$1000+ Pipes

[Chasing Embers]

I own a couple of higher grade pipes priced around $300-400. I enjoy the experience of comissioning a pipe or of coming upon the perfect artisan estate pipe. The pipe themselves are usually more carefully built in fit, finish and design and I believe they are worth the purchase for me. Stems are a big thing for me and nothing beats a well handcut ebonite with thin button in my eyes.

But I'll admit that the pipe I reach out the most for is a billiard with an acrylic premold that cost me $80. What a killer pipe.

Being friends with artisans can be a plus too. I've been gifted pipes a number of times, and one fellow made me this one who puts a curve in the transition of the bit to button instead of a 90° angle. Perfect for clenching and easy to keep clean. Cost less than $150.?

 

[laniromee]

Being friends with artisans can be a plus too. I've been gifted pipes a number of times, and one fellow made me this one who puts a curve in the transition of the bit to button instead of a 90° angle. Perfect for clenching and easy to keep clean. Cost less than $150.?

Chasingembers, now that you mention I am on the lookout for new friends. Maybe you should introduce me to some of yours?

 

[SeniorAMG]

In my view, lashing out £1,000 on a pipe is a ludicrous waste of money, then I look at my wrist and I'm wearing a £5,100 IWC watch. "Why not wear a £30 Timex" you might say and I would answer "just because..."

I'm with you on this one. Timepieces are a weakness for me.
But they also retain their value, if not increase.
I bought a Submariner Roley in 1999 for about 3k. Wore it regularly and beat it up. Sold it in 2013 for 3600.
I don't wear a watch daily anymore...
but break them out for special occasions. Even if i'm sporting a 4-dollar pair of flip-flops.

 

[BROBS]

I'm with you on this one. Timepieces are a weakness for me.
But they also retain their value, if not increase.
I bought a Submariner Roley in 1999 for about 3k. Wore it regularly and beat it up. Sold it in 2013 for 3600.
I don't wear a watch daily anymore...
but break them out for special occasions. Even if i'm sporting a 4-dollar pair of flip-flops.

You know they make nicer flip flops. ?

 

[SeniorAMG]

[QUOTE="BROBS, post: 36178734, meYou know they make nicer flip flops. ?
[/QUOTE]

True. And I have them. But i can wear a pair of Locals to the beach and not have to worry if they make it back home with me.

 

[SeniorAMG]

I think that if what we buy makes us happy and keep us sane, then it's worth the money - no matter the cost.
Cheaper in the long run than a miserable life and therapy.

 

[jpmcwjr]

they'll gain once the carver dies

A very few have, and they've been way more than a thousand to start with in most cases.

No one can guarantee they will appreciate.

 

[sablebrush52]

Doesn't this prove that, at least for some collectors, it's not about function at all and that's okay? Here you have someone that has bought multiple pipes over $1,000 and keeps buying them in spite of knowing that they don't smoke drastically differently than less expensive pipes. There's an aesthetic value that people place on buying high priced pipes.

Absolutely!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Doesn't this prove that, at least for some collectors, it's not about function at all and that's okay?

Bingo, I love the look and feel of them, and in a couple of cases I've had a personal connection to the carver.

 

[sablebrush52]

they'll gain once the carver dies

Depends on the carver. Legendary names like Nordh or Ivaarsson, sure, though maybe not by much. The buy in is pretty high as it is, and the potential upside may not really be much. And there are a lot of lesser known names that are getting our figures for their pipes whose names will probably fade, along the the prices for their pipes.

Collectibles of all kinds go in and out of fashion, with prices following suit. In 2008, people who needed to raise cash dumped their toys on the resale market and got less for them.

I don't think of pipes and tobaccos as an investment, but as a pleasure and an indulgence. My investment money goes into much more essential vehicles.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

they'll gain once the carver dies

That may be true but it would be an unusual circumstance to be able to sell a pipe for more than you purchased it for, particularly if it has been smoked. Anybody using pipes as an investment to must be mad at their money.

 

[BROBS]

My investment money goes into much more essential vehicles.

Like .... minivans? ?

 

[BROBS]

That may be true but it would be an unusual circumstance to be able to sell a pipe for more than you purchased it for, particularly if it has been smoked. Anybody using pipes as an investment to must be mad at their money.

I invest in discontinued Doritos flavors.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Depends on the carver. Legendary names like Nordh or Ivaarsson, sure, though maybe not by much. The buy in is pretty high as it is, and the potential upside may not really be much. And there are a lot of lesser known names that are getting our figures for their pipes whose names will probably fade, along the the prices for their pipes.

Collectibles of all kinds go in and out of fashion, with prices following suit. In 2008, people who needed to raise cash dumped their toys on the resale market and got less for them.

I don't think of pipes and tobaccos as an investment, but as a pleasure and an indulgence. My investment money goes into much more essential vehicles.

And if anyone has made out investing in pipes, he or she hasn't shown his face. I've asked before, about once a year, does anyone know of anyone who has? This excludes dealers, who hopefully make money buying and selling, not holding.

Also, the definition of "investment" can be looesy goosey. When someone says he's going to invest in a movie ticket, or a sporting event, etc. we know it's different from something that will return a discrete financial gain. Essential transportation may fall in a similar basket.

 

[anotherbob]

I was just making a bad joke. Probably inspired by financial music collectors. People that buy rare albums just so they can sell them later. And then suddenly flood the market when an artist passes away. Back to serious comments now.....
I look at it in a very similar way that I look at clothes. My nice clothes might not be as functional as my day to day/work clothes, but that's explicitly not the point. It's something nice that can mark a special occasion. Ties are a great way for a guy like me to say this is a special event. And although I have some nice clothes they'll always for me be secondary to functional comfortable clothes. And how wasteful it is all depends on what I get out of it and how much I have to burn.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I invest in discontinued Doritos flavors.

Ever had a Mountain Dew Cheeto?

 

[lukasstrifeson]

I invest in discontinued Doritos flavors.

You kid, those could be worth thousands!

 

[JPremo]

Being friends with artisans can be a plus too.

With the look of that piece I'd agree!

Is that mammoth on the shank there? I've recently been checking out a few of those pipes along with some of the Fordite ones from Bill Shalosky and I have to say those shank decorations are very attractive.

But BOY OH BOY those prices lol, I'd be more interested in displaying them on my mantel than smoking them.

 

[anotherbob]

I invest in discontinued Doritos flavors.

The crossing guard at my school was married to one of the higher ups at the Doritos company (seriously) so we got to sample different flavors before they were even a thing. Just think of the money we could have made if we met back then.

 

[Chasing Embers]

With the look of that piece I'd agree!

Is that mammoth on the shank there? I've recently been checking out a few of those pipes along with some of the Fordite ones from Bill Shalosky and I have to say those shank decorations are very attractive.

But BOY OH BOY those prices lol, I'd be more interested in displaying them on my mantel than smoking them.

Not mammoth, though I do have a Weaver billiard with a mammoth accent. That one was commissioned as a Santa Pipe last year. I gave him a story to go by and he made me a pipe with a three piece stem and a stummel with accents of ebonite, white juma, and deer antler plus a matching tamper.