Some Americans tried their hand at bidding, notably four from California — residents from Pebble Beach, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Franciso, who regularly travel together to go cigar hunting. But they said they were so frustrated with the anonymous bidder that they bid less than usual this time around.
Valeri Krasnopjorov from St. Petersburg, another regular at cigar auctions, only bought three lots because of what he called “crazy” prices. He said he was unimpressed by the private collection, bought mainly between 2001 and 2004 from Christie’s.
Thirty-nine of the auction lots, it turned out, had been kept in Davidoff’s vault, stored in a single connoisseur’s state-of-the-art humidor. “Only one or two lots were really worth it,” Valeri said.
Rumors swirled that the unnamed connoisseur and his wife were divorcing, and that it was the wife selling off his precious collection, including the £8,800 top Partagas prize. The soon-to-be divorcee, whoever she is, walked away with £52,000, minus the auctioneer’s fee.
Not bad for two hours’ work.
Today’s photogenic guest smoker is Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez, who posed with his trophy — and his cigar — after winning the UBS Hong Kong open on November 18. No idea what he was smoking, or if he had it lit on the course.
