English Estates: Dunhill Bruyere with 18K Gold Band (5111) (1998) Tobacco Pipe

Showcasing strapping group 5 proportions, this "11" Lovat from Dunhill exudes an air of dignity and elegance. A bold, shapely bowl sits proudly upright at the fore of the composition and meets with a muscular shank. The shank is shapely enough to comfortably drape a digit across, and the jaunty bowl has a pleasing presence in the hand. Accenting the junction is a band made of 18k gold that adds an eye-catching yet tasteful element of flair to the piece. Bookending the accent band on the other side is a succinct saddle stem made of vulcanite. The stummel of this offering has been dressed in Dunhill's distinguished Bruyere finish, which brings out the fine tendrils of grain trailing along the fore and aft of the bowl and the whorls of birdseye eddying along its sides.

The Bruyere was Alfred Dunhill's original finish upon launching his brand of premium pipes and smoking accessories and was the only Dunhill finish from 1910 until 1917. Even after the addition of other finishes, the Bruyere maintained a high level of popularity, becoming synonymous with what is thought of, even today, as the quintessential pipe. To achieve the iconic, ruby hue and saturation, a skilled craftsman painstakingly layers particular stains in a precise manner, then meticulously polishes the pipe to a high luster. The final result is, simply put, timeless.