Colibri Group
Colibri Group is an American men's accessories company best known historically for its cigarette lighters and smoking-related products.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Colibri Group is an American accessories company whose origins date to 1928, when Julius Lowenthal founded the business. The company became particularly associated with cigarette lighters, developing mechanical, gas, electric, wind-resistant, and multi-flame models over several decades. Its early reputation was built not only on the styling of its products but also on engineering features intended to improve ignition reliability and ease of use. A major early product milestone came in 1935 with the introduction of the fully automatic Monopol lighter, which used an acceleration system. During the Second World War, from 1940 to 1945, Colibri produced the Stormgard lighter for military personnel. In the postwar period, the company continued to combine lighter design with technical experimentation. In 1958 it introduced a lighter incorporating a visible multiple-gas refill system and a hydraulic auto-flint mechanism. Colibri also entered adjacent product categories, including watches and cigarette cases, and is credited with introducing a Piezo Electric lighter in 1961 and the electric Molectric lighter range in the 1960s. Colibri's cultural visibility increased through product placement and association with motorsport. In 1974, the company supplied the distinctive golden gun used in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. The prop was constructed using components from a Molectric 88 lighter, together with cufflinks, a cigarette case, and a fountain pen. That same year Colibri sponsored the winning team in the Lombard RAC Rally, driven by Henry Liddon and Timo Mäkinen. The company broadened its men's accessories portfolio during the 1980s and thereafter. Jack Lowenthal, Julius Lowenthal's son, joined the company in 1952, while Jack's son David joined during the 1980s. Under this later family involvement, Colibri expanded beyond lighters into Swiss watches, cufflinks, pens, money clips, jewelry, and small leather goods. Its lighter portfolio also developed toward specialized formats, including wind-resistant, pipe, dual-flame, triple-flame, and high-altitude ignition products. The Vortex and Trifecta lines, introduced in 2001, represented this emphasis on multi-flame performance. Colibri experienced a major corporate disruption in January 2009, when it abruptly closed its doors and announced that it was seeking protection through a receivership petition in Rhode Island. Ownership changed in February 2009, and the head office moved from Providence to New York City. The post-restructuring company continued to present Colibri as a broader men's accessories brand rather than solely a lighter manufacturer. Its 2011 collection included new lighter models, cufflinks, pens, and small leather goods, alongside a logo rebranding. The same period saw the introduction of the C, D, and T jewelry series, with cufflinks and related accessories using polished steel, semi-precious inlays, and leather details. Historically, Colibri's positioning has centered on functional innovation, giftable design, and premium men's accessories. Lighters remain the brand's defining product category in the available historical record, while its broader assortment reflects an attempt to serve related lifestyle and personal-accessory needs. Current ownership, operating status, management, financial condition, and official web presence are not established by the supplied sources.
History
Colibri was founded in 1928 by Julius Lowenthal as a manufacturer associated primarily with cigarette lighters. Its early development focused on making ignition more convenient and reliable. In 1935 the company launched the fully automatic Monopol lighter, which incorporated an acceleration system. During the Second World War, Colibri produced the Stormgard lighter, a model designed for soldiers between 1940 and 1945. Julius Lowenthal's son Jack joined the business in 1952. The company continued developing lighter mechanisms and related accessories. In 1958 it introduced a lighter with a visible multiple-gas refill feature and a hydraulic auto-flint system. Colibri also produced a Swiss-made Monopol watch in 1958 and a Monopol cigarette case in 1960. The company later developed a Piezo Electric lighter and, in 1967, introduced the Molectric 88 Silver electric lighter. Its product development during the 1970s included jeweled gold lighters and the Sensatron battery-operated touch lighter. Colibri gained notable public exposure in 1974 when it supplied components for the golden gun featured in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. The prop was assembled from a Molectric 88 lighter, cufflinks, a cigarette case, and a fountain pen. In the same year, Colibri sponsored the winning Lombard RAC Rally team, driven by Henry Liddon and Timo Mäkinen. During the 1980s, Jack's son David joined the company. Colibri expanded its range beyond lighters into Swiss watches, cufflinks, pens, and other men's accessories. The company continued to develop specialist lighter formats, including the Power Flame Plus three-way wind-resistant lighter in 1982, an adjustable-flame pipe lighter in 1985, and the Quantum windproof lighter in 1987. By 1998, its accessory range included double guillotine cutters and cigar punch cutters. The early 2000s brought a renewed emphasis on multi-flame and performance-oriented lighters. Colibri introduced the Vortex and Trifecta lines in 2001, using twin-flame and triple-flame configurations respectively, followed by the Summit high-altitude ignition system lighter in 2002. These products extended the brand's technical identity into cigar and outdoor-use categories. On January 14, 2009, Colibri abruptly closed its operations and announced that it was seeking protection through a receivership petition with the state of Rhode Island. In February of that year, ownership changed and the company's head office moved from Providence to New York City. The available historical record does not identify the new owner or provide detailed financial terms for the transaction. Colibri subsequently continued to frame itself as a men's accessories company. Its 2011 collection included lighters, cufflinks, money clips, pens, and small leather goods, and the company also refreshed its logo. The C, D, and T jewelry series introduced that year included cufflinks and related accessories made with materials such as polished steel, malachite, black onyx, black pearl, mother-of-pearl, peridot, and alligator leather. The supplied sources do not establish the company's current ownership, leadership, operating footprint, or status.
- 2011
Collection expansion and logo rebranding
[1]Colibri launched a new collection spanning lighters and men's accessories and refreshed its logo.
- 2009
Receivership and ownership transition
[1]Colibri closed operations, sought receivership protection, changed ownership, and moved its head office to New York City.
- 2002
Summit lighter introduced
[1]The Summit lighter added a high-altitude ignition system to the portfolio.
- 2001
Vortex and Trifecta lines launched
[1]Colibri introduced the Vortex twin-flame and Trifecta triple-flame lighter lines.
- 1980
Expansion into pens and cufflinks
[1]Colibri began supplying pens and cufflinks as part of its broader men's accessories range.
- 1974
James Bond prop and motorsport sponsorship
[1]Colibri supplied components for the golden gun in The Man with the Golden Gun and sponsored the winning Lombard RAC Rally team.
- 1967
Molectric 88 introduced
[1]The company introduced the electric Molectric 88 Silver lighter.
- 1961
Piezo Electric lighter development
[1]Colibri introduced a Piezo Electric lighter.
- 1958
Fuel and ignition innovations
[1]Colibri introduced a visible multiple-gas refill system and a hydraulic auto-flint mechanism.
- 1952
Second-generation family involvement
[1]Jack Lowenthal, son of founder Julius Lowenthal, joined Colibri.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned as a premium men's accessories brand combining lighter engineering with gift-oriented jewelry, writing instruments, cufflinks, and small leather goods.
Lighter · 1928
Colibri Original
The Colibri Original represents the brand's foundational lighter offering after its establishment in 1928. It is part of the company's early history as a specialist lighter manufacturer.
Automatic lighter and watch line · 1935
Monopol
The Monopol was introduced as a fully automatic lighter in 1935 and used an acceleration system. A Swiss-made Monopol watch was also recorded in 1958, showing the name's extension into adjacent accessories.
Military lighter · 1940
Stormgard
Stormgard was a lighter produced by Colibri during the Second World War for soldiers. It illustrates the company's wartime manufacturing activity and its focus on dependable ignition products.
Electric lighter · 1967
Molectric 88
The Molectric 88 was an electric lighter introduced in 1967. Its components were later used in the construction of the golden gun prop for the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.
Twin-flame lighter · 2001
Vortex
Introduced in 2001, Vortex was a pyramidal twin-flame lighter line. It formed part of Colibri's effort to emphasize specialized flame configurations and performance-oriented lighter design.
Triple-flame lighter · 2001
Trifecta
The Trifecta, also introduced in 2001, used a triple-flame configuration. It broadened Colibri's multi-flame offering and was positioned alongside the Vortex line in the company's technical lighter portfolio.
High-altitude lighter · 2002
Summit
The Summit was introduced in 2002 with a high-altitude ignition system. It represented Colibri's focus on ignition performance under more demanding environmental conditions.
Jewelry and men's accessories · 2011
C, D and T Series
Launched in 2011, these series included cufflinks and related men's accessories. Materials cited for the range include polished steel, semi-precious stones and leather details, including alligator leather centers in the T Series.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Logo rebranding and collection presentation
Colibri refreshed its logo while presenting a broader 2011 collection of lighters, cufflinks, money clips, pens, and small leather goods.
Outcome. The initiative signaled a broader men's-accessories identity, but the supplied sources do not report performance outcomes.
- 1974James Bond film prop association
United States · United Kingdom
Colibri supplied components used to construct the golden gun in The Man with the Golden Gun. The prop incorporated a Molectric 88 lighter, cufflinks, a cigarette case, and a fountain pen, linking several of the company's accessory categories in a high-profile entertainment placement.
Outcome. The association gave Colibri notable popular-culture visibility, although the supplied source does not provide measurable campaign results.
- 1974Lombard RAC Rally sponsorship
United Kingdom
Colibri sponsored the team that won the Lombard RAC Rally, driven by Henry Liddon and Timo Mäkinen.
Outcome. The sponsored team won the rally; no further sponsorship results are specified in the source material.
Brand decisions
2011
Broaden the brand beyond lightersStrategyBackground
Colibri had historically been identified with cigarette lighters but had also developed watches, cufflinks, pens, jewelry, and other accessories.
Action taken
The company presented a collection combining lighter models with cufflinks, money clips, pens, small leather goods, and the C, D, and T jewelry series.
Aftermath
The move reinforced Colibri's positioning as a men's accessories brand, although the source does not report sales or market-share results.
2009
Seek receivership protection and relocate headquartersStrategyBackground
Colibri abruptly closed its doors in January 2009 and announced that it was seeking protection through a receivership petition with the state of Rhode Island.
Action taken
The company changed ownership in February 2009 and moved its head office from Providence to New York City.
Aftermath
Colibri subsequently continued developing a broader men's accessories assortment. The available source does not identify the new owner or provide financial details.
Recent events
- 2011
Colibri introduces a new collection and refreshed logo[1]
Product launch · Campaign
The company presented a 2011 collection spanning lighter models, cufflinks, money clips, pens, and small leather goods, together with a logo rebranding.
- 2009
Colibri closes operations and seeks receivership protection[1]
Bankruptcy
Colibri abruptly closed its doors on January 14, 2009, and announced that it was seeking protection through a receivership petition filed in Rhode Island.
- 2009
Colibri changes ownership and moves headquarters to New York[1]
M&A
Following the January disruption, Colibri changed ownership in February 2009 and relocated its head office from Providence to New York City.
Sources2 sources
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