When buying cigar accessories, do you focus more on looks or functionality?
Personally, I like a particular style of cigar humidor: Wood, natural-looking, with creative designs if possible but nothing too crazy. To me, they are as much art or furniture (depending on the size) as functional objects. Obviously I expect them to be able to do their job of keeping my premium cigars fresh, but I'm willing to pay more to do so for a humidor that gives me pleasure to look at even when I'm not reaching into it for cigars.
The Art Deco 60-Count Humidor, for example, is my kind of storage device. It's obvious even at a glance that this is a humidor, thanks to the exterior hygrometer, but I love the tone of the wood and the way the colors merge. There are cheaper humidors available, but I have no regrets that I spent the money for this one.
For cigar cutters, on the other hand, I'm more concerned with functionality. They stay in my pocket or on the table until I cut some quality cigars, and then go back in my pocket. I usually pay more attention to price when I buy these, in part because I tend to lose them -- cigar cutters and sunglasses are the two things I lose often enough that I don't allow myself to buy nice ones because I can't be trusted to take care of them.
Now, if I had something like the Xikar Xi3 Havana Collection Cutter, that would be a dream come true. I love the idea of owning something that functional and beautiful. But unless any of you fine people are buying that for me for the holidays, none of the cutters I own will be treated with as much reverence as my humidors are.
How about you? Do you value appearance over functionality in your cigar accessories?
Personally, I like a particular style of cigar humidor: Wood, natural-looking, with creative designs if possible but nothing too crazy. To me, they are as much art or furniture (depending on the size) as functional objects. Obviously I expect them to be able to do their job of keeping my premium cigars fresh, but I'm willing to pay more to do so for a humidor that gives me pleasure to look at even when I'm not reaching into it for cigars.
The Art Deco 60-Count Humidor, for example, is my kind of storage device. It's obvious even at a glance that this is a humidor, thanks to the exterior hygrometer, but I love the tone of the wood and the way the colors merge. There are cheaper humidors available, but I have no regrets that I spent the money for this one.
For cigar cutters, on the other hand, I'm more concerned with functionality. They stay in my pocket or on the table until I cut some quality cigars, and then go back in my pocket. I usually pay more attention to price when I buy these, in part because I tend to lose them -- cigar cutters and sunglasses are the two things I lose often enough that I don't allow myself to buy nice ones because I can't be trusted to take care of them.
Now, if I had something like the Xikar Xi3 Havana Collection Cutter, that would be a dream come true. I love the idea of owning something that functional and beautiful. But unless any of you fine people are buying that for me for the holidays, none of the cutters I own will be treated with as much reverence as my humidors are.
How about you? Do you value appearance over functionality in your cigar accessories?
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