Cigar Accessories

The story – how it all started:

It all started at the beginning of 2017. In a business meeting, with a new client, it was proposed to our company to design and produce on his behalf, a wooden ashtray for two cigars, to be made available on the market.

Our knowledge in this subject, in the area of the cigar, was very small to non-existent. However, knowing the magic and the high demands of the "cigar world", the challenge to undertake it was great.

The research and planning lasted 6 months. At the end of 2017, the first ashtray for 2 cigars was designed, called "Folleto". The experience of this project led us in a new direction that determined our subsequent design course.

Marios Design would create its own cigar accessories collections.
A difficult decision considering the obstacles we had to overcome, which were quite a few. After three years of efforts (early 2020) the cigar accessories collections were completed. Two complete product collections were designed and produced, cigar ashtrays and cigar holders for one or two cigar positions respectively.

The Cigar-accessories – what we do:

We design and produce luxury accessories for cigars with the sole aim of not being an object of simple use but an "Object of desire".

A product that will work multidimensionally. Either as a personal or business gift, or as a corporate one that will represent the brand of a company or a series of new cigars, or represent a brand name of a place or an organization. Or at the end will be an independent corporate or private collection.

Lines designed for new customers can be inspired and built on their core principles. Concepts such as history, identity, culture and aesthetics are a trigger and a guide for us to be able to design and produce a strong product that will adequately represent our client's brand.

"Marios Design" designs and produces its own wide range of complete collections of cigar accessories that represent the brand's philosophy, where their design and aesthetic approach differs significantly.

All product lines are numbered and produced in a certain number of pieces, while some of them are released as "special editions", collections where their number is limited and produced in a few pieces.

All cigar accessories are accompanied by a "Certificate of authenticity" where the number of the produced product and its production date are written.

The collections of "Marios Design" concern:

- Cigar ashtrays for one or two cigars
- Cigar ashtrays only for her. (Women aficionados).
- Cigar holders.
- Desk cigar holders.
- Art cigar ashtrays.
- Small humidors & cigar cases.
- Men & women accessories for him and her.
- Cigar ashtrays projects focusing on certain groups & types of people.

Our designs and series – Our production.

From 2018 to date, the following series have been planned - those that have not been produced will be released gradually in the following years - some of them will be released in 2024:

The “Nautilus” series: ashtrays for one or two cigars. Designed in 2018.

Gadget cigar holder: A versatile object for three cigar positions. Designed in 2021. Two pro-models have been produced from aluminum.

The “Folleto wood” series: the ashtray was redesigned in 2018 and will be launched in 2024 in two qualities of wood. On the inside where the cigar touches and extinguishes there will be a two millimeter sheet of brass.

The “Luxe” series which in French means luxury: Designed in 2022. Four ashtrays for one cigar together with cigar holder. Designed to work ergonomically as one object, they can practically be used separately. They will be released in 2024 in a combination of brass and white brass.

The cigar holders "enjoy" - "Glow" - "Sail" - "Fly" and the ashtray for two cigars "Folleto" which will be released in 2024 in brass.

The two new designs from the "enjoy" cigar holder will be produced from 3D aluminum printing.

All the products from the series of 2020-2022 will be released in 2024-2025 in a combination of brass and white brass.

The “Only for her” series: for females aficionados, designed in 2019 and only 2 final models were produced. It is a series aimed only at women and includes 2 designs for start. They will be released in 2024.

All series will be completed with new designs by 2025-2026.

The approach

Different, unique and special with a unique goal: - To change the object's design philosophy, escaping from the existing repetitive forms and design patterns.

- improve its morphology and develop it in such a way that it refers to a small art object.

- Shape their ergonomics in a better way to keep up with the specifications that others have set before you. Their history and experience is a guide for us.

- To influence with your design stamp, leaving your imprint so that you can easily call it a "masterpiece in place" object.

- To propose new combinations of raw materials, to determine its aesthetics with the aim of reaching a higher level.

- To balance the function and usability of the object, with the specifications and certain standards, so that in some of them, a flexible design can arise that gives dynamics and additional value to the produced product.

- To choose different finishes, treatment of the surface with new techniques in order to offer the product an aesthetic excellence.

- To marry different new materials with each other, where their combination will give a new version, and concepts such as quality, personality and style will be upgraded and become even better.

The production process:

The cigar accessories are produced in Greece using the lost wax method from brass casting, while from 2023 many of them will also be produced in white brass.

The process includes:

Mold Construction:
In this stage we make the mold (matrix) from the prototype. After dividing the original into two or more parts, we cover it with plaster in many small pieces and then we cover these pieces with a single piece which we call a scarf. Otherwise, instead of the small pieces, we use mold silicone. We make the scarf either with plaster or even polyester.
Wax casts:
The wax casts emerge from the mold (matrix) made in the previous stage. On the wax casts, (after they have been retouched from the mold joints and various other blemishes), the metal feed ducts are placed on them. Then they are filled with the special fire clay inside and out and baked in the special oven for about a week.
Casting:
This stage is also the most important in the whole process.
After the molds have been de-waxed, they are placed side by side and after being tightened very well so that they do not open during casting, they are ready to receive the molten metal. When they are cast and after a reasonable period of time to cool, we dissolve the outer fire clay and reveal the object.
Final processing and finishing:
We have now uncovered the object and cleared it of embers. With various electrical tools we remove the metal supply pipes and with hand tools (splitters, files, hammers, etc.) we remove any foreign bodies (patches, balls, etc.). Then we weld sections or holes that each object has (where holes from the prokes that hold the heart from the fire) and process it again. At the end, we finish it with fine sandpapers and Scotch Bright.

The choice of materials, their properties and finishing:

The raw materials concern materials such as, brass, solid wood quality, while from 2024 white brass will be added to this range.

Brass:
Bronze is a copper-tin alloy metal with a reddish-brown copper alloy color, while brass is a copper-zinc alloy metal with a yellow-gold copper alloy color. It's a hard metal with increased specific gravity and high resistance to mechanical wear and chemical corrosion. It's used in the production of cast items and purchase price has a high cost.
It oxidizes slightly with a slight green tint, but can easily be restored to its original form and shine with a metal cleaning and polishing ointment, which protects and cleans the metal giving it durability and protection. In cigar accessories it has the shade of the material itself, in a matte or glossy performance.

Solid wood: The choice of solid wood in the cigar accessories gives characteristics defining the high aesthetics we want to achieve:

- Great durability and strength.
- Easy maintenance.
- Long material life.
- High quality raw material.
- Natural finish with water and patterns based on wood type selection.
- Unique character of finish and aesthetics per piece.
- High purchase cost related to the very good quality of the material.

White Brass:
White Brass was created for the production of Architectural objects and various types of Art, such as decorative items and Statues.

It is resistant to oxidation which helps to place the objects in outdoor spaces and especially in coastal and island areas. Easily cast, shaped, welded. Its properties help its development in the above areas and it is constantly gaining its preference in new applications.