I have a few Chacom pipes and think they are good value at their price level, especially their estate pipes. Chacom briar seems to go through a solid selection and aging process to provide a smooth and consistent tobacco burn, and in the last few years their pipe selection and design has improved. I prefer a Chacom-branded pipe over a Rattray’s, generally speaking, although as noted above, they are very similar and this is just one of those personal preferences. I’ve never owned a Vauen.
But at that same general pricing level, for European factory pipes, I would lean towards a Radice or the always reliable Savinelli. Volkan (Paronelli) pipes are also underrated in this category. Peterson has come out with a few interesting designs recently, but I just don’t reach for them very often for some reason.
The next step up for me in European factory/hand made pipes would be Ser Jacopo and Claudio Cavicchi (which I smoke often), and then, of course, the White Spot (Dunhill) and Castello.