| The first thing I noticed about the S. T. | | | | makes them special, what gives them their |
| Dupont Line 2 lighter was its size and | | | | charm. The lighters are a case of the whole |
| weight. About 2 inches long and an inch and | | | | being greater than the sum; each aspects of |
| half wide, it fit perfectly in my palm, and | | | | the lighter, the weight, the "ping," the high |
| felt so satisfying; heavy enough to give a | | | | quality of materials, the care and precision |
| feeling of substance, but not so heavy to be | | | | that goes into the assembly, are all special |
| bulky or awkward. Just holding the lighter, | | | | in their own right. But, when put together |
| feeling its heft, was enough to sell me on | | | | these individual parts create a lighter |
| it. It reminded me of the kind of lighter | | | | unlike any other. |
| used in speakeasies during the Prohibition, | | | | |
| or the kind of lighter used to light a fine | | | | |
| cigar while enjoying an after dinner brandy. | | | | |
| | | | S. T. Duponts may be pure luxury and style, |
| | | | but owning one is also an indication you care |
| | | | about quality. The company is so concerned |
| S. T. Dupont lighters are pure luxury. The | | | | with providing customers with the best |
| lighter I was holding was $525, and worth it. | | | | smoking experience that they offer three |
| The cover of the lighter was made out of | | | | different burner styles: cigar, cigarette, |
| sliver plate and etched with tiny vertical | | | | and pipe. Cigars are wider than cigarettes, |
| lines, similar to a pin stripe suit. And this | | | | so the cigar burner is wider than the |
| was a mid-range model. Some of the fancier, | | | | cigarette burner. The pipe burner is angled |
| more expensive lighters are around $1000, | | | | to better light the inside of pipes. It is |
| made from of Chinese lacquer or gold dust | | | | this commitment to making exceptional |
| lacquer. Clearly, S. T. Dupont takes making | | | | lighters that gives S. T. Dupont lighters |
| lighters very seriously. | | | | their charm and reputation for being one the |
| | | | best lighters. And, while there is more to |
| | | | the lighters than the "ping," there is no |
| | | | denying it. It's a sexy sound, evocative of |
| But once I opened it, it became quickly | | | | style and luxury. |
| obvious that the lighters have more going for | | | | |
| them than just pretty looks. The noise it | | | | |
| makes when is opens, that "ping" struck | | | | |
| something deep inside me. It was the acoustic | | | | I knew this potent combination was bound to |
| equivalent of the sheer joy you feel when you | | | | have an effect on women and I was dying to |
| wear an old jacket and find 20 bucks. Opening | | | | see it in action. When my friends and I went |
| the top again and again, hearing that sound, | | | | out that night, I carefully scanned the bar. |
| I was as giddy as a 6 year old playing with | | | | After catching the eye of an attractive |
| bubble wrap. Like leaning for a kiss, the | | | | woman, I stepped outside for a smoke. She |
| "ping" is the best kind of surprise there is. | | | | followed me out a few minutes later with a |
| You know what's coming, you know what to | | | | cigarette of her own. |
| expect, but it's still such a thrill. | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | "Got a light?" She asked me. |
| Incidentally, the "ping" was never supposed | | | | |
| to exist; in the 50's, when S. T. Dupont | | | | |
| first started making lighters, a mistake was | | | | |
| made, and two cogs accidentally ended up | | | | With a devilish smile, I reached into my |
| generating excess friction. This resulted in | | | | pocket and grabbed my S. T. Dupont. As I |
| an unwanted noise whenever the lighter was | | | | opened it and prepared to light her |
| opened. The company, striving for perfection, | | | | cigarette, the look in her eyes told me all I |
| understandably wanted this mistake fixed. | | | | needed to know. |
| However, it didn't take long for the "ping" | | | | |
| to work its magic on customers, and needless | | | | |
| to say, the company left the mistake in | | | | |
| place. | | | | It was love at first "ping."Cameron Elliott |
| | | | is an editor for an online cigar boutique |
| | | | that is helping bring the feel of your local |
| | | | cigar shop to the internet. It features |
| The "ping" might be what makes S. T. Dupont | | | | unique cigars as well as cigar tips, cigar |
| lighters distinctive, but it is not what | | | | culture advice and cigar accessories. |