Small metal ring inside Xikar Eris lighter?

[shopkins82]

I received a second-hand Xikar Eris recently. There was a small metal ring suspended just above the jet nozle that would glow hot when the lighter is lit. It was pressed down on one side and, in my attempt to straighten it, i pulled the whole thing out by accident. It doesn't seem to have affected the performance of the lighter. What was the ring there for in the first place?

I've seen cheapo gas-station torches that have a similar ring of reactive metal that turns the flame a different color... I'm guessing this isn't the intended purpose on a Xikar... what is it there for then?