Dunhill: Ring Grain (4122) (2018) Tobacco Pipe

While Dunhill's "22" Poker is incredibly traditional, maintaining the classic elements of cylindrical bowl and flattened heel, it differs from many other pipe makers' renditions in that the transition is not significantly raised above the heel. It still sits sturdily upright, but draws more focus to the bowl for a firm, stolid presence. That's especially so in the case of this tall, Group 4 offering dressed in the Shell Briar sandblast, with its stunning grain earning this piece its esteemed "Ring Grain" stamp.

Having earned the English marque's prestigious Ring Grain designation, this Dunhill piece wears a particularly choice iteration of the Shell Briar sandblast — displaying stunning waves of ring grain across the stummel. 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.