Dunhill: Ring Grain (5112) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

This "5112" from English marque Dunhill is a sleek-lined and robust Stack that features a tall, deep-chambered bowl paired to a rounded shank and a tapered stem that terminates gracefully at the lip button. The low-set transition further accentuates the bowl's height without being too dramatic or excessive, fostering a bowl-forward aesthetic that's still rooted in classic pipe design. This piece's traditional appeal is cemented thanks to the deep, inky sandblast of the Shell Briar finish dressing the stummel, its rich texture courtesy of the rippling bands of growth rings that flow through the briar: the grain orientation good enough to have earned this pipe the vaunted Ring Grain designation.

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.