into outer space.
The exclusive collector’s selection is encased in leather,
representing a celebration of S.T. Dupont’s reputation as a
Master Trunk-Maker. A fountain pen with a rollerball adapter,
a pen case, a lighter, cufflinks and a travel diary encased in
leather are luxuriously presented, while the inside of the cover is
decorated with an engraving inspired by the collection’s theme.
For the first time, leather goods appear as part of a limited
edition in the form of travel and conference bags. Nineteenth
century-style amber patina leather adorns these two items,
each one printed with a globe and decorated with engraved gold
corners. The collection is completed with gold-edged cufflinks,
each one fitted with a moonstone.
The Diamond collection is the ultimate expression of
S.T. Dupont-style luxury and limited to just twenty-eight
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opposite: the Prestige
selection is marked
by articulated gold
parts and decorations
engraved on Chinese
lacquer in the colour of
19th century leather.
The whole selection
is encased in leather,
representing a celebration
of trunk making.
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numbered editions worldwide. Adorned
with midnight blue hand-painted lacquer,
they are engraved with delicate platinum
patterns and decorated with a constellation
of sparkling diamonds.
These writing instruments are bejewelled
with 237 white diamonds, totalling 2.29
carats. Inspired by 19th century canons, the
pen is fitted with a rotating ring that displays
the phases of the moon and includes an
articulated piston on its clip.
The extravagant lighter is coated in 204
white diamonds. The platinum accents
reflect the astrolabe, while the moving
arrow symbolising the flight from Earth
to the Moon pivots when the top opens
with its signature “ping” sound. The roller
is sculpted and polished into the shape of a
rocket warhead.
The Premium line evokes a fascinating
star-speckled sky bathed in moonlight.
Each piece is coated in a deep black
lacquer accentuated with silver glitter and
engraved with details reflecting the novel’s
epic lunar saga. More simplistic in design,
both lighter and writing instruments
combine timeless straight lines contrasting
against their 19th century-style inspired
ornaments. This limited series is available
in 1,865 numbered editions.
“We are a timeless brand, it is in our
DNA and we stick to it,” says Dominique.
Some people still come to us and tell us,
I inherited a lighter from my father or
grandfather and it has been working for
10 years, but we can always fix it and have
your lighter work for another 10 years.
Durability is something we’re in.”
This new Limited Edition collection is the result of a perfect match between two remarkable 19th-century celebrities. In 1872, the first of the duo, Simon
Tissot-Dupont invented the art of travel for leading figures of the time. His counterpart,
Jules Verne, foresaw travel in outer space, which would change the history of mankind forever
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