Do You Buy New Dunhills?

[cosmicfolklore]

If anyone can shed further light, please do...

That's the problem. We don't have a rep from Dunhill to shed light. Just people guessing like we have been, but my spider senses tell me that you are dead on. We got a statement released from the Dunhill company when they dropped the licensing from the pipe tobaccos, but I haven't seen anything about the pipes. It's unfortunate that the two seems to have happened at the same time, as far has horse shoes and handgrenades go.

There has been much speculation, not helped by Dunhill importers, around whether the Dunhills have been farmed out to French companies. I know that the Music City guys who used to import Dunhills would openly talk about how they are no longer made in England, and it was French Companies. A few years before Music City Marketing stopped importing them, they made a damned good argument with evidence that they were being made in France to my pipe club. I mean, there was no wink wink, just outright, "these were made in France." (period) Whether or not that has damaged their rep, or had anything to do with why they no longer import them, I have no idea.
I have also heard arguments from just average guys like me on the forum that they are all made in England, but whether they were just impassioned with the love of Dunhills or not, I have no idea. I kinda take the word of someone associated with the company over just another forum member any day. But, your judgement on that is up to the individual, until I hear from someone employed by the company with creds. Just knowing someone who knows someone, doesn't override what I heard from their importers and distributors with my own ears. But, YMMV.
It doesn't make me value Dunhills any less, lots of companies do this, all the way up to Eltang. So... once again, YMMV.

They are still fine representations of English pipe design, made very well. I would buy one, like I have said above, if the right one was in front of me.

A company like Dunhill is always going to have rumor baggage to carry around. But, for me this adds positives to them, not negatives. The haters are always going to hate, even if the company makes an official statement, so.... what's the difference? Right? If you love the shape, the pipe, the company, then buy one.

 

[BROBS]

That's the problem. We don't have a rep from Dunhill to shed light. Just people guessing like we have been, but my spider senses tell me that you are dead on. We got a statement released from the Dunhill company when they dropped the licensing from the pipe tobaccos, but I haven't seen anything about the pipes. It's unfortunate that the two seems to have happened at the same time, as far has horse shoes and handgrenades go.

There has been much speculation, not helped by Dunhill importers, around whether the Dunhills have been farmed out to French companies. I know that the Music City guys who used to import Dunhills would openly talk about how they are no longer made in England, and it was French Companies. A few years before Music City Marketing stopped importing them, they made a damned good argument with evidence that they were being made in France to my pipe club. I mean, there was no wink wink, just outright, "these were made in France." (period) Whether or not that has damaged their rep, or had anything to do with why they no longer import them, I have no idea.
I have also heard arguments from just average guys like me on the forum that they are all made in England, but whether they were just impassioned with the love of Dunhills or not, I have no idea. I kinda take the word of someone associated with the company over just another forum member any day. But, your judgement on that is up to the individual, until I hear from someone employed by the company with creds. Just knowing someone who knows someone, doesn't override what I heard from their importers and distributors with my own ears. But, YMMV.
It doesn't make me value Dunhills any less, lots of companies do this, all the way up to Eltang. So... once again, YMMV.

They are still fine representations of English pipe design, made very well. I would buy one, like I have said above, if the right one was in front of me.

A company like Dunhill is always going to have rumor baggage to carry around. But, for me this adds positives to them, not negatives. The haters are always going to hate, even if the company makes an official statement, so.... what's the difference? Right? If you love the shape, the pipe, the company, then buy one.

Do u ever talk to urself in the mirror?

 

[warren]

The OP isn't asking about "dunhill" (lower case "dee") but, "Dunhill (Upper case dee) "White Spot". There is a distinction. dunhill pipes haven't been made for years and the dunhil marque is owned by a privately held Swiss company, Richemont, hardly a "fashion company" (harumpf!), owns Cartier, Montblanc, Piaget, Alfred Dunhill (dunhill marque), and many other readily recognizable names.

Some spore of Alfred's are using the name, vending the "white Spot", presenting ads which, rightly/wrongly, indicate an unbroken lineage from Alfred's first to the latest "White Spot."

I remember we hashed through all of this some time ago.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

hardly a "fashion company" (harumpf!),

When I go to their website, it sure looks like fashion to me.

I remember we hashed through all of this some time ago.

I am just drawing a blank on this being resolved. I have never heard of this lineage from old Dunhill to new thing. Sounds plausible, and may very well be so.

 

[warren]

The poster mentioned "dunhill" was currently owned by a fashion company I believe. Richimont is spreading the brand I suppose. Originally they pretty much put it on leather goods pretty much exclusively.

We had a long thread discussing what was to become of the "dunhill" labeled blends and ownership of the marque was discussed. People were unable/unwilling to make/acknowledge the difference of "dunhill", Dunhill, and complicating matters, dunhill blends as made by ... It became very involved. I ended up on the losing side by stating the company owning the rights to dunhill blends would never sell the marque or recipes. The owner of Peterson proved me and a couple of others very wrong. C'est la vie!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The poster mentioned "dunhill" was currently owned by a fashion company I believe. Richimont is spreading the brand I suppose. Originally they pretty much put it on leather goods pretty much exclusively.

We had a long thread discussing what was to become of the "dunhill" labeled blends and ownership of the marque was discussed. People were unable/unwilling to make/acknowledge the difference of "dunhill", Dunhill, and complicating matters, dunhill blends as made by ... It became very involved. I ended up on the losing side by stating the company owning the rights to dunhill blends would never sell the marque or recipes. The owner of Peterson proved me and a couple of others very wrong. C'est la vie!

Thanks Warren,
I’d be embarrassed to know that I was in that thread and don’t remember it, but I’d be interested to read it.
Yeh, three companies? To me the whole argument makes Dunhills (did I write the correct company name?) more appealing. It adds to their story. I mean, it probably won’t make someone who doesn’t like Dunhills wanna buy one, but it adds to the nomenclature, and it’s story. It’s a great discussion for setting around with a pipe club, smoking our white spots.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Nope. Can’t bring myself to spend that money when for 1/2 price I can get an estate Dunhill in like new condition. To all you who do buy them new, I thank you!

 

[Worknman]

Ive never figured out why they were so expensive. They look like standard run of the mill pipes. Apparently people pay for the name.

 

[ssjones]

We have multiple "White Spot" threads on this forum in the past seven or eight years, and I've shared this experience on most of those.

I purchased one one, "new" Alfred Dunhill White Spot. By that experience and in contrast to my vintage Dunhills, they compete quite well and certainly are not "run of the mill".

When I purchased mine, 2015 Cumberland Bulldog, I also purchased a Castello Trademark. I bought the Dunhill from Al Pascia, when the dollar was brilliant, so it was slightly cheaper than the Castello. The Castello was a great pipe, but the Dunhill outshone it because of the stemwork - it was excellent. The Castello has a clunky, ill-formed button (I like slim, British style buttons). It smoked great, I found no difference between in and my 60's and 70's era Dunhills in performance.

I found myself reaching for my vintage Dunhills more often, so it (and the Castello) was sold, at a significant loss.

So, its unlikely I'll purchase another White Spot, they have no resale value. If you need to scratch that itch, pick up an estate.