Dunhill: Ruby Bark (4145) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's "45" shape is affectionately known as the "Don" and is often confused with its sibling, the "44" or "Duke" design. While both feature a cylindrical, flat-heeled, Poker-like bowl, the Duke lacks a shank, the mouthpiece and fuselage-style stem simply fitting straight into the lower bowl. In contrast, as seen here, the Don features an abbreviated shank and mount-style stem arrangement. Long and languidly bent at the stem, its bowl is canted forward and sits sturdily, making for a reliable desk pipe and offered here in versatile Group 4 size.

Dunhill's Ruby Bark finish is one that's gone through a fairly extensive evolution since its inception in 1972. It began as the Redbark and has always remained a red-stained sandblast, but the color was brightened a few years after its introduction before Dunhill returned to the original, darker hue in 1976. Eventually, though, the Redbark was discontinued in 1987. After a hiatus of several decades, the same ruby-stained sandblast was reimagined in the form of today's Ruby Bark finish, adding to the rich aesthetic crisp accents of sterling silver for a colorful presentation that still retains a high level of formality.