IM Corona Double Corona Lighters
What do George Foreman, John Travolta and IM Corona lighters have in common? All three have had spectacular career comebacks.
IM Corona lighters, specifically the Double Corona models, were beloved by cigar smokers for their contradictory combination of rugged construction and elegant finishes. The patterns were understated and the performance was nearly flawless. Then, sometime in the twenty-teens, the lighters disappeared. If you wanted one you had to find it used on eBay. With that absence, the IM Corona would rise to cult status. Now, thanks to Arango Cigar Co., the lighters are back and, while the designs are new, they feel every bit as substantial and responsive as their predecessors.
We approached the news of IM Corona’s comeback with some skepticism, worried that the new versions might not be as well made. According to Arango, which is IM Corona’s exclusive U.S. distributor, these are even better. The company says that IM Corona has retooled the internal components so that these new units are more durable and reliable than previous models.
Like the original, the new IM Corona Double Corona models are made in Japan and crafted from a solid block of brass, giving them the same weighty feel and fluid action we all came to love (the fuel tank is part of the casting). Silicone seals and a large fuel tank mean longer ignition times for thicker cigars and less chance of misfires or overheating. Another notable aspect is that the Double Corona eschews the torch trend. Rather than the push-button jet flames that are so popular today, each lighter is activated by an old-fashioned ignition wheel that produces two large, converging soft flames, well-suited to larger cigars (hence the name).
Arango offers these revival pieces in three finishes: Pinstriped Chrome, Pinstriped Matte Black and Hairline Brushed Chrome. They each retail for $300 and at about 2.4 inches tall, the Double Corona is really the perfect size: large enough to make a statement, but not so large that it makes a scene.
