The invention relates to a lighter comprising: - a lighter body comprising a fuel reservoir with a fuel-releasing valve; - an assembly such as a piezoelectric system, an electric system or a system having a friction wheel which can be rotated by a user to produce sparks directed to the fuel released by the valve, the friction wheel assembly being mounted on the lighter body in such a way that at least part of the friction wheel is exposed to be handled and rotated by the user; - a valve actuator that can be depressed to actuate the valve and release the fuel; - a protective element mounted on the lighter body. The protective element consists of a plurality of layers, has a thickness ranging from 25 to 200 μm and comprises an outer protective film (24) formed by a plastic film coated with an aliphatic polyurethane layer having a thickness ranging from 10 to 75 μm, containing between 30 and 100% solids, according to the degree of smoothness required.
