S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping

If there’s one thing I can definitely say about the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont, it’s that I don’t think I have ever waited as long to get my hands on a lighter as I did with this one.

In 2017, S.T. Dupont began showing off an innovative new lighter called the Le Grand Dupont, a lighter that came in a familiar body style reminiscent of a larger version of the company’s iconic Ligne 2, a soft flame. But while it looked familiar, it added something not seen on a Ligne 2: a torch lighter, and not just a torch lighter, but the option to switch between a dual soft flame and that torch lighter.

While international markets would receive the first version of the lighter in 2017, the U.S. would have to wait until the following year. Amongst the differences between those original Le Grand Duponts and the company’s Ligne 2, there was one audible difference: there was no signature ping when the lid was opened, which was due to resonance issues with the lighter’s internal parts.

Fast forward five years to June 2022, and S.T. Dupont announced that it would introduce a new version of the Le Grand, the Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping. Amongst the changes between the original Le Grand and the new Perfect Ping, it was announced that the ping had been added to the lighter due to some reworking, while the exterior design also changed a bit.

Finally, in December 2022, the updated S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping—which is also referred to as the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Cling in the U.S.—arrived in U.S. stores, meaning that a review, finally, wouldn’t be terribly far behind.

WHAT IS IT?

The S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping is a two-in-one lighter, offering both a single torch flame and a dual soft flame, which are switchable by pushing up on the roller ignition. It measures 2.6 x 1.53 x .55 inches and weighs in at a hefty 6.7 ounces.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

• S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping Palladium Diamondhead — $1,495
• S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping Yellow Gold Diamondhead — $1,495
• S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping Black Lacquer/Palladium — $1,695
• S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping Blue Lacquer/Palladium — $1,795

As with all new S.T. Dupont products purchased from authorized retailers, the Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping comes with a two-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects.

You can also get a leather case for the lighter for $195.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The first step is to flip open the lid, which will result in the famous S.T. Dupont ping sound, as well as getting the butane flowing. Next, a roll of the ignition cylinder will create a spark from the flint and light said butane, with a dual soft flame the result of a successful ignition. To get to the single flame torch option, the roller needs to be pushed up towards the flame, a travel distance of just a millimeter or two, and the flame suddenly switches. To use the torch, the roller must be held in this position, as when released, the lighter will revert back to the soft flame option.

To extinguish the flame, simply close the lid.

Le Grand “Perfect Ping”*

While the metal versions of the Le Grand Perfect Ping make the pinging sound, it is crucial to note that the lacquered versions do not produce the signature ping when the lid is opened.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL?

It’s a two-fold answer, as the ability to go between a soft flame and torch flame in the same lighter is certainly impressive and unique. As part of that, the S.T.Dupont Le Grand Perfect Ping had up until recently been the only way to get a torch lighter in the Line 2 body style. The recently unveiled S.T. Dupont Slimmy offers a flat flame in a body style similar to that of the S.T. Dupont Slim 7; that lighter is slated for an October 2023 release.

PROS

• Having Two Flame Options is Incredibly Useful — My general order of preference when it comes to flame configurations is a dual flame torch, then a single flame, and then a triple flame torch edges out a soft flame because it’s not as likely to go out in breezy conditions, even though I think three torch jets are overkill. This configuration gives the user two very good options with which to light their cigar, and an easy way to switch between them.
• The Feel of the Ignition is Quite Satisfying — Many people will talk about the signature S.T. Dupont ping sound, but I’ve always found it to be overrated as part of the cigar lighting experience. Instead, I’ve focused on how enjoyable the ignition is, and the S.T. Dupont’s roller ignition is quite rewarding as well as fairly unique among a sea of plastic options.
• It Feels Great in the Hand — Between the texture and weight of the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont, it is one of the more significant pocket lighters on the market, and if that’s of value, this lighter delivers.
• It Doesn’t Go Through a Lot of Butane — While I didn’t do a rigorous testing of the fuel capacity of the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont, going simply by feel, I don’t recall having to fill the lighter up more often than any others that I have used, and it certainly never reached a point of annoyance. Single torches and soft flames are generally the butane sippers of the lighter market, and that seemed to be the case here.
• In Theory, You Can Bring it On a Plane — Disclaimer: Neither I nor halfwheel is responsible if you try this. Because TSA allows soft flame lighters on flights, you could, in theory, bring this on a plane without needing to check a bag. My colleague, Charlie Minato, says he’s done it a few times without issue. That said, I don’t think I’m letting this leave the house, so this is a non-starter for me.

CONS

• The Torch Lighter Isn’t Great in Wind — Having read the words wind resistant countless times, I’ve probably become desensitized to them and the fact that not every torch lighter is wind resistant. But such is the case with the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping. Given that it’s the middle of summer in Phoenix, I haven’t been using this much outside in the breeze, but Charlie Minato tells me that unlike most torch lighters, it can struggle with moderate amounts of wind. This is because the lighter starts with the soft flame before you are able to use the torch lighter. While you can certainly use this outside if you’d like, a breezy day could present some challenges.
• When the Flint Goes, Frustration Can Mount — Not long after I started using this lighter, the roller ignition started developing more and more resistance, to the point where it felt like I was grinding into something. It turned out to be the flint wearing down unevenly, something I learned when I had the lighter looked at during the 2023 PCA Convention & Trade Show. For the technician who worked on it, it was a fairly simple fix involving a small flathead screwdriver and a dish to catch the screw and other parts, and once the flint was swapped out, the ignition was back to feeling fantastic.
• Are you Willing to Change the Flint? — I know some people love fixing things, some will do it begrudgingly, and others never want to touch anything that doesn’t work properly. Having seen it done, it’s not terribly hard, and as a positive, S.T. Dupont includes a screwdriver with the lighter. A pack of eight replacement flints runs about $7 via S.T. Dupont’s website.
• There’s No Fuel Window — This is more a consistency issue with me, since I have brought it up in seemingly every lighter review I have written. The one positive thing I will say is that there is a pretty gradual decrease in the flame height when fuel is beginning to run low, particularly when using the dual soft flames, making it easier to sense when a refill is in order.
• The Fuel Valve Cover is Helpful But Tiny — The fuel valve is protected by a small, screw-in cover, which is helpful in keeping any small contaminants out of the lighter. But on the flip side, it is small and seemingly easy to use, meaning that you’ll likely want to only go through the refilling process on a table or somewhere that ensures the lid won’t get away from you and get stuck in a seat cushion or underneath a piece of furniture.
• And the Proper Fuel? It’s Expensive — The S.T. Dupont-specified butane specified for this lighter—the silver can with the red stripe—costs $29.16 for a 30ml can via S.T. Dupont’s website. For comparison, a two-pack of 400ml cans from XIKAR costs $17.98. You don’t have to use S.T. Dupont’s butane, of course, but if you choose to, it comes with a hefty premium.

• The Lighter Can Get Bulky, Especially with the Case — I didn’t run into this issue, mainly because the lighter never left my house, nor did we purchase a case for this, but Charlie tells me that he finds his Le Grand to be “right at the edge of comfort/practicality or just over it for me.”

The Original Le Grand vs. The Perfect Ping

There are a few ways to tell the original lighter and the 2022 revision apart:

• The Bottom of the Lighter — On the original Le Grand, the bottom of the lighter features a piece of metal that must be swung open to reveal the fuel refill valve and flame adjuster. On the 2022 version, there is no singular piece of swinging metal, instead, the fuel adjustment and fuel refill nozzle are both covered by individual circular pieces like a Ligne 2.
• The Logo Below the Lid — On the original Le Grand, the logo below the lid is inside of a round shape, made to look like a cigar band. On the 2022 version, the logo is placed inside of two horizontal lines.
• New All-Metal Lighters Ping — If you have a metal-bodied lighter, i.e. one that does not have lacquer, then the 2022 version should ping, whereas the original version will not.

The new version is also slightly larger than the original version, though it’s unlikely you’d be able to tell the difference unless you had both lighters next to one another.

THE COMPETITION

Given that a lighter such as this is pretty rare, competition is limited but it exists, and at some surprising price points and from some manufacturers you might not expect:

• S.T. Dupont Line 2 ($1,195 and up) — Other than the previous versions of the Le Grand, the most direct competitor is the original Line 2, which only offers a soft flame. A classic lighter, but there’s no doubt I’d pony up the extra scratch to get the Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping. I like a soft flame as much as anyone, but to have a torch lighter available is too tempting an offer to pass up.
• Visol Nutech ($20) — This ultra slim, lightweight lighter offers both a torch flame and soft flame lighter, though in the inverse order of the S.T.Dupont Le Grand Perfect Ping. Depress the ignition and get a single jet torch flame; release it and get a soft flame. For the price and ease of functionality, I would take the Visol Nutech, mainly because it has a much easier-to-use ignition and the fact that I could get about 70 of them for the price of the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont, but it’s almost impossible to compare the design aesthetics, let alone the caché that comes with the S.T. Dupont.
• Vector Duke ($45) — A fairly new release from Vector-KGM that I have only used at trade shows, this offers a single jet torch and a single soft flame, but via two separate ignition mechanisms. If you push one ignition button down, you’ll get a regular flame, while if you pull back on the portion of the lighter where the soft flame emerges, you’ll reveal a single jet torch. Without more extensive testing, I can’t provide honest feedback, but this is an option should the price of the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont simply be too much.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Yes.

Now, before the chants of this being too expensive begin, I’m not taking price into account with that statement. I know that a $1,400 lighter is either out of the question for many people or simply more than they would want to spend on a cigar lighter, a group in which I include myself. It’s also a luxury item, which means that it’s being bought for something specific, not because it’s the best value or most feature-laden option. Just as with cars, if you’re buying a Ferrari as your daily driver, you’ve likely conceded the ability to make a big Costco run with it, but that’s OK because you want to drive a Ferrari. If you buy this lighter, you likely want an S.T. Dupont first, with the features of a lighter coming second.

But as a lighter, the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping is quite impressive. It is nearly rock-solid in terms of build quality, and it has a refined elegance to it that most lighters simply don’t offer. The flint issue that I had notwithstanding, the ignition is very easy to use, and the ability to go between a torch and soft flame is something I wish every lighter offered. And it’s a functionality I’m intrigued to follow in the coming year or so to see how many other manufacturers offer some version of it. While I wouldn’t make this my everyday carry lighter that leaves the house with me, I would certainly be proud to have this in the accessory tray at home. It may not be the best value if all you’re looking for is a lighter that can offer both a jet torch and soft flame in a single, pocket-friendly lighter, but if a true luxury lighter is on your list, the S.T. Dupont Le Grand Dupont Perfect Ping is worthy of a serious look.

 The lighter used for this review was purchased by halfwheel. Coles of London, S.T. Dupont’s U.S. distributor, loaned two lighters to record the video comparing the sound of the pings, those lighters were returned to Coles of London.