There are the cigar makers. Manuel Quesada. Litto Gomez. And Jochy Blanco. And there are the innovators who improve our hobby.
One innovative cigar lover Pierre Jourdan found himself encumbered by too many tools in his every day carrying kit. Pierre calls it his EDC. (Feel free to work that term into the cigar vernacular.)
“When I started smoking cigars about 10 years ago, I experienced the burden of every cigar smoker: case, lighter, cutter. Adding my cigar gear to my EDC, my pockets were now full of accessories. This is where the idea to combine a knife and a cigar cutter came from.”
After drawing his first sketch, Pierre met Yann Bouten, a knife and leather craftsman from Bordeaux, who helped him perfect the design. And Les Fines Lames—which translates from French to the thin blade —was conceived.
HOW SOCIAL LAUNCHED (AND FUNDED) THE CIGAR-SMOKER LUXURY BRAND
“We spent the first six months designing, prototyping and thoroughly testing,” Pierre said. “Meanwhile, I started posting more and more cigar-related pictures to my personal instagram account (@steven_cigale).”
By June 2015, Pierre’s personal account climbed to about 5,000 followers. Next social step for the cigar accessory? Start a brand account (@lesfineslames) to unveil the inaugural Les Fines Lames cigar knife.
By October 2015, 10K IGers were following both Pierre’s personal and brand accounts. The social momentum jumpstarted a crowdfunding campaign.
In one month, the campaign generated $30,000.
The company started production of the cigar knives. And delivered the heirlooms-in-the-making to their patrons. (To date, the brand’s IG account boasts 40K+ followers.)
“Once they have it, they love it immediately because of the perfect cut every cigar lover is looking for.”
WATCH LES FINES LAMES CUTTER IN ACTION
Crafted from the highest-quality French stainless steel and specially treated for maximum durability. The blade doubles as a guillotine cigar cutter thanks to the ingenious hole built into the handle of a Les Fines Lames cigar knife. When not in use, this sharp (very sharp) blade safely tucks into the handle.
SHARP IDEA FILLED A NICHÉ FOR MULTI-INTEREST CIGAR HOBBYISTS
Many of us carry a small knife to slice through cuttable conundrums—stubborn packaging, duct tape emergency or fruitful apple season. For Pierre, it’s a habit passed down from his grandfather, who was a professional gardener for a park in Pierre’s hometown of Marseille, France.
“As a gardener, he always had a knife with him,” Pierre shared. “That family tradition was passed on to me, as a small knife has always been part of my every day carry kit.
“Some cigar aficionados might want to ‘preserve’ our product and only use the knife as a cigar cutter.” Its sturdy design and high-quality materials, broaden the use of the cigar knife. Many cigar aficionados are also gastronomes, outdoor enthusiasts and EDC fanatics, after all.
But for premium cigar lovers, functional duality must also have style. Is the knife appropriate on the table in a conference room, restaurant or cigar lounge. When it comes to style, Les Fines Lames products are definitely a cut above and certainly conversation openers among fellow cigar hobbyists.
“What binds people in the cigar community is the passion they share for the product. The cigar is actually a common denominator. Some smoke alone, others with friends. Some have their rituals and all the necessary tools needed to perform these, others tend to concentrate on the cigar alone and forget the rest. ”
MADE BY AFICIONADOS FOR AFICIONADOS
Limited runs of limited editions make a Les Fines Lames a prized possession for the well-heeled. And a cigar cutter sure to last a lifetime. It’s the kind of accessory you build a relationship with—like a father’s watch or vintage automobile.
“Those products all contain a part of history, the shared one or the personal one, and a part of respect for craftsmanship and beautiful objects.”
A HANDCRAFTED LUXURY GIFT FOR THE CIGAR LOVER
Les Fines Lames clean styling might appear simple. Thought, however, is behind every detail.
“Leonardo Da Vinci said once, ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’. And Les Fines Lames has adopted this motto as its own.”
“We have so many gifted artisans in our country!”
France artisans handcraft each cigar knife. The makers of the knife hail from Thiers, the French capital of steel and cutlery.
A RESPONSIBLY SOURCED WORK OF ART FOR THE CIGAR SMOKER
The company purposefully chose exclusive French sourcing and handcrafting, even if the production costs might be higher than in some other places. “Supporting the local economy is important to us. Moreover, having local partners means a shorter production process and allows us to keep an eye on quality at all stages of the manufacturing, to serve our customers’ interests best,” Pierre explained.
Sourcing local, also reduces the company’s environmental impact. Pierre’s tries to use suppliers and partners within a 400-mile area. A nearby shipyard was the source for recycled teak wood for an initial knife collection.
Protecting the source of its wooden cigar knife handles (AKA trees) is also a company priority. He plans to invest in forest protection agencies in the continents to which he ships products.
EVERY ONE INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED, ENGRAVED UPON REQUEST
Each Les Fines Lames piece is individually numbered. Engraving the name or initials of the user on the blade adds distinction to a gift for the refined cigar lover.
NO MORE THAN 100 ARE CRAFTED IN EACH COLLECTION
Only 50 to 100 knives are created for each Les Fines Lames collection. As of this interview, handles in Thuya Burl, Bulnesia and Basic Black are featured limited editions.
LES FINES LAMES MAKES FOR CIGAR CHAMPIONSHIP
In 2018, Les Fines Lames sponsored a few qualification events for the Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC). And crafted a special knife made of gold leaves for the grand finale, which was held in Split, Croatia.
Other brands, including Boveda are also official CSWC sponsors. “Just like Boveda, Les Fines Lames brought innovation to the cigar market with products praised for their design, quality and usefulness. Our relationship with Boveda has been strengthened during the good times we’ve spent at the InterTabac Trade Show in Dortmund, Germany.”
Safe to say, many a cigar was shared.
FOR HIS HUMIDOR, PIERRE USES BOVEDA
To keep his cigars in ready-to-smoke condition, Pierre puts Boveda in his personal humidors. Boveda safely and slowly brings the interior of a humidor to an ideal RH by adding or absorbing moisture as needed. And Boveda maintains that RH level for a long time–two to four months, depending on the humidor. With Boveda, Pierre doesn’t have to mess with rewetting sponges or refilling oases. Boveda is automatic cigar protection.
So whether Pierre travels around the world or across France, Boveda keeps his cigars properly humidified. They’ll be waiting to be cut, lit and smoked upon his return.
