Savinelli: Punto Oro Gold Sandblasted (101) Tobacco Pipe

Savinelli's "101" Billiard is a muscular take on the shape chart standard — undeniably Italian in its execution, evidenced by the robust bowl and firm heel underneath. Such shaping cues call to mind the marque's "141 KS" Billiard, only here, the bowl of the "101" has a much stouter appearance due to the shank being considerably thicker, continuing the hearty precedent set by the bowl. This piece is also one of the shortest Billiards offered by the Italian firm, making it a substantial pipe that houses a good bit of chamber, while still being easily manageable and relatively compact.

The Punto Oro and Punto Oro Gold series begin Savinelli's highest-quality lines within its standard lineup, topped by the prestigious Giubileo d'Oro. Each Punto Oro pipe is fashioned from Mediterranean briar that's been aged for more than three years before passing ninety separate crafting and inspecting processes to ensure the strictest standards of quality — taking into consideration engineering, construction, and grain orientation. Less than two percent of all Savinelli pipes meet the Punto Oro's rigid criteria, making its pipes some of the Italian marque's most prized and collectible pieces. With a number of traditional finishes presented across the Punto Oro Gold and Punto Oro Classic lines, this particular Punto Oro Gold piece wears a traditional, dark-stained sandblast, drawing focus to the briar's natural grain pattern, brought out with subtle texture thanks to the expert finishing work of Savinelli's artisans.