S.T Dupont Ashtrays

A cigar ashtray differs from a cigarette one in two ways that matter. The rest is wide and deep enough to hold a 50-ring-gauge cigar without it rolling out, and the bowl is large enough that the ash column has somewhere to go.

That second point is not decoration. Cigar ash should be left on as long as it will hold — it insulates the burning foot, slows the burn, and keeps the smoke cooler and less bitter. A shallow tray forces you to tap early and you end up smoking a hotter, harsher cigar for it.

Look for a stable base and a rest that cradles rather than pinches. A cigar knocked onto a rug is an expensive way to learn the difference.