You know that Zippos are not just great gift items; they make for precious collectors’ items too. Your favorite Zippo did not grow into a celebrated American icon for nothing.

Did you know that Zippo manufactures about 45,000 lighters each day? As a matter of fact, Zippo has produced about 425 million lighters since 1932. These figures prove that Zippo windproof lighters do indeed rank among the fastest growing collectibles in the world, with thousands of enthusiasts from every continent raving over their Zippos.

For the Love of Zippo

The love these passionate collectors have for their Zippos are embodied in establishments like the Zippo/Case Museum and the Zippo Repair Clinic. In the world-famous clinic, Zippo fans get the Zippo Guarantee, “It works or we fix it free.”

Dating Your Zippo Lighter

Did you know that you could actually identify the date of a Zippo lighter? This is one of the reasons why Zippo collectors marvel at a Zippo. Every Zippo lighter manufactured since the mid 1950’s has a date code format. The whole thing began as a quality-control effort set forth by the Zippo founder, George G. Blaisdell. He wanted to keep track of the Zippos that were being handed in for repairs. It all ended as the ultimate collector’s dream-knowing the age of their Zippos. Like most collectibles, age matters with Zippos. The older they get, the more valuable they become.

And come to think of it, isn’t it just exciting to know that the brand new Zippo you have right now will one day become classic collectors’ items?

Beware of the Look-Alike!

Just like most legends, Zippos are not without counterfeits. Any interested Zippo collector should learn to identify the originals from the fake ones.

When spotting a genuine Zippo, look for the Zippo trademark and the bottom stamp. You’ll find the former at the lighter insert. Also, every genuine Zippo has got to have the famed Zippo Lifetime Guarantee. If you do happen upon a fake Zippo, make sure that you find time to report it to the Zippo Legal Department. Every Zippo enthusiast must lend a hand in protecting the trademark.

Good luck with your collection!