A table lighter is the one cigar accessory you touch every single time you light up. It sits on the desk, the bar or the lounge table, and it should feel solid in the hand, light the cigar evenly and look right in the room. Choosing one comes down to five things: material, weight, flame, care and price. This guide goes through each, then helps you pick between the 12 marble and wood table lighters we make in Italy.
The Emperador table lighter: solid marble, 12 x 12 x 6 cm, 2.5 kg.
Why a table lighter?
A pocket lighter is made to travel. A table lighter is made to stay. Left beside the humidor or the ashtray, it is always where you expect it, and its weight lets you use it with one hand while the other holds the cigar. Because it stays in one place, it can also be a beautiful object in its own right, in solid stone or fine wood rather than plated metal. If you want the full story of the flame itself, read our guide to the triple-flame torch lighter.
Marble or wood: how to choose
All our table lighters share the same size, 12 x 12 x 6 cm, and the same torch insert. What changes is the material, and with it the weight, the feel and the way the piece ages.
- Marble, 2.5 kg. Cut from solid stone and polished by hand. It is heavy enough to stay exactly where you put it while you lift the cap and toast the foot of the cigar. The surface is cool and glossy, and each block has its own veining, so no two lighters are the same. Marble asks for a little care: acidic and limescale products etch polished stone, so it is wiped with a soft, barely damp cloth only.
- Wood, 1 kg. Turned from solid wood and finished by hand. It is warmer to the touch and lighter to pick up, and it changes gently over time: Padouk and mahogany deepen, Bocote and Tamo settle in tone. A soft, dry cloth is all it needs, with no solvents and no polish.
In short: choose marble for presence, weight and a polished stone look, and wood for warmth, a lighter feel and a lower starting price. Both are made from natural materials, so expect gentle variation in veining, grain and tone from the photo shown.
The flame: three jets, adjustable, refillable
Inside every lighter sits a Vector KGM triple-flame torch insert. It is a butane burner that fires three angled jets into one concentrated cone, so the foot of the cigar toasts broad and even instead of burning at one edge, and the flame holds steady outdoors where a soft flame would not. A hinged cap lifts to fire the burner, a rotary adjuster sets the flame height, and the tank refills from the base with premium refined butane.
Butane is not included. Gas cannot be shipped with the lighter, so it arrives empty and you fill it with premium butane. Bleed the tank before refilling and give the insert a moment to reach temperature before you light.
All 12 table lighters at a glance
| Lighter | Material | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Casona | Calacatta Oro marble, hand-painted relief | 2.5 kg | 590 euro |
| Calacatta Bianco | White marble with fine veining | 2.5 kg | 550 euro |
| Nero Marquina | Black marble, white veining | 2.5 kg | 490 euro |
| Sahara Noire | Black marble, pale veining | 2.5 kg | 490 euro |
| Grigio Orobico | Soft grey marble | 2.5 kg | 490 euro |
| Emperador | Warm brown marble | 2.5 kg | 490 euro |
| Padouk | Red to orange wood | 1 kg | 490 euro |
| White Ebony | Pale wood with dark streaks | 1 kg | 490 euro |
| Tamo | Japanese ash burl | 1 kg | 430 euro |
| Bocote | Golden to dark brown wood | 1 kg | 390 euro |
| Mogano (mahogany) | Deep reddish-brown wood | 1 kg | 220 euro |
| Rovere (oak) | Solid oak | 1 kg | 220 euro |
Every lighter is made in Italy and measures 12 x 12 x 6 cm. Delivery time is shown on each product page.
Which one for which room?
- A dark study or a bar. Black marble such as Nero Marquina or Sahara Noire gives a strong, graphic contrast against wood and leather. Nero Marquina has been a favourite of Art Deco designers for a century.
- A bright, modern room. Calacatta Bianco is the pale, classic choice, quarried in the same Apuan Alps region as Carrara. Grigio Orobico is softer and more understated.
- A warm lounge. Emperador marble, Padouk and Bocote all sit naturally with leather, brass and low light.
- Your first fine lighter. Mogano and Rovere start at 220 euro: solid wood, the same triple-flame insert, the same size.
- A piece for collectors. Tamo comes from a burl that can only be harvested once the tree has died naturally, so every piece is one of a kind. La Casona is a limited edition in Calacatta Oro marble with a hand-painted micro-relief, made in collaboration with La Casona Cubana. To see how the relief is made, read about our hand-painted marble accessories.
- A gift. A weighty marble lighter makes an impression on opening; a wood one is easy to place anywhere. See our Christmas gift guide for cigar lovers and our guide to luxury cigar gifts.
Build the whole setting
A table lighter works best as part of a set. Many of our marble ashtrays come in the same stones, such as Nero Marquina and Grigio Orobico, so lighter and ashtray can match. Place both next to one of our luxury humidors, or choose the La Casona set, which brings humidor, lighter and ashtray together in Calacatta Oro marble. If you are comparing budgets for a full setting, our luxury humidor price guide explains what drives the cost.
Caring for a marble or wood lighter
- Marble: wipe with a soft, barely damp cloth. Avoid acidic and limescale cleaners, which etch polished stone permanently. On pale marble such as Calacatta, any stain shows most.
- Wood: wipe with a soft, dry cloth, with no solvents and no polish. White ebony keeps its pale colour best away from prolonged direct sun.
- The burner: refill with premium butane only, bleed the tank first, and let the insert reach temperature before lighting.
Who we are
Litolite is an Italian atelier in Bassano del Grappa that has made humidors, marble ashtrays, table lighters and bespoke cabinets since 2015, all designed and built in our own workshop in marble and rare woods. Read more in our atelier guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is a marble or a wood table lighter better?
Neither is better; they feel different. Marble weighs 2.5 kg and stays put while you light, with a polished stone look. Wood weighs 1 kg, feels warmer and starts at a lower price.
How big and heavy are Litolite table lighters?
Every lighter measures 12 x 12 x 6 cm. The marble ones weigh 2.5 kg and the wood ones 1 kg.
What kind of flame do they use?
A Vector KGM triple-flame torch insert: a butane burner with three angled jets, an adjustable flame height and a hinged cap. It holds steady outdoors.
Is butane included?
No. Gas cannot be shipped with the lighter, so it arrives empty and is refilled with premium refined butane from the base.
How do I clean a marble lighter?
Use a soft, barely damp cloth. Acidic and limescale products etch polished marble permanently.
Will my lighter look exactly like the photo?
No. Marble and wood are natural materials, so the veining, grain and tone of your lighter will differ slightly from the photo and from every other one we make.
How much does a luxury table lighter cost?
Ours range from 220 euro to 590 euro: wood from 220 to 490 euro, marble from 490 to 590 euro.
Are the lighters handmade in Italy?
Yes. Each lighter is shaped from solid stone or wood and finished by hand in Italy.
