First introduced in 2008, the Hard-edge marble lighter reproduces a amber tortoise shell pattern from spray painting by hand in multiple layers. These textured effects are never exactly the same, and are unique to each lighter.
- Finish: marbled amber
- Material: Polycarbonate, Steel and Cotton
- Fluid not included (fill with Zippo or Zippo-style lighter fluid, NOT butane)
- 1.375" x 2.25" x .625"
- Handmade in Japan
- Directions and gift box included
In the words of Tsubota Pearl's president, Eiichi Tsubota:
"The Marble pattern finish on our lighters is meticulously created by hand, using stencils individually applied to each lighter. When the lacquering process begins, the stencils are carefully lifted off the surface, resulting in the desired blurred effect. Since lighters come in different sizes, the stencils need to be changed accordingly, and both the cap and body are painted in a way that ensures a seamless continuation of the pattern across the two parts. After the marble pattern has been lacquered, a clear coating is sprayed on and then the lighters are polished by hand to achieve a glossy finish. This technique draws inspiration from a historical tradition in Japanese lighter manufacturing, specifically from the period between 1960 and 1980 when metallic lighters were often lacquered to imitate a faux 'tortoise' pattern. At Tsubota Pearl, we have adapted this method originally used for solid metal surfaces and applied it to transparent materials for our Hard Edge lighters. The combination of the modern design of the Hard Edge lighters and this traditional detailing has been highly appreciated by our customers, leading to its continuous production since 2006."
