English Estates: Dunhill Shell Briar (6407F) (9mm) (2008) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

As expected from Dunhill, the proportions of this "07" Prince are spot-on, belying the piece's overall size. It's a Group 6, the English marque's largest designation within their standard offerings, and presents a bold, hearty disposition in hand, juxtaposed against the shape's elegant line work and graceful curvature. It's dressed in the dark, formal palette of the Shell Briar finish, revealing rippling arrays of growth rings. As part of Dunhill's "F" line, this pipe comes drilled to accept 9mm filters and is presented unsmoked.

The Shell Briar's addition to the Dunhill catalog was a pivotal moment in pipe-smoking history. Before 1917, pipes with sandblasted finishes had never been made, and Alfred Dunhill's innovative mind created arguably the most popular finish for pipes today when he unveiled the Shell Briar. With its dark, reserved color palette and delightful texture, it's no surprise that it's still wildly popular over a century later.