Dunhill: Millennium Hallmark Shell Briar with Silver (5103) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

This "03" straight Billiard from Dunhill is presented in stocky Group 5 size. As part of the Millennium Hallmark series, this piece is accented by an ornate band of sterling silver that lends a dose of regal flash to the pipe's shadowy profile. The tall, muscular bowl possesses a firm heel and is paired to a lengthy, low-set shank-and-stem arrangement. The stummel wears the dark Shell Briar sandblast that accentuates the natural grain orientation of the briar and draws out some rippling waves of growth rings on either flank of the bowl. A classic in every sense of the word and offering a stylish, dress pipe aesthetic, this piece exudes a confident charm that can't help but entice.

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.