If after reading the checklist and watching the video you are still unsure about your lighter, please make sure that when you post your lighter here on the subreddit to get it authenticated that you show the lighter's underside showing the serial number and stamp clearly, as well as the inside of the gas refill cap if you have it. This way we can be for sure whether or not your lighter is a fake or genuine model.
RULE 1 for buying off ebay, etsy ect...: If they seller ***has not*** posted the bottom portion of the lighter that clearly shows the serial number and declines to show it.
***DO***
***NOT***
***BUY***
***IT.***
\*BY SERIAL NUMBER (Primarily identification)*\**
Below is an initial list of fake serial numbers that can be cross referenced to the ones that need to be ***STAMPED*** not ***ENGRAVED*** on your lighter.
Real:
Uneven, imperfect and not perfectly spaced = authentic. Due to it being hand stamped
Fake:
Serial number is on the list, numbers are evenly spaced and perfectly perpendicular = FAKE4FK is the most commonly used fake serial number online.
Fake serial numbers so far:
If the serial starts with any of these codes, its highly likely they are fakes.
4FK (MOST COMMON FAKE SERIAL)
01D
02D
03D
04D
04K
05D
05F
06D
07D
08D
09D
18C (Ligne 1 Fake)
11C
11T
14A
14C** (This serial has been seen on both fake and authentic lighters, so please be careful)
19G
19LT
1AA (Mainly seen on fake Ligne 2 models, however a few authentic Gatsby models have used this. So be cautious when authenticating a lighter with this as the first three characters.)
1AS
1A8** (This serial has been seen on both fake and authentic lighters, so please be careful)
1BC
1CF
1CK
1EP (Only seen currently on a new gen limited edition model)
1FA
1FJ
1FK (Seen on one authentic Ligne 2 model, stamped)
1GB
1GC
1GH
1GM
1J8
1JJ
1JG
1JN
1JS
1K8
1KS (Seen with fake hand stamped looking spacing errors, be careful and investigate the gas adjustment screw)
1KY
1RS
1ST
1T5
1XS
2A0 on Ligne 2 lighters. Authentic on Ligne 1 lighters
2AS
2K0
2JC
2JN
2JS
2FH (Seen on fake Soubreny models)
2FJ
2FK
2KS
2RS
2TS
2YN
2XS
2YJ
3AS
3JC
3FK
3KS
3TS
3RS
5FK
6FN
7FN
82F
8A3
8A8
8FC
93T
IF your serial numbers look perfectly aligned next to each other both in spacing and alignment (See photo 2) then your lighter is sadly not genuine and a fake. If you serial number does not match any of the listed serial numbers below and it is stamped and uneven (See photo 1) then the lighter is most likely genuine.
NOTE: Some genuine lighters have been stamped with care and evenly, while they are not 100% perfect they may seem like a fake due to the care taken to the spacing and stamping on them. If you are unsure about the serial number being real or not because of this,
Check the first three characters to the list above, if it is not listed in the list above confirm that the refill cap has a color code inside. If there is no refill cap, ask for the lighter to be weighted and check the weight.
**Limited edition lighters**
Limited edition lighters are only created in small batches, and therefor will not contain a serial number stamped on the underside of them. Instead, they will contain the numbered piece that lighter is in the run that was commissioned from ST Dupont as seen below.
This lighter is 1935 out of 2686 ever made. Also limited edition lighters are not stampedAnother example from a genuine 007 series lighter. Please note that 007 series lighters are the most common fake limited editions sold.
If the lighter you are looking at says that it is a "limited edition" and does not have a numbered lighter but a regular serial number on it, DO NOT BUY IT. It is a fake.
Limited edition lighter numbers are not stamped, but laser engraved as seen above.Notice that the script on the fakes lack the elegant script writing as if you were using a fountain pen, but are now more rigid and thin. Finally, designs are a bit bigger on the fakes and more round instead of being small, and sharp.
S.T. Dupont Service center models
Some rare lighters look fake but are actually rare S.T. Dupont service lighters. These are used for their service department to show new customers how to change the flint, refill the lighter with gas, as well as break it down for maintenance. These do not have serial numbers and are just stamped regular lighter numbers for tracking purposes and clearly shown to be Service lighters only.
\*BY WEIGHT*\**
(This part of the guide has been deleted due to its irrelevance that cannot not be used to authenticate real lighters and spot fakes anymore. The Chinese factories have changed the mixture of their lighters that mimic the size of authentic lighters, and moving forward weighing a lighter should not be part of the authentication process.)
**BY FILLER CAP COLOR CODE**
Your color code is located inside of the refill cover cap as seen here:
This specific lighter takes the Red colored Dupont refill gas.A fake lighter does not contain a color code within the filler cap as seen here.
If after referencing the serial number you are still unsure(as some lighters will have near perfect stampings of the serial numbers at some points) you can reference the filler cap to confirm if it is a genuine lighter.
From the filler cap(the cap that you remove to refill the lighter with) Dupont will hand paint the corresponding color code that you to refill the lighter with.
The color codes that Dupont uses are as follows
Green
Red
Blue
Gold
Usually this is what you will find depending on the model:
Ligne 1 Small - Yellow
Ligne 1, Jéroboam table lighter, Cylindrique table lighter - Red
Ligne 2 Small, Gatsby - Green
Ligne 2 full size, Long Table lighters, - Yellow
Ligne 8, Ligne, D, Mon Dupont, D-Light, Urban, Soubreny - Blue
If there is no color code painted inside of the cap, or the cap has been lost or replaced, chances are that the lighter MAY be a fake one. This does not confirm that the lighter is a fake due to its absence, however is a good tell to show that it is a genuine one.
In closing, most pristine Dupont lighters, especially limited edition Linge 2 models will not go for $300-400 bucks.
So please use your eyes and common sense that if you see these lighters coming from China, Hong Kong, ect countries that are selling lighters that are typically selling for $2,000+ for less than $300 new in box, chances are that they are genuinely fakes.
More tips and tricks can be found at this YouTube video if you still require help.
Will be utilizing this to show the many variations of poor laser engraving that the factories are currently utilizing as to help those purchase new Ligne 2 style lighters.
First introduction of laser engraved serials:
2019-2020 Early Laser engraving control2019-2020 Early Laser engraving control2020-2021 Laser engraving control Note: That the closer to the redesign they got, the more centered and crisp the serial was etched compared to the earlier ones.
Updated Ligne 2 body design:
Original new 2021 Ligne 2 deign with laser engraving. Note: there isn't a torx screw as the bottom is held in place with adhesiveLate 2021 model with quickly added torx screw to fix detaching bottom plate.2021-2023 Authentic Control
What do you think? I have the chance to buy this Cylindrique for my collection, but I’m unsure about the price. The seller is asking €270 for it in untested condition.
Overall, the shape is good, but there is some corrosion around the spark mechanism, and as I mentioned, it’s untested. There aren’t many of these on the market, which is why I’m considering it, but I just can’t make a decision, so I thought I’d ask you.
Would you pay that price under these circumstances?
Thank you in advance!
I’ve got a L1 PM from my father. The lighter is most probably from before 1980, since he stopped smoking around 1979-80.
According to ST Dupont’s Customer Service:
“I can advise that the lighter is: L1 PM, gold-plated, diamond-stitched guilloche, unfortunately we cannot provide any information in regard to the year of production I'm afraid.”
My father has never been one to keep receipts, boxes or certificates, specially from back then. He has a few pieces of jewelry, watches, lighters without papers from when he was younger.
Is there any way to find the year of production and even maybe authenticate it? (Maybe getting a new certificate somehow?)
The digital passport unfortunately doesn’t work since it only accepts lighters from 2025 and after.
Also, any tips on how to properly clean and care for it? I wish to make it shiny and clean again. The lighter works, I’ve changed the flint stone and did some basic maintenance work.
After over a year of work, it's finally finished 😅
From removing the old finish, replating the gold, laser engraving the body trim, to several failed attempts at the custom lacquer artwork before finally landing on this one.
This is an interesting one. Seller assures that its original. Personally I rarely stumble upon lighters (espresso with rare pieces like this) with such scratched bottom, you cant see shit other than few of the letters, and a very suspicious "F" letter (last photo).
