If you’re not using a top-notch table lighter to ignite your high-priced cigars, you’re missing out on a luxurious experience. These ornate tabletop lighters typically feature elaborate designs and sculptural elements, making them a practical form of home decor. But what is the most expensive lighter of all time, and would it look good in your home?
The most expensive lighter of all time is the Louise XIII Fleur de Parme Table Lighter. This French-made table lighter was sold to a private buyer in 2013 for €300,000, or about $405,420. It’s made of solid gold (400 grams) and contains more than 140 sapphires.
This ranking will explore the priciest lighters ever created, shedding some much-needed light on the most delightful (and expensive) fire-starters of all time.
Here Are the Top 10 Most Expensive Lighters of All Time:
- Louise XIII Fleur de Parme Table Lighter – $405,420
- Fabergé Silver Chimpanzee Cigar Lighter – $335,475
- Fabergé Silver Seated Chimpanzee Table Lighter – $136,450
- Fabergé Silver-Gilt Standing Bear Table Lighter – $125,000
- Fabergé Gold Miniature Samovar Table Lighter – $105,750
- Patek Philippe Gold Lighter With Enamel Flag of Oman – $75,000
- Bulgari Gold Compacts and Lighter Set – $32,337
- Gene Allen My Fair Lady Cigarette Lighter – $26,817
- Patek Philippe White Gold Guilloche Pattern Lighter – $22,500
- Cartier Art Deco Gold and Sapphire Cigarette Lighter Set – $17,633
10. Cartier Art Deco Gold and Sapphire Cigarette Lighter Set – $17,633
Cartier is one of the world’s top luxury brands, and many of the most affluent individuals have invested in one-of-a-kind Cartier items. This includes this golden cigarette lighter and case.
A ‘lady of title’ once owned it, so it was potentially royal property. Considering its Art Deco design, it was likely created and originally purchased during the 1920s or 1930s.
But if you’re looking to make this set yours, you might be a little disappointed. This gilded lighter and cigarette case sold at a Christie’s auction in 2021, fetching 16,250 Swiss Francs (or about $17,633).
Notably, this lighter (and its matching case) are also embellished with sapphires, one of the most expensive birthstones!
Why It’s Expensive
This antique set is a Cartier, making it a pricey commodity. But, apart from branding, it also happens to be a vintage (almost antique) item, adding to its overall value. The fact that it once belonged to an influential person boosts prices even higher.
9. Patek Philippe White Gold Guilloche Pattern Lighter – $22,500
Patek Philippe was founded almost 200 years ago (in 1839), and it’s the only remaining independent luxury timepiece manufacturer in Geneva, Switzerland. But while this high-end brand is well-known for crafting exquisite wristwatches, it also produced a handful of bespoke lighters during the 1970s and 1980s.
This oval-shaped cigarette lighter, crafted sometime in the 1970s, is one of the few remaining Patek Philippe lighters produced during this period. It features a white gold exterior with an intricate guilloche pattern and an authentic Patek Philippe signature.
Though it’s several decades old, this unique lighter is still functional! But that’s only one of the reasons it sold at auction for $22,500.
Why It’s Expensive
This portable pocket lighter is a one-of-a-kind find, as Patek Philippe has produced a limited number of lighters. And the more limited the supply, the higher prices are bound to rise.
Still, the Patek Philippe signature, white gold material, and vintage quality of this lighter also help make it one of the most expensive lighters of all time.
8. Gene Allen My Fair Lady Cigarette Lighter – $26,817
Gene Allen was an American art director who helped produce the 1964 Audrey Hepburn film, My Fair Lady. He had this gold-colored lighter made for Hepburn as a commemorative gift to celebrate the film’s completion, and it features the film title on the upper lid.
So, this cigarette lighter isn’t only a vintage find—it’s also a unique piece of Hollywood memorabilia. It sold at auction in 2017, fetching a noteworthy £20,000 (approximately $26,817), a fair price considering its unique history and origin.
Why It’s Expensive
Items owned by some of the most remarkable actors and actresses in Hollywood tend to sell for big bucks. This lighter’s special relationship with Audrey Hepburn makes it more expensive than other vintage lighters from the 1960s. Its ownership history also makes it one of the priciest lighters ever sold.
7. Bulgari Gold Compacts and Lighter Set – $32,337
Bulgari (often stylized as Bvlgari), like Cartier and Gucci, is an internationally-recognized luxury brand with more than a century of experience producing high-end products. And while this lighter set might not be made of crocodile skin like some of the priciest Bulgari handbags, it’s made of one of the most precious metals on the planet—gold!
Besides, this Italian treasure comes with two gilded compacts, one of which is adorned with diamonds. Each piece features the Bvlgari signature, which is almost as valuable as the materials used to make this set.
This unique trio of glimmering items sold at auction in 2015 for 32,500 Swiss Francs, or about $32,337.
Why It’s Expensive
There’s nothing about this lighter set that doesn’t exude wealth and affluence. Everything about this set is luxurious, from its crocodile-skin texture to its gold exterior.
But apart from the precious metal and diamonds used to create this lighter set, the main factor contributing to its high price is its branding. These are Bulgari items, making them some of the most sought-after Italian luxury products on the planet.
6. Patek Philippe Gold Lighter With Enamel Flag of Oman – $75,000
This lighter was a custom item created for Qaboos bin Said, the sultan of Oman (from 1970 until 2020). It features a partial Oman flag made of enamel and is made of 18-karat yellow gold. The exterior is embellished with a chevron pattern that catches the light beautifully.
Because this lighter is portable, you might bring it with you on a luxury trip! But, of course, you might struggle to acquire this lighter, as it sold at auction in 2021 for $75,000.
Why It’s Expensive
Anything made by the Swiss luxury brand Patek Philippe is likely to cost a pretty penny. But a custom item made for the leader of a nation? That’s sure to cost far more, which is why this cigarette lighter is worth thousands of dollars.
5. Fabergé Gold Miniature Samovar Table Lighter – $105,750
Several of the priciest lighters ever sold belong to the Fabergé brand. While this luxury jewelry company is best known for producing expensive Fabergé eggs and elegant jewelry, Fabergé also used to manufacture and sell high-end table lighters.
This golden lighter, shaped like a miniature samovar (a Russian vessel used to boil water), is a prime example. Made in the late 1800s, it’s one of a handful of luxury table lighters that survived the Russian Revolution.
Though it was initially valued at between $40,000 and $60,000, this elegant antique sold for $105,750 in 2013.
Why It’s Expensive
This table lighter stood at less than 4 inches tall, but it was worth its weight in gold, literally. But the precious metal used to make this gleaming object isn’t the only reason it sold for more than $100,000.
After all, this is a historically significant Fabergé table lighter. Not only does it predate the fall of the Russian czardom, but it’s also shaped like a samovar. This urn-like vessel is rarely used in Russian households today, making this particular table lighter a golden reminder of traditional Russian tea ceremonies.
4. Fabergé Silver-Gilt Standing Bear Table Lighter – $125,000
Fabergé will always be associated with Russian royalty and wealth, just as bears remain a symbol of Russia. Consequently, it makes complete sense that the renowned House of Fabergé would have created several bear-shaped items, including this silver-gilt table lighter.
The First Silver Artel of Imperial Russia had a hand in crafting this unique lighter, making it a historically significant antique. It’s also a pretty quirky find, as the lighter wick is held inside the standing bear’s mouth, resembling a half-smoked cigar.
This table lighter sold at auction in 2002 for $125,000, making it one of the most expensive lighters ever sold.
Why It’s Expensive
This silver standing bear was created sometime between 1908 and 1917. It was likely one of the last luxury items marked with the Imperial Warrant.
There’s a chance that this table lighter belonged to the Imperial Court during the last days of Czar Nicholas II’s reign. These qualities ensure that this item has significant historical value.
Of course, the precious metal (silver) used to create this table lighter also adds to its above-average price.
3. Fabergé Silver Seated Chimpanzee Table Lighter – $136,450
Exotic animals from faraway lands were once seen as luxurious and captivating novelties. That’s why elephants, zebras, and chimpanzees were popular attractions at traveling circuses throughout the 1800s and early 1900s.
Fabergé created this silver chimpanzee table lighter sometime between 1899 and 1904. It was likely an attractive item for affluent travelers and adventurous aristocracy during the turn of the century.
After all, it’s exquisitely carved and crafted and polished to shine beautifully beneath dull lamplight. This distinct cigar lighter sold at auction for £85,250 (about $136,450) in 2012, and it’s not challenging to understand why it fetched such a high bid.
Why It’s Expensive
Any antique Fabergé item is bound to sell for thousands. But this lighter’s period-specific charm, top-notch craftsmanship, and exceptional condition make it a true treasure.
That said, it’s not the only chimp-shaped table lighter Fabergé released during the late 19th century!
2. Fabergé Silver Chimpanzee Cigar Lighter – $335,475
If the sitting chimpanzee cigar lighter doesn’t pique your interest, perhaps this standing version is more your style! It’s also one of the few remaining Fabergé table lighters.
However, this silver lighter is shorter and more lightweight than the sitting chimpanzee model. It stands at about 4.5 inches tall and only weighs 13 ounces.
But the buyer who acquired this cigar lighter in 2007 wasn’t monkeying around (which makes sense, as chimpanzees are great apes, not monkeys).
They paid £168,000 (approximately $335,475) to take this chimp-shaped table lighter home. Of course, this begs the question—why did it sell for more than double the price of the previous table lighter?
Why It’s Expensive
While the other antique Fabergé chimpanzee lighter had a stable, flat base, this one is far more sculptural. This silver chimpanzee balances on its feet and hands. That’s not easy to pull off, even for talented craftspeople and artisans.
This sculpture-like table lighter also features unique details and embellishments. The chimp’s fur is exquisitely chiseled to form a textured surface. This likely took hours of painstaking labor, making it intrinsically more valuable than the smoother, slightly simpler sitting chimp lighter.
1. Louise XIII Fleur de Parme Table Lighter – $405,420
The most expensive lighter in the world is the Louise XIII Fleur de Parme Table Lighter. It was designed by Princess Tania de Bourbon Parme and created by the gifted artisans of French luxury manufacturer S.T. Dupont. It was sold in 2013 for a whopping sum of €300,000 (about $405,420).
This lighter resembles a tower-like throne, with a gorgeous sapphire-embedded crown sitting at the top. It contains no less the 152 deep blue sapphires and is made of 400 grams of flawless gold.
This sculpture-like table lighter also came with a matching cigarette lighter, valued at €200,000. Guinness World Records says this is the most expensive lighter set ever sold!
Why It’s Expensive
Though this table lighter is one of the most modern creations included in this ranking, it’s the only one designed by one of the last living descendants of King Louis XIII. This quality alone makes it a unique treasure.
But the solid gold body and numerous blue sapphires might be the primary reason this table lighter sold for more than $400,000.
Why Are Some Lighters So Expensive?
The average BIC or Zippo lighter might only cost between $2 and $20. But, as this ranking has shown, some lighters cost thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of dollars. Still, why are some lighters so expensive?
The priciest lighters of all time tend to have a few things in common. These qualities differentiate them from standard gas station lighters.
For example, the most expensive lighters are often:
- Made by luxury manufacturers
- Made of precious metals
- Decorated with jewels and gemstones
- Antiques with storied histories
The costliest lighters also tend to be table lighters with ornate designs, making them stylish pieces of decor that just happen to be able to light your best cigars.
What Is the Most Expensive Lighter?
The most expensive lighter of all time is the Louise XIII Fleur de Parme Table Lighter. Shaped like a crowned throne, this solid gold lighter was designed by a princess and produced by S.T. Dupont.
This table lighter was lovingly decorated with gorgeous blue sapphires of various sizes and cuts. It was a table lighter produced by (and for) royal tastes! This lighter was sold to a private buyer in 2013 for €300,000 (about $405,420).
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