So when I first started pipe smoking I grabbed what ever pipes I could get a hold of. I took the approach to pipes as most experts tell people to do with tobacco. I tried everything I could afford. I have since found what I am attracted to and have now actually felt compelled by the beauty of some pipes, like the one bigvan posted here. A truely beautiful pipe. I am now in the search to refine my collection and make it a reflection of my tastes.
In diving into the pipe world one is bombarded with certain emotions to specific brands, as with anything out there (Chevy vs Ford). One of these brands in the pipe world, time and time again, that seems to create the most animosity amongst people is Dunhill. There is a huge following of the brand and whole websites dedicated to the dating and history of the brand. There is also many detractors out there who just plain don't like the brand and label it as "just another factory pipe."
I just haven't seen a Dunhill that moved me in the way other pipes have, until recently. Another member here, tbradsim1, posted some pictures here of his most recent acquisition. It is a very beautiful pipe. It moved me so much to the point where I took a deeper look at the Dunhill brand again (also in the hopes on finding a similar one).
In my search I came across some Dunhills I wouldn't mind having, but nothing that moved me in the way tbradsim1's did. What I did find was curious to me. Often the value placed on an object is a subjective matter. Something is not worth any more then someone is willing to pay for it. Now to the point of my rambling. My question to those who are very passionate about Dunhills is what is the allure of the brand? Is it the quality you feel is unequaled? Is it the history of the brand? Is it the mass appeal and following?
I have seen many Dunhill's on a certain auction site in the past few weeks that are just absolute junk sell for ridiculous sums of money. Pipes that I felt, it if didn't say "Dunhill" on it, wouldn't have not even gotten any where near the sell price. I have also seen beautiful gorgeous pipes sell for far less that weren't Dunhill's.
I know what aesthetically pleases me will be much different than to others, but to me it seems like Dunhill in the pipe world seems to have a "in" thing about it much like Apple or Nike products do with today's youth. Am I missing something?
My personal pipe tastes tend to lean toward the radical shapes that I can not afford yet. Currently my collection is filling with many of the higher end Savinelli's and other Italian pipe makers. I am also very attracted to the many American carvers that bigvan and cigarmaster rave about.
So fill me in guys. What am I missing? What's is all about?
Note: I am honestly wanting to understand the mass appeal to this brand and in no way interested in any controversy or ugliness. I am looking for meaningful conversation. I am also interested in opinions and conjectures, so please no attacking for different POVs.
In diving into the pipe world one is bombarded with certain emotions to specific brands, as with anything out there (Chevy vs Ford). One of these brands in the pipe world, time and time again, that seems to create the most animosity amongst people is Dunhill. There is a huge following of the brand and whole websites dedicated to the dating and history of the brand. There is also many detractors out there who just plain don't like the brand and label it as "just another factory pipe."
I just haven't seen a Dunhill that moved me in the way other pipes have, until recently. Another member here, tbradsim1, posted some pictures here of his most recent acquisition. It is a very beautiful pipe. It moved me so much to the point where I took a deeper look at the Dunhill brand again (also in the hopes on finding a similar one).
In my search I came across some Dunhills I wouldn't mind having, but nothing that moved me in the way tbradsim1's did. What I did find was curious to me. Often the value placed on an object is a subjective matter. Something is not worth any more then someone is willing to pay for it. Now to the point of my rambling. My question to those who are very passionate about Dunhills is what is the allure of the brand? Is it the quality you feel is unequaled? Is it the history of the brand? Is it the mass appeal and following?
I have seen many Dunhill's on a certain auction site in the past few weeks that are just absolute junk sell for ridiculous sums of money. Pipes that I felt, it if didn't say "Dunhill" on it, wouldn't have not even gotten any where near the sell price. I have also seen beautiful gorgeous pipes sell for far less that weren't Dunhill's.
I know what aesthetically pleases me will be much different than to others, but to me it seems like Dunhill in the pipe world seems to have a "in" thing about it much like Apple or Nike products do with today's youth. Am I missing something?
My personal pipe tastes tend to lean toward the radical shapes that I can not afford yet. Currently my collection is filling with many of the higher end Savinelli's and other Italian pipe makers. I am also very attracted to the many American carvers that bigvan and cigarmaster rave about.
So fill me in guys. What am I missing? What's is all about?
Note: I am honestly wanting to understand the mass appeal to this brand and in no way interested in any controversy or ugliness. I am looking for meaningful conversation. I am also interested in opinions and conjectures, so please no attacking for different POVs.
