If you're new to collecting S.T. Dupont lighters, the two names you'll see everywhere are Ligne 1 and Ligne 2 — and it's easy to assume Ligne 2 is simply a newer or improved version of Ligne 1. It isn't. They're two distinct lines that have coexisted for decades, aimed at different preferences.
Ligne 1: the original, compact classic
The Ligne 1 was introduced in the 1960s as S.T. Dupont's original standard lighter, known at launch as the BS (Briquet Standard) — a simple, non-adjustable flint lighter. In the 1970s, Dupont refined it into the BR (Briquet Réglable): an adjustable-flame butane version that became the definitive Ligne 1, staying in production from the 1970s through the early 2000s. The Ligne 1 is prized for its compact, pocket-friendly size, and — unlike its bigger sibling — it doesn't carry Dupont's signature “cling” sound.
the bottom is known for having a single removable cap, that covers the filling valve. The brand name is on top. The serial number on the bottom.
Ligne 2: the flagship, and that famous sound
Introduced in 1977, the Ligne 2 is the larger, more substantial model, and it's the line most associated with the sharp metallic “cling” produced when the cap snaps shut — a product of precisely engineered tolerances that became one of the brand's signatures. In regards to the "cling", or "ping" sound we have to cautious as recent models popularised it, but there is little to no guarantee the ping will be present on vintage lighters. This is not due to their previous usage, since many new old stock lighters do not have a ping either, but rather caused by the engineering choices. The ping sound was an accidental sound, that was only purposefully engineered for recent models. Older Duponts can have great ping, or non at all.
The lighter is slimmer and the regulation of the flame was moved to the underside of the lighter. On the left the regulator screw is present, in the middle the brand name and serial number. On the right the cap covering the filling valve is present.
Which one should you collect?
If you want something discreet and pocketable, look at the Ligne 1 BR. If you want the bolder, more commanding piece with that unmistakable Dupont sound, Ligne 2 is the one. Both share the same finishes — laque de chine, gold and silver plating, diamond-cut patterns — so the choice really comes down to size and presence.