Dunhill: Ruby Bark (3421) (2018) Tobacco Pipe

Chamfered at the rim, aiding in loading the chamber with a preferred blend, this "21" from Dunhill displays a subtle cant forward that's balanced in profile by the straight, rounded shank, extending out of the tight-nit transition. A gleaming, trim accent of silver adorns the shank end before giving way to a tapered stem of jet-black vulcanite, making its downturn for a relaxed smoking position that offsets some of the bowl's forward momentum, creating an asymmetrical harmony at both ends of the pipe. Rendered in a Group 3 size, this piece packs plenty of English charm in a relatively modest package.

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, crisp aesthetic accents of sterling silver for a colorful presentation that still retains a high level of formality.