The Dunhill Unique Lighter: History, Models and the James Bond Connection
Dunhill's lift arm lighter from the 1920s, revived in butane in 1985 and carried by James Bond in Licence to Kill: its history, every version and what collectors look for.
By Max Meijster Updated 14 October 2026 5 min read
The Unique is the lighter that made Dunhill’s name in lighters: a lift arm lighter you open and light with one movement of the thumb. It arrived in the 1920s as a petrol lighter, came back as a butane lighter in the 1980s and is still in the Dunhill range today. In 1989 a silver Unique also played its part in a James Bond film.
This guide covers the history of the Unique, its versions, how to tell roughly when yours was made, and the Bond story.
A short history of the Dunhill Unique
The Unique is built around a lift arm. Press the lever with your thumb and it lifts the snuffer cap off the wick and spins the flint wheel in one go, so the lighter works with one hand. Dunhill dates the design to 1919, by two inventors named Wise and Greenwood, and early Uniques are often stamped with the patent number 143752.
When the Unique first went on sale is less clear than the story suggests. Dunhill’s own history gives 1926, but the London silversmiths Wise & Greenwood were already making Uniques for Dunhill around 1923 and 1924, and pieces from those years are known. Dunhill promoted it as the first lighter designed to be used with one hand, and its Paris catalogue of 1924 called it “le briquet parfait”, the perfect lighter.
The first Unique was about 6 cm tall. Smaller versions followed in the mid 1920s, and collectors know the sizes by letters such as A, B and C. They were made in England and in Paris, in silver plate, solid silver and gold, and in leather, shagreen and lacquer finishes, with watch lighters among the most luxurious. In 1927 came the Unique Sports, with a windshield around the wick.
In 1985 Dunhill brought the Unique back as a butane lighter, keeping the lift arm and the look of the original. It is still made today, and more recently Dunhill added the Unique Turbo, a version of the Sports with a jet flame.
The versions of the Unique
The name covers a whole family of lighters. These are the ones you are most likely to meet.
The original petrol Unique (from the 1920s)
- Fuel
- Lighter fluid on a wick, flint
- Made
- From the early to mid 1920s; Dunhill gives 1926
- Sizes
- Several, from about 6 cm tall down; known to collectors by letters
- Known for
- The lift arm, patent 143752, silver, gold, leather and lacquer finishes, watch lighters
Unique Sports (from 1927)
- Fuel
- Lighter fluid on a wick, flint
- Made
- From 1927, according to Dunhill
- Known for
- A windshield around the wick, for use outdoors
Butane Unique (from 1985)
The Unique as most people know it today, and the one you can use every day without fuss.
- Fuel
- Butane and flint
- Size
- 65 × 30 × 12 mm, about 71 g
- Made
- From 1985 to today
- Finishes
- Silver and gold plate in barley, fine barley and vertical lines, lacquer
- Marked
- Made in England, with a serial number
- In stock
- Unique lighters
Unique Small
- Fuel
- Butane and flint
- Size
- 50 × 30 × 12 mm, about 43 g
- Known for
- The same lift arm in a shorter, lighter body
Unique Table
- Fuel
- Butane and flint
- Size
- 100 × 47 × 30 mm, about 216 g
- Known for
- The Unique lift arm on a tall body with a stepped base, made for the desk
- Finishes
- Silver plate, gold plate, lacquer
Unique Pipe Lighter
A butane Unique with a different outlet valve: the flame comes out of the side instead of straight up, which makes it excellent for lighting a pipe.
- Fuel
- Butane and flint
- Known for
- A side flame from its own outlet valve, made for pipe smokers
- In stock
- Unique lighters
Unique Turbo (from about 2019)
- Fuel
- Butane, jet flame
- Made
- From about 2019, in Switzerland
- Known for
- The shape of the 1920s Sports with its windshield, but a wind resistant jet flame
Want to check that a Dunhill is genuine? Our guide on how to spot a fake Dunhill lighter covers the Rollagas, the model copied most.
The James Bond connection: Licence to Kill
In Licence to Kill (1989), Felix Leiter and his wife Della give James Bond, played by Timothy Dalton, a silver Dunhill Unique on their wedding day. It is engraved “James, Love Always, Della and Felix”. After Della is murdered and Felix badly hurt, Bond carries the lighter through his revenge mission, and in the final scene he uses it to set fire to the drug lord Franz Sanchez, soaked in petrol.
The film lighter had a plain silver finish, which Dunhill no longer offers. According to a 1989 report in 007 Magazine, Dalton suggested donating it to the BBC’s Children in Need appeal, and it was auctioned for the charity.
Searching for “the James Bond Dunhill lighter”? The Unique is the one from Licence to Kill. Dunhill’s link with Bond goes back further: it says the Rollagas appeared in Dr. No (1962) and The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). Read more in the history of the Dunhill Rollagas.
Collecting the Unique today
For collectors the early petrol Uniques are the prize. The Uniques of the 1920s, especially those with a built in watch, are among the most valuable and sought after lighters of all, above all in precious metal: solid silver, solid gold and enamel. Pieces from the 1930s, lacquer finishes and anything in pristine condition follow close behind.
The butane Unique is the one to use. It lights with the same satisfying lift of the arm and takes ordinary butane, and a good example in silver or gold plate costs far less than an early petrol piece. As with any vintage lighter, buy one that has been serviced: seals and springs age, whatever the model. Our Dunhill maintenance guide explains filling and flint changes for the Rollagas, and most of it applies to a butane Unique too.
Every Unique at The Lighterhouse is serviced in our workshop and guaranteed authentic. See the Dunhill Unique lighters we have now, or browse all our vintage Dunhill lighters.
Dunhill Unique lighters, serviced and guaranteed
See all Unique lighters
Questions collectors ask
When was the Dunhill Unique lighter introduced?
Dunhill gives 1926, but Uniques made for Dunhill by Wise & Greenwood are known from around 1923 and 1924. The butane version followed in 1985.
What lighter does James Bond use in Licence to Kill?
A silver Dunhill Unique, given to him by Felix and Della Leiter on their wedding day and engraved "James, Love Always, Della and Felix". He uses it to set fire to Franz Sanchez in the final scene.
Is the Dunhill Unique a petrol or a butane lighter?
Both. The original Unique of the 1920s and 1930s runs on lighter fluid with a wick; since 1985 Dunhill has made it as a butane lighter, and the recent Unique Turbo has a jet flame.
What is a lift arm lighter?
A lighter with a lever that, when you press it, lifts the snuffer cap and spins the flint wheel in one movement. That is what lets the Unique light with one hand.
What is the difference between the Dunhill Unique and the Unique Small?
The mechanism is the same. The Unique measures about 65 × 30 × 12 mm and weighs about 71 grams; the Unique Small is about 50 mm tall and weighs about 43 grams.
Does a Dunhill Unique have a date code?
No. Unlike the Rollagas, the butane Unique carries only a serial number and is marked Made in England. Early petrol Uniques are often stamped with patent number 143752.
What is the Dunhill Unique Pipe Lighter?
A butane Unique with a different outlet valve, so the flame comes out of the side. That makes it excellent for lighting a pipe.
Sources and further reading
- Dunhill: the history of dunhill lighters Wise and Greenwood 1919, Unique 1926, Unique Sports 1927, butane revival 1985
- Wikipedia: Alfred Dunhill Unique launched 1926, first lighter operated with one hand
- Vintage Cigarette Lighters: Dunhill background early sizes, Paris catalogue 1924, letters A, B and C (after Bisconcini)
- Treasure Fine Jewelry: Wise & Greenwood Unique C lift arm lighter, 1923 Wise & Greenwood made the Unique for Dunhill, patent 143752 stamp
- James Bond Lifestyle: Dunhill Unique silver lighter Licence to Kill, inscription, Children in Need auction
- Cigar Aficionado: Dunhill Unique Turbo lighters the 2019 butane jet version of the Unique Sports
