Interview about Splendour Champagne Sabre, winner of the A' Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Award 2025
The Splendour Champagne Sabre is designed with precision and balanced functionality. Its minimalist form incorporates a precisely angled blade, ensuring a clean and controlled sabrage. The calibrated blade geometry optimizes performance, seamlessly integrating form and function. This contemporary reinterpretation of a traditional tool emphasizes clean lines, carefully considered proportions, and a meticulously engineered weight distribution, reinforcing the intrinsic relationship between design and purpose.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe design journey for the SPLENDOUR Champagne Sabre began with a clear objective - to honour the timeless art of sabrage while reinventing it for the modern connoisseur. We approached the challenge as a study in balance, ensuring the sabre would serve as both a precise functional instrument and an object of sculptural beauty. Every decision was guided by the desire to simplify rather than embellish: historical ornamentation was stripped away, replaced by sleek, minimalist lines that reflect contemporary refinement.Each detail - from the blade’s geometry to the polished finish -was tested through repeated prototyping to achieve harmony between form and performance. The result is a sabre that preserves the ceremony’s authenticity while aligning with modern luxury sensibilities, transforming sabrage into an experience that feels both effortless and profoundly elegant.
Refining the engineering of the SPLENDOUR Champagne Sabre was a research-driven process shaped by direct collaboration with sommeliers and diverse user groups. Their insights confirmed that precise blade geometry and balanced weight are critical for effective, controlled sabrage. Even minor shifts in angle or grip could affect performance, prompting us to fine-tune the sabre's center of mass and blade profile for seamless motion and accuracy.Through extensive prototyping and testing, we arrived at an ergonomic handle design that delivers both comfort and confidence - whether in the hands of a seasoned sommelier or a first-time user. This fusion of professional expertise and user-centered refinement ensured that the final sabre offers intuitive control and elevates the overall sabrage experience with both elegance and precision.
One of the most valuable discoveries during our 12-month development process was the critical role of precise weight distribution in the sabrage experience. Early prototypes revealed that even slight imbalances - whether blade-heavy or handle-light - disrupted the natural flow of motion and undermined user confidence. Through repeated testing with sommeliers and focus groups, we learned that the center of mass had to be meticulously calibrated to achieve both control and ease.This insight led us to refine not only the sabre’s external geometry but also its internal structure. We carefully adjusted the layering and density of the carbon fiber and resin composite in the handle to create a weight profile that feels intuitive and stable in hand. This equilibrium became a defining feature of the SPLENDOUR Sabre - enabling a smooth, single-motion strike and delivering a performance that is both effortless and faithful to the elegance of the ritual.
Material selection was central to achieving the SPLENDOUR Champagne Sabre’s balance of aesthetic refinement and functional performance. High-grade stainless steel was chosen for the blade for its strength, corrosion resistance, and ability to maintain a pristine, mirror-polished finish - essential for both visual appeal and clean sabrage execution.For the handle, we explored both carbon fiber and resin, each offering distinct advantages. Carbon fiber provides exceptional strength with minimal weight, supporting precise control and effortless motion. Resin, on the other hand, allowed for a sculptural, tactile finish that adds warmth and character. The contrast between the luminous blade and the deep textures of the handle materials reinforces the sabre’s contemporary identity while ensuring it feels intuitive, secure, and elevated in use.
Our goal was to democratize the art of sabrage - making it accessible to enthusiasts at all levels - without diminishing its ceremonial significance. We achieved this by engineering an ergonomic handle that feels intuitive and secure, allowing first-time users to perform the ritual with confidence. Balanced weight distribution and precise blade geometry support a smooth, controlled motion, while the physical form itself retains a sense of refined minimalism that appeals to connoisseurs.To further enhance accessibility, we developed a visual user guide that demystifies the technique without oversimplifying the ritual. By prioritizing intuitive use and physical reliability, we allow the user to focus on the moment itself - ensuring that the elegance of the experience is preserved, whether performed by a sommelier or a first-time celebrant.
From the outset, we were committed to embedding essential safety considerations without disrupting the sabre’s clean, sculptural aesthetic. Rather than adding visible guards or altering the silhouette, we focused on refining the internal balance, handle geometry, and material texture to improve control and reduce user error. Testing revealed that users responded best to a handle that provided subtle tactile feedback and a sense of grip security without interrupting the minimalist form.The result is a sabre that preserves the elegance of the ritual while subtly empowering the user with intuitive control and confidence - an approach that aligns with our philosophy of form, function, and refined experience. We also developed a comprehensive Art of Sabrage user guide to promote safe practices—reinforcing responsible enjoyment through education, without compromising on design or the dramatic spirit of the ritual.
Receiving the Silver A' Design Award affirms our belief that ceremonial objects deserve the same level of innovation and intentionality as everyday functional tools. It strengthens our commitment to reimagining tradition - not by replacing rituals, but by elevating them through thoughtful design and superior craftsmanship.The SPLENDOUR Champagne Sabre sets a new benchmark in this space, demonstrating how advanced materials, refined ergonomics, and modern aesthetics can transform a ceremonial implement into a meaningful design experience. This recognition inspires us to explore new opportunities across luxury dining and barware - creating future pieces that not only serve a purpose but also enhance the emotional resonance of celebration.
The joy of sabrage should never come at the expense of safety or environmental integrity. The #SabrageWithCare initiative reflects MOD LUXE’s belief that true celebration embodies both elegance and awareness. Whether performed near water, delicate surroundings, or among guests, we encourage a mindful approach that protects people, places, and the planet.At MOD LUXE, we define responsible indulgence as the balance between exquisite experience and conscious respect for our environment. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we guide our community to use a sabrage chain when sabering near fragile objects or open water - a simple yet effective measure that catches the cork and glass collar, preventing litter and water contamination. We also encourage everyone to collect and properly dispose of corks and fragments, ensuring that the excitement of the moment leaves no trace behind.Through #SabrageWithCare, we champion the idea that luxury and responsibility can coexist beautifully. Each celebration becomes more than an act of joy - it becomes a reflection of refinement, mindfulness, and care for the world around us.
At MOD LUXE, we believe a product’s experience begins the moment it’s seen - not just when it’s used. The SPLENDOUR Champagne Sabre was conceived as both a ceremonial instrument and a sculptural statement, designed to inspire admiration long after the celebration ends.The custom wooden display is more than packaging; it is a pedestal that frames the sabre as an object of art. From the careful selection of the wood grain to the refined finish, every detail is crafted to complement the sabre’s modern materials and highlight its artistry. This thoughtful presentation invites reverence and conversation, transforming the sabre from barware into a centerpiece - a symbol of refined indulgence that lives elegantly within one’s home or bar setting.In every element, from unboxing to display to use, our philosophy remains constant: to elevate not just the act of celebration, but the entire journey that surrounds it - a seamless expression of modern luxury, craftsmanship, and enduring design.
SPLENDOUR represents a new chapter in how luxury tools are conceived - not solely for function, but to elevate emotional rituals and redefine how we celebrate. As modern gatherings evolve into curated, experience-driven moments, we see an opportunity for a new generation of ceremonial objects that unite minimalism with meaning.The SPLENDOUR Champagne Sabre embodies this vision, seamlessly blending heritage with innovation. It reinterprets a centuries-old tradition through contemporary design, precision engineering, and refined aesthetics - proving that timeless rituals can be both relevant and deeply personal. By transforming a historic gesture into a modern design statement, it invites a new appreciation for craftsmanship and ceremony in today’s culture of celebration.We believe this evolution will inspire future creators to design with purpose, precision, and poetic intent - shaping a future where ritual and refinement coexist, and where every act of celebration becomes an expression of modern luxury, artistry, and emotion.
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