Dunhill: Ring Grain with Silver (3210) (2021) Tobacco Pipe

On Dunhill's shape chart, the "10" typically refers to a classic Liverpool but is sometimes used to denote a lithe, lengthy Billiard, like this particular piece. It's highly reminiscent of the long-stemmed pipes associated with legendary crooner Bing Crosby, but features a saddle stem in lieu of a tapered mouthpiece. Rendered in Group 3 proportions, everything is well balanced and handsomely executed, with the hand-cut stem making up a good part of this piece's nearly seven-inch length. Finished in the ink-black stain of the Ring Grain series, this piece is tastefully accented by an ornate sterling silver band and a smooth, strongly beveled rim.

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.