Dunhill: Ring Grain (3303) (2023) Tobacco Pipe

Endowed with a softly curving bowl and displaying a slight cant, this Group 3 Billiard by Dunhill presents a svelte, low-lying shank-and-stem arrangement out back, resulting in a pleasant visual contrast. A wide transition leaves plenty of room to drape a thumb, while the subtle contours of the solidly built bowl up front offer a comfortable feel in hand. A rather unique piece, this Billiard has been fitted with an extended tapered stem, as evidenced by the "3" in the second spot of its shape code, making for a profile that's all the more lithe and elegant. Dressed in the inky sandblast of the Ring Grain finish, the palette here is serious, and the stummel showcases handsome grain.

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.