How to date your Dunhill Rollagas Lighter

Dunhill Rollagas lighters are among the most sought-after vintage luxury lighters, admired for their timeless design and impeccable craftsmanship. If you own one, knowing when it was made can help determine its value and authenticity. Dating a Rollagas lighter requires careful inspection of specific details such as serial numbers, base engravings, and mechanical features. This guide will help you identify the production period of your Rollagas, using key markers found throughout its history.

Key Markers to Determine Age

Dunhill has used several different systems for marking and identifying Rollagas lighters since their introduction in the 1950s. The most reliable indicators include:

25-DU-0024#1

1. Base Markings and Patent Numbers

One of the first places to check when dating your Rollagas is the bottom of the lighter. Over the years, Dunhill changed the format and content of these markings several times.

1953-1957 "London" or "Paris" with "US Pat. and others pending" or "Brevete SGDG"
1957-1965 Bases included official U.S. patent numbers
1968-1981 "USRE24163" patent number stamped on all Rollagas bases
1981-1995 Patent numbers removed; Dunhill logo and "Swiss Made" more prominent
1995-2004 Serial numbers and two-letter date codes added
25-DU-0026#9

2. Date Codes (1957-1995)

Dunhill introduced a coded dating system in August 1957. The date codes changed slightly over time:

January February March April May June July August September October November December
1957 A & B A8 A9 A10 A11 B12
1958 C & D C1 C2 or D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12(S)
1959 E E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E8 E9 E10 E11 E12
1960 F F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12
1961 G G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8 G9 G10 G11 G12
1962 H H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 H8 H9 H10 H11 H12
1963 K K1 K2
1964 L L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8 L9 L10 L11 L12
1965 M M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10 M11 M12
1966 N N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 N10 N11 N12
1967 P P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 or A10 P11 or A11 P12 or A12
1968 R & B R1 or B1 R2 or B2 R3 or B3 R4 or B4 R5 or B5 R6 or B6 R7 or B7 R8 or B8 R9 or B9 R10 or B10 R11 or B11 R12 or B12
1969 S S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12
1970 T T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10 T10 T11
1971 T - U & V T11 T11 T11 U1 U2 U5 U6 U86 U3 U9 U11 V or V1
1972 V V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12
1973 W W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11 W12
1974 Y Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11 Y12
1975 A A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 A12
1976 B B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12
1977 C & G C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 GJ GK GL
1978 H HA HB HC HD HE HF HG HH HI HJ HK HL
1979 I IA IB IC ID IE IF IG IH II IJ IK IL
1980 J JA JB JC JD JE JF JG JH JI JJ JK JL
1981 K KA KB KC KD KE KF KG KH KI KJ KK KL
1982 L LA LB LC LD LE LF LG LH LI LJ LK LL
1983 M MA MB MC MD ME MF MG MH MI MJ MK ML
1984 N NA NB NC ND NE NF NG NH NI NJ NK NL
1985 O OA OB OC OD OE OF OG OH OI OJ OK OL
1986 P PA PB PC PD PE PF PG PH PI PJ PK PL
1987 R RA RB RC RD RE RF RG RH RI RJ RK RL
1988 S SA SB SC SD SE SF SG SH SI SJ SK SL
1989 T TA TB TC TD TE TF TG TH TI TJ TK TL
1990 U UA UB UC UD UE UF UG UH UI UJ UK UL
1991 V VA VB VC VD VE VF VG VH VI VJ VK VL
1992 W WA WB WC WD WE WF WG WH WI WJ WK WL
1993 X XA XB XC XD XE XF XG XH XI XJ XK XL
1994 Y YA YB YC YD YE YF YG YH YI YJ YK YK

3. Design and Mechanical Changes Over Time

Certain physical characteristics of the Rollagas changed throughout its history. If your lighter lacks a date code, its design elements can still provide clues:

1953-1969 Barrel Hinge and smooth lid tops
1970 Onwards Concealed Hinge introduced, and lid pattern extended
1971 Onwards Gas Inlet Valve adopted a concentric circles design
Early 1980s Introduction of the D-mark Medallion on some models
1990s-2004 Serial numbers and updated base design

Final Tips for Authentication

  • Always compare your lighter’s features to Dunhill’s historical catalog images.

  • If your Rollagas lacks expected markings, it may be a later reproduction or a custom piece.

  • Seek expert verification for rare or unusual editions.

By using these key indicators, you can confidently date your Dunhill Rollagas lighter and better understand its place in the brand’s history.

 

Special thanks to Michael Thompson for his dedication to documenting the history of the Dunhill Rollagas, and for allowing free sharing of his hard work. 

VIEW AVAILABLE DUNHILLS

Sources:

  • An Unofficial Guide To The Dunhill Rollagas 2021 – Michael Thompson

Table of Contents

NEW POST

Account

Boutique of vintage luxury lighters since 2020. From Historic relics to precious metals, The Lighterhouse offers a vast and always-changing collection of the most exquisite lighters. We are pleased to help you find your next treasure, here at The Lighterhouse.

Facebook Instagram Tiktok Youtube Pinterest

VAT NL004704588B57

KVK 89207092

Contact

Based in Delft, The Netherlands. Contact us  for appointments to view a product in person.

We are not authorized sellers of the brands listed on our site. We sell vintage and pre-owned products only.