Dunhill: Shell Briar with Silver (4103) (2023) Tobacco Pipe

Considered by many to be the archetypal Billiard, Dunhill's "03" design personifies classic English shaping standards: The proportions between bowl and shank are balanced and natural, with this Group 4 rendition offering a slightly more robust disposition. Pert and upright, it sits sturdily upon the flattened, smooth underside, while the rest of the stummel wears the Shell Briar's inky sandblast, which is contrasted by a broad silver band at the junction.

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.