| The first thing I noticed about the S. T. Dupont Line 2 | | | | distinctive, but it is not what makes them special, what |
| lighter was its size and weight. About 2 inches long | | | | gives them their charm. The lighters are a case of the |
| and an inch and half wide, it fit perfectly in my palm, | | | | whole being greater than the sum; each aspects of |
| and felt so satisfying; heavy enough to give a feeling | | | | the lighter, the weight, the "ping," the high quality of |
| of substance, but not so heavy to be bulky or | | | | materials, the care and precision that goes into the |
| awkward. Just holding the lighter, feeling its heft, was | | | | assembly, are all special in their own right. But, when |
| enough to sell me on it. It reminded me of the kind of | | | | put together these individual parts create a lighter unlike |
| lighter used in speakeasies during the Prohibition, or the | | | | any other. |
| 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. |
| S. T. Dupont lighters are pure luxury. The lighter I was | | | | The company is so concerned with providing |
| holding was $525, and worth it. The cover of the lighter | | | | customers with the best smoking experience that they |
| was made out of sliver plate and etched with tiny | | | | offer three different burner styles: cigar, cigarette, and |
| vertical lines, similar to a pin stripe suit. And this was a | | | | pipe. Cigars are wider than cigarettes, so the cigar |
| mid-range model. Some of the fancier, more | | | | burner is wider than the cigarette burner. The pipe |
| expensive lighters are around $1000, made from of | | | | burner is angled to better light the inside of pipes. It is |
| Chinese lacquer or gold dust lacquer. Clearly, S. T. | | | | this commitment to making exceptional lighters that |
| Dupont takes making lighters very seriously. | | | | gives S. T. Dupont lighters their charm and reputation |
| | | | for being one the best lighters. And, while there is more |
| But once I opened it, it became quickly obvious that | | | | to the lighters than the "ping," there is no denying it. It's a |
| the lighters have more going for them than just pretty | | | | sexy sound, evocative of style and luxury. |
| 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 have an |
| equivalent of the sheer joy you feel when you wear | | | | effect on women and I was dying to see it in action. |
| an old jacket and find 20 bucks. Opening the top again | | | | When my friends and I went out that night, I carefully |
| and again, hearing that sound, I was as giddy as a 6 | | | | scanned the bar. After catching the eye of an |
| year old playing with bubble wrap. Like leaning for a | | | | attractive woman, I stepped outside for a smoke. She |
| kiss, the "ping" is the best kind of surprise there is. You | | | | followed me out a few minutes later with a cigarette |
| know what's coming, you know what to expect, but it's | | | | of her own. |
| 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, | | | | With a devilish smile, I reached into my pocket and |
| a mistake was made, and two cogs accidentally | | | | grabbed my S. T. Dupont. As I opened it and prepared |
| ended up generating excess friction. This resulted in an | | | | to light her cigarette, the look in her eyes told me all I |
| unwanted noise whenever the lighter was opened. | | | | needed to know. |
| The company, striving for perfection, understandably | | | | |
| wanted this mistake fixed. However, it didn't take long | | | | It was love at first "ping."Cameron Elliott is an editor |
| for the "ping" to work its magic on customers, and | | | | for an online cigar boutique that is helping bring the feel |
| needless to say, the company left the mistake in place. | | | | of your local cigar shop to the internet. It features |
| | | | unique cigars as well as cigar tips, cigar culture advice |
| The "ping" might be what makes S. T. Dupont lighters | | | | and cigar accessories. |