Collaborations in the Fashion/Luxury market are not at all unusual – in fact they are rather common – but the end results can often be, let’s just say, interesting. For instance, one of my favorite collaborations happened between Adidas, and former Moschino designer Jeremy Scott in 2013. The end result? This two-tone pink high-top, featuring faux-fur, hot-pink midsoles, and a poodle head wearing a pair of Linda Farrow x JS Wing sunglasses. What’s not to love?
Case in point – who hasn’t used a lighter and thought to themselves “But what time is it?” Enter the Master Lighter, a collaboration between S.T. Dupont and Franck Muller. Franck Muller is of course, the Geneva-based watchmaker known for making some of the most complicated watches in the world. In the world of watchmaking, complications are a good thing! S.T. Dupont is the 150 year old French maker of luxury lighters, pens, leather accessories and more. And what did they create? Simply put, a lighter with a watch embedded in its case.
The finished product however, is anything but simple. The Master Lighter is a unique, exquisitely crafted double-sided watch that incorporates a skeleton movement, and is the result of more than two years of development. This isn’t the type of collab where one company simply slaps their logo onto the product of another company. The idea for the Master Lighter originated, according to an article in the New York Times, when “…executives from both brands met informally over cigars… “It didn’t start from a commercial approach at all,” said Alain Crevet, Dupont’s chief executive. “It started from the will of a few crazy maverick technical people to create something original.”” I don’t usually pay much heed to PR releases, but in this case, they really nailed it when they stated “Every detail of this masterpiece reflects the heritage and unique expertise of Franck Muller, combined with the distinguished artistry of S.T. Dupont. The Master Lighter represents the pinnacle of both houses, where traditional craftsmanship and innovation unite to create a truly unique object.”
The Master Lighter collection is offered in a limited series of 88 units per shade and the lighters are being made-to-order so delivery will take 6-months. Interested in purchasing the Master Lighter? Click and you are prompted to contact a representative as no price is listed. Of course (Though Cigar Aficionado claims the lighters will sell for between $56,400 to $65,300 each). Future plans? Perhaps a pen with complications. Why not?
The next notable collab that came across our desk, was between fine crystal maker Baccarat, and Hong Kong-based architect, interior, and product designer, Steve Leung. The inspiration for the collab was the 60th anniversary of Sino-French friendship and Baccarat’s 260th anniversary. The finished product? The Printemps Bleu Zenith Chandelier, is a remix of Baccarat’s iconic Zenith chandelier and Chinese Qinghua Ci blue porcelain artwork. This porcelain first gained prominence in 14th century China during the early Ming Dynasty, but it’s history and development is actually much older. The signature blue is made using Cobalt Oxide mined in Iraq, Persia and Oman and was first used on pottery during the Abbasid Caliphate circa 566 CE. This Cobalt blue was precious and cost twice the price of gold. The Printemps Bleu Zenith Chandelier verily drips with ancient history, and timeless luxury.
The details and the craftsmanship are stunning and only 60 of these chandeliers will be available for sale. Leung and Baccarat’s collab is truly an example of synergy, integrating Eastern and Western inspiration, into a unitary end-product that elevates and even, dare I say it, transcends the genre.
What are your favorite collabs? Drop us a line and maybe we’ll feature them in a future post!
