Zippo Sugar Skulls Design 540 Color Glow-in-the-Dark Windproof Lighter (46017)

The Zippo Sugar Skulls 540 Color Glow-in-the-Dark Lighter (46017) takes the iconic windproof case Guests already know and wraps it, on every side, in a parade of Dia de los Muertos calaveras. The decoration is done with Zippo’s 540 Color process, the company’s full-surface printing method that lets artwork run all the way around the lighter instead of sitting on one flat panel. A specialty glow-in-the-dark matte finish charges under light and then glows once the lights go down. Our Hosts stock and handle this lighter across our El Paso stores, and below is the honest, first-hand rundown of what it is and how it works.

Dia de los Muertos on every side

Sugar skulls, or calaveras, are the bright, decorated skulls of Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos, a holiday that honors departed loved ones rather than mourning them. On the 46017 the festive skulls dance around the full case thanks to the 540 Color wrap, so there is no blank back panel and no seam where the art stops. For a border city like El Paso, where Dia de los Muertos is part of the cultural calendar, it reads as a tribute piece as much as an everyday carry. This is a marketing and design note, not a spec; the verified specifications live in the spec table below.

What the 540 Color process actually is

540 Color is Zippo’s all-surface decoration method, developed in-house, that prints a continuous design across all sides of the windproof case for the first time in the brand’s history. That is what makes a full-wrap calavera layout possible. On the 46017 the 540 Color wrap is paired with a textured matte finish rather than a glossy one, which is why you will see the model described as 540 Color glow-in-the-dark matte.

How the glow-in-the-dark finish works

The finish is photoluminescent: expose the lighter to light, then move into darkness and the printed skulls give off a soft glow. There is no battery and nothing to switch on. The brighter and longer the light exposure, the stronger the initial glow, and it fades gradually as the charge releases, so a quick top-up under a lamp or in daylight recharges it any time. The glow is a visual feature of the finish and does not change how the windproof flame performs.

Genuine windproof Zippo, built to be refilled

Under the artwork this is a standard-size Classic Zippo: all-metal construction, the unmistakable Zippo click, and the windproof chimney design that keeps a flame lit in wind where a standard flame would blow out. It runs on premium lighter fluid and is refillable for a lifetime of use, which is the whole point of a Zippo. When you are ready to fill or maintain it, we carry Zippo premium lighter fluid, replacement flints, and a replacement wick so the lighter keeps working for years. This is a flame lighter, not a vape and not a concealment device.

Made in Bradford and guaranteed for life

Every genuine Zippo, including the 46017, is made in Bradford, Pennsylvania and carries Zippo’s famous lifetime guarantee: it works or Zippo fixes it free. El Paso Smoke Shops sells the lighter; if the mechanism ever fails, you send it to Zippo and they repair it free under that guarantee. The decorative finish and fuel are not covered by the mechanical guarantee, which is normal for any printed Zippo.

If you want a windproof lighter that doubles as a Dia de los Muertos statement piece, the Sugar Skulls 540 Color (46017) delivers a full-wrap calavera design, a glow-in-the-dark matte finish, and the lifetime-guaranteed Zippo mechanism. It is sold 21+ with valid ID and, like all Zippos, ships empty so you add fuel separately. Check the live availability on this page to see which El Paso store has it, then pair it with Zippo fuel, flints, and a wick to keep it lit for the long haul.