“It must be useful.
It must work dependably.
It must be beautiful.
It must last.
It must be the best of its kind.”
— Alfred Dunhill
A Champion of Convenience (1914–1926)
The story of dunhill lighters begins in 1914, when the House introduced its first model, the Ednite, created specifically for World War I campaigners. This early innovation established a legacy of craftsmanship paired with practical luxury.
In 1919, English engineers Mr. Wise and Mr. Greenwood played a key role in Alfred Dunhill’s entry into the lighter business with their invention of the lift-arm, horizontal wheel mechanism.
Throughout the 1930s, the Unique became a fixture among notable figures. In 1936, Pablo Picasso famously gifted a tallboy lighter engraved with his mistress Dora Maar’s portrait.
By 1950, the House embraced artistry alongside engineering. The Aquarium table lighter, conceived by British craftsman Ben Shillingford, was hand-carved and reverse-painted on acrylic panels to depict vivid underwater and nature scenes.
During the war years, Winston Churchill was frequently seen with dunhill accessories, storing cigars in the House’s cases and using its lighters through the London air raids. These moments anchored the brand in history, at once personal and cultural.
Each piece was unique. Its luminous, refractive surfaces evoked the stillness of water, transforming a functional object into an intimate work of art. Churchill himself owned several, underscoring its place in the world of collectors and connoisseurs.
First conceived between 1950 and 1959, the original Aquarium lighter remains one of dunhill’s most distinctive expressions of artistry. No two Aquariums were ever alike. Each panel was carved and reverse-painted on the inside using the intaglio technique, often depicting aquatic or garden subjects. The name derives from the subtle depth and movement created when light passes through the carved acrylic.
The Aquarium made a return for the House’s 130th anniversary, reissued in strictly limited runs. Each piece — from Green Fish to Sunset Birds — was hand-carved and painted in England, reviving the artistry that made the original an icon.
Today, the Aquarium English Garden Series continues this legacy with Dawn Moth, Grasshopper, and Dragonfly editions, each a narrative in acrylic panels and light.
In 1956, dunhill introduced what would become one of its most enduring innovations: the Rollagas lighter.
Developed with Swiss engineer Conrad Zellweger of La Nationale SA, the Rollagas featured a concealed hinge (introduced in 1971), adjustable flame, and a precision valve system built from over 80 components, the Rollagas combined performance with elegant design. It quickly became the preferred lighter of the world’s elite.
The Rollagas represented a new era of lighter engineering. A regulated butane delivery system ensured a consistent flame across climates and altitudes. The finely knurled rolling thumbwheel allowed smooth, confident ignition, while the seamless body, often in lacquer, engine-turned brass balanced durability with refinement. Every element served both tactile and visual purpose.
In 1985, the Unique lighter was revisited for a modern era. Dual-wheel ignition, fluted finishes and gas refinement elevated its performance while preserving its original design expression, It became both a functional object and a collectible, celebrated for its clarity of purpose.
The Turbo lighter, inspired by the 1927 Unique Sports Lighter, brought a contemporary sensibility. With its wind-resistant jet flame, piezoelectric ignition, and seasonal lacquer finishes, it bridged classic dunhill engineering with modern technical precision.
Reviving an archival design with a contemporary edge, the new Compendium Turbo Lighter is a refined expression of a very dunhill functional elegance, with the considered practicality of a secondary function, available either with a removable reed-pattern cigar cutter or an inbuilt ashtray.
Inspired by a mid-century archival piece, the Compendium pairs purpose with poise, offering a tactile, weighty feel in the hand.
Every dunhill lighter is crafted to be operated with one hand, in keeping with Alfred Dunhill’s original vision of practical luxury. The Rollagas requires three effortless steps: lift the cap, rotate the roller, and ignite with a crisp snap. The Unique operates with equal grace - simply lift the cap and spark the flint wheel for a seamless ignition. The Turbo, designed for contemporary needs, features a lock and cap mechanism, followed by a lever ignition with adjustable flame height. Each model allows for precise control, with a D-ring or slotted valve typically calibrating flame to an ideal 25 mm - subtle, elegant, and efficient.
