S.T. Dupont, makers of the world’s most expensive lighter, have come out with an equally luxurious lighter inspired by classic Parisian architecture.

Christened the Place Vendôme limited edition Ligne 2 Prestige, this lighter is made from rose gold lighter and is embellished with 192 diamonds.

Defined by its majestic proportions and a strong sense of symmetry it’s one of the most emblematic examples of French 17th century architecture.

In 1810 following his victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon enriched the square by erecting the Vendôme Column.

Jewellery worth more than 6m euros (£5m, $8m) has been stolen from an exclusive Paris store in broad daylight by a lone gunman, police sources say.

Dressed in a suit and fedora, the man entered Chopard on Place Vendome and reportedly made staff hand over 15 pieces of jewellery at gunpoint.

The heist, which took place in mid-afternoon, came after a gang of armed men stole gems worth 85m euros from jewellers Harry Winston in Paris in December.

W Hotels has announced plans to open their very first Paris property by 2011. It will be close to Place Vendome, in the Opéra area of the city.

W Paris-Opéra will feature 90 stylish guest rooms, a world-class contemporary restaurant and destination bar, a state-of-the-art fitness facility with spa treatment rooms, and W Hotels’ signature lounge experience where guests are invited to mix, mingle and relax in a chic social atmosphere.

The hotel will be inside a “quintessentially Parisian” 1870s Haussmann-era building, close to the Galleries Lafayette.

Place Vendôme is a jewelry case for all the jewels of the world.

What is more symbolic to a tourist in search of French expertise than this Parisian square, where high-end jewelry brands intermingle?

For travelers, we present Le monde de Vendôme (The World of Vendôme), a documentary film with the “actors” of Place Vendôme, that will be broadcasted on all AirFrance long-haul flights beginning the 1st of April 2009.

Here is, exclusively for LUXUO readers, the preview to this superb film: