A well-maintained vintage S.T. Dupont lighter can genuinely outlast its owner — but only if it's fed the right gas and looked after between uses. Here's what actually matters.
Use the Right Gas for Your Model
S.T. Dupont refills are colour-coded, and the inside of the refill cap is marked with a dot of paint to show which fuel a given lighter takes. Using the wrong gas is one of the most common causes of valve damage and unreliable ignition on older Dupont lighters. As a general guide:
- Ligne 1 (small) — yellow refill
- Ligne 1 (large) — red refill
- Ligne 2 (small) — green refill
- Ligne 2 (large) — yellow refill
- Ligne D — blue refill
- Gatsby — green refill
Always check the marking inside your own lighter's refill cap before buying gas — references and production runs vary, and this is the one detail worth getting right every time.
Original cans or adapters?
S.T. Dupont sells high quality cans of gas with the right nozzle for each model. A common misconception is that each S.T. Dupont model takes different gas. This in untrue, all Dupont models work with high quality purified butane gas. The only difference between the different colour-coded refills from Dupont themselves are the screwing mechanism. For this reason many collectors prefer to use an aftermarket adapter. The adapter can be used with a regular can of high quality purified butane gas. The primary motivation is that the cost of regular butane is much lower than that of the S.T. Dupont branded cans. An adapter also requires less skill to operate than the screw mechanism than the official refills.
Refilling the Gas
Turn the lighter upside down to locate the refill valve, remove the protective cap if fitted, and press the refill nozzle firmly into the valve for around 15–20 seconds. Let the lighter rest for a few minutes afterwards before use, to let the gas settle and stabilise.
Replacing the Flint
Unscrew the flint chamber with a small flathead screwdriver, clear out any remnants of the old flint, and insert a new flint before screwing the chamber back in securely. Test the ignition roller for smooth action afterwards — if it feels gritty or catches, it's usually a sign the flint housing needs a clean, not just a new flint.
Storage
Keep your lighter somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sunlight and away from lint, dust, or excess moisture. If you're putting a lighter away for an extended period, it's worth emptying the gas first rather than leaving it pressurised and unused for months at a time.
When in Doubt, Have It Serviced
Every lighter we sell has already been serviced and checked before listing, but if you're maintaining one yourself long-term, a periodic professional service — checking seals, the flame adjustment mechanism, and the striker — will do more for its longevity than anything you can do with a flint and a can of gas.