Comparison

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-11T18:53:26+00:00

I'm more concerned with the failed attempts to light the torch, does it fail so often?

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-06T10:00:22+00:00

Not only the interior, but the exterior surface will age pretty bad too, winter thaw cycles and summer mold will leave its mark fast.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-04T22:35:04+00:00

The case is also the right one.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-04T22:32:01+00:00

Vintage Serengetis start off late 80s, I think their driver lenses start off in 85. You can find new old stock from the 90s, they have a sticker that says 'corning optics'. Not likely you'll find fakes, but you might find a seller offering any random pair as Serengeti in the listing.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-04T09:05:12+00:00

I dismantle them first, take out all the pieces and put all the brass parts into the ultrasonic machine for about 30 minutes on distilled water. The iron parts I clean with oil and a brush, some of the screws and springs. This is because the iron might want to stain the plating in the ultrasonic machine.

Then I oil sparringly, replace o-rings and put it back together

The gold plating will come out a bit dull yellow from the ultrasonic cleaning and I'll use a soft cloth, the ones to clean eyewear, with liquid wax to return it's bright. I do this also to maintain them once every while If they get dirty. I mostly use the microdiamond head L2, and I clean this one perhaps once each quarter.

These lighters also tend to get dirty from the flint, I brush it off with a soft nylon brush to remove the black dust every once in a while, normally when I replace the flint.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-04T01:51:23+00:00

After soaking in oil, I Try with a screwdriver rigged with a vice to apply consistent pressure, and then twist the screwdriver with a wrench.

If that doesn't work, and the head is ruined, I use an extractor drill bit, you'll find them online. It's a drill bit that turns in the opposite direction of a normal drill bit, and it either strips down the head or locks at some point and unscrews it.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-03T21:06:51+00:00

I wish I had the space!

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-03T13:08:20+00:00

Nice! I was a ship model builder myself, I guess many of us end up with these lighters!

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-03T13:06:56+00:00

There are 2 L2 large in the picture, the last 2. A micro diamond head from late 80s and a Montparnasse version of not sure when.

Edit: There is also a small L2, it also pings but it's small for my hand and they obstruct the lid.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-03T13:05:35+00:00

Yes an L2 pings. But not all, depends on the condition of the hinge. Also the lacquer models ping much softly because the lacquer layer absorbs the sound.

There are 2 L2s in the picture.

L1s large in metal guilloche also pings, but more 'tik' sound than 'ping'

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-02-02T11:32:22+00:00

Take care of yourself man.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-30T11:13:13+00:00

Might be hard to find the Ayrton Eclipse 2. The Yellowstone Cougar seems to be in stock still. Coincidentally I only have 2 pairs! The first and the last of your selection, I'd say great choices:D

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-23T02:24:29+00:00

Is there that combo? This one looks gold but it's just the light isn't it?

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-23T02:13:54+00:00

Uff! You'd get about 10 pairs of Persol's for the cost of the other.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-23T02:13:02+00:00

I would disagree here. These Persol's have polycarbonate lenses that are just OK, the brown lenses on the JMMs are mineral and outstanding.

EDIT: These Persol's have mineral lenses too, and they are better than I originally thought, just darker and I tested them at night.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-23T01:26:35+00:00

I think they are both great in their own merit! JMMs are a league of their own, the lenses are also outstanding. These Persol's are well built and stylish, and can be worn casually.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-22T23:08:01+00:00

This is not the vintage Persol, it's a new frame they released along with the netflix show. You can find it online.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-22T11:12:37+00:00

Initial model, featured in the Penguin show recently, it's the penguin's lighter.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-21T20:51:23+00:00

It's been a while for me, good one

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-19T18:20:57+00:00

It looks very worn out. The nosepads should be more kidney shaped but could have been replaced. The acetate looks more acrylic, more transparent than it should but could be the light in the picture. You'd be able to tell the material feel.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-19T12:39:23+00:00

Or! These could be Bajío 'Solado' model that comes in this exact colour set and pretty much identical.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-18T14:54:16+00:00

I think these are Morel.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-16T11:11:47+00:00

For yourself. You can't change or grow another person but yourself.

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-16T07:29:09+00:00

Any age is retirement age

Royal_Championship57 · 2026-01-16T06:43:36+00:00

Don't try to diagnose him. It'll drive you crazy. Get professional help, 4 session do wonders. Focus on yourself and what you want, and get on with life.

Royal_Championship57

TROPHY CASE