Jess Chonowitch on smokingpipes
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I agree with Cigrmaster. I worked in the Private Bank department of a mortgage company. I once underwrote a deal for a couple that made twice my annual income every month. Each. But if this man decided to buy this pipe, It would not affect his livelihood. I would not be surprised if his wife's shoe collection exceeds that amount.
I am not in the market for a pipe in that range. But people that can afford this pipe, work hard for their money also. I don't begrudge anyone for making a pleasure purchase for something that doesn't hurt them. I don't want someone to think bad of me for the $125 I spent on a Dunhill.
I am not in the market for a pipe in that range. But people that can afford this pipe, work hard for their money also. I don't begrudge anyone for making a pleasure purchase for something that doesn't hurt them. I don't want someone to think bad of me for the $125 I spent on a Dunhill.
I didnt like that particular pipe, the grain isnt so impressive, the shape is okay. I would rather buy the $2000 Former pipe which is far superior in finish, grain and shape.
Former ($2150)
Former ($1850)
Cheers,
Chris
Former ($2150)
Former ($1850)
Cheers,
Chris
The big price for a pipe always brings out the best and worst in any discussion. Jess is a very nice guy who simply is a pipemaker whose pipe have grown in value. Smokingpipes is simply selling the Jess' pipes at market price. If you have the bucks and can buy the pipe - why not? Jess makes his pipes to be smoked. Bo Nordh also wanted his pipes to be smoked. We see these gigantic prices now but back in the late 1980's things were not easy as the 'Danish' pipe was going out of style. I have always enjoyed buying pipes that I consider great - smoking qualities, craftsmanship and aesthetically - but that's just me.
Looks as if the $7K Chonowitsch sold, and in just a few days, replaced in the banner ad for another @ $4,750.00.
As they say, "the rich are different" from folks like us. If they want to spend their bookoodles of bucks at the same place I might buy tobacco or estates, it doesn't really affect me that much.
Some of those folks I'm sure actually do work for their coins, but of course I also know a lot of them don't.
Their money's theirs & mine's mine, & a $7k pipe may be worth it to them as an element of conspicuous consumption. I doubt it actually smokes $6800-6700 better than any of mine.
Some of those folks I'm sure actually do work for their coins, but of course I also know a lot of them don't.
Their money's theirs & mine's mine, & a $7k pipe may be worth it to them as an element of conspicuous consumption. I doubt it actually smokes $6800-6700 better than any of mine.
How much something is worth is the amount that someone is willing to pay for it. How one comes to the conclusion that something is worth the asking price is a matter of perspective, not the least of which is just how well off you are. God bless wealthy folks who actually spend their excess. It supports the economy and certainly the pipe industry.
I was smoking just last evening with a friend who has recently become a convert to Jess Chonowitsch pipes. He's a practical guy without a shred of ostentatiousness. He's a pipe smoker who is more analytical and methodical about his smoking than anyone I've ever met or heard of. Disciplined in his pipe collecting, he keeps his pipe count to something under two dozen. When I met him a year ago, he smoked almost exclusively Peterson Deluxe System pipes. Mostly 12-1/2s models. Very nice pipes, for sure. These were nice copies which he maintained meticulously and smoked in order, recording the date he smoked each one on an index card. About three months ago, he bought a tiny Jess Chonowitsch nosewarmer and marveled at how well it smoked and admired the simple elegance of the pipe. Within six weeks, all the Petersons were gone and he had bought his fourth Jess estate pipe, one of which he wasn't thrilled with and sold. My favorite is a group 5 sandblasted billiard with a smooth rim and brindle tapered stem. It's a symphony of understated elegance that's difficult to convey in words. There's just a masculine richness to the pipe that makes it extraordinarily handsome. My buddy says it smokes like a dream.
My friend's perspective has been changed by knowledge and experience, altering his perception of the worth of at least Jess Chonowitsch's pipes. I have yet to spend on a single pipe anywhere near what his most expensive Chonowitsch cost, but having seen and held my friend's fine pipes and hearing his well-reasoned and experienced opinion, I'm thinking about thinning my burgeoning herd to finance an acquisition for myself.
I was smoking just last evening with a friend who has recently become a convert to Jess Chonowitsch pipes. He's a practical guy without a shred of ostentatiousness. He's a pipe smoker who is more analytical and methodical about his smoking than anyone I've ever met or heard of. Disciplined in his pipe collecting, he keeps his pipe count to something under two dozen. When I met him a year ago, he smoked almost exclusively Peterson Deluxe System pipes. Mostly 12-1/2s models. Very nice pipes, for sure. These were nice copies which he maintained meticulously and smoked in order, recording the date he smoked each one on an index card. About three months ago, he bought a tiny Jess Chonowitsch nosewarmer and marveled at how well it smoked and admired the simple elegance of the pipe. Within six weeks, all the Petersons were gone and he had bought his fourth Jess estate pipe, one of which he wasn't thrilled with and sold. My favorite is a group 5 sandblasted billiard with a smooth rim and brindle tapered stem. It's a symphony of understated elegance that's difficult to convey in words. There's just a masculine richness to the pipe that makes it extraordinarily handsome. My buddy says it smokes like a dream.
My friend's perspective has been changed by knowledge and experience, altering his perception of the worth of at least Jess Chonowitsch's pipes. I have yet to spend on a single pipe anywhere near what his most expensive Chonowitsch cost, but having seen and held my friend's fine pipes and hearing his well-reasoned and experienced opinion, I'm thinking about thinning my burgeoning herd to finance an acquisition for myself.
There's no disputing Neal's statement about China and Russia -- China, in particular. Just hang around Iwan Ries for a day or two and see who's buying the high end pipes. It's also well understood that recognizable brands carry great value to the high end Chinese consumers. I think this was discussed in the documentary, Heroines of the Pipe, about Manduela and Anne Julie. Their best markets are China and Japan. To be clear, this is simply a fact, and not intended to be derogatory in any way toward our Asian pipe-smoking brethren. I'm sure that's Neal's position, too.
As a Chicago Pipe Collectors Club member and lover of the Chicago Pipe Show, I'm grateful for the astounding prices that some of these wealthy buyers are willing and able to pay. The $23,000 paid for the last Lars Ivarsson pipe was a huge help to keeping the show financially healthy and extremely affordable to the attendees. My understanding is that the buyer was a Chinese calligrapher who flew to Chicago for the show, solely for the opportunity to bid on that pipe. Thanks again to Nanna Ivarsson for her generous gift to the show and the pipe community as a whole.
As a Chicago Pipe Collectors Club member and lover of the Chicago Pipe Show, I'm grateful for the astounding prices that some of these wealthy buyers are willing and able to pay. The $23,000 paid for the last Lars Ivarsson pipe was a huge help to keeping the show financially healthy and extremely affordable to the attendees. My understanding is that the buyer was a Chinese calligrapher who flew to Chicago for the show, solely for the opportunity to bid on that pipe. Thanks again to Nanna Ivarsson for her generous gift to the show and the pipe community as a whole.
Nothing derogatory for sure. I've spent the past year studying for my MBA (nights) and I find the issue of pipes fascinating as a text book example of economics. Supply and demand and basic markets and marketing at it's most pure form. This is supply and demand (with a dash of marketing) at it's finest. Heck, there is an entire chapter devoted to this topic in, "Still Searching for Pipe Dreams" by Rick Newcombe. The market (ANY MARKET) is what it is. We can only predict them and anticipate them, but the forces will prevail. Is it sad that most smokers will not be able to afford a JC pipe? Yes. Is it sad that many of the buyers of a JC pipe will never smoke it? Yes. Do most pipes smoke good? Yes. The key to this market is EXCLUSIVITY! That is what many of the wealthy Chinese collectors are interested in. To own a rare object of beauty that few people can obtain. Once a pipe maker reaches that state (almost always on the backs of common smoker who cement the lore of a "good smoker") then it's off to races. Then, let's say JC sells a pipe for $1,500 and then he notices it sells for $15,000 on the used market. Can you fault him for raising his prices? Nope. It's a market.
But there are positives! Any market that is trending up leads to all involved doing better. So we see a very predictable consequence of many young artisan pipe makers entering the market. That is good for us pipe smokers, more product, the ability to actually obtain a quality pipe at a lesser price point. And many of the new guys are indeed overcharging for their pipes and don't have the pedigree or skill/experience as JC. And the market will correct for that, it always does.
One more thing I've always wanted to point out. This is a different topic and market from pipes. But, why is that people hoard and brag about rare tobaccos, or the hard to get blends? Why do we covet them? There were two posts this past week with someone asking the basic question, how do I get brand X? Duane and I even posted pretty pictures of Pelican to stoke the flame? Conversely, why do we see guys with a strong need to post, This _____unobtaineable_____ brand is in stock (which we all know is the same as saying, I got some and you probably won't, but look what I got). Well, tobacco is a fascinating market, much different than pipes. The price is fairly stable over time so we all have a basic idea of "worth". This is completely different that a piece of wood that's carved with three holes. The markets are totally different, but we see the same end game, "exclusivity". Half of the tobacco cellars out there are filled with tobacco that many (many) have never even tried, and probably horded based on word of mouth because we all want a piece of the nostalgic action. Nothing wrong with that! I'm not immune, I still get sweaty palms when I see an in stock notification or look at the Monday/Thursday SPC posts.
Yep. People are susceptible to persuasion. That's the basis for all marketing. Many people are well paid to sell other people on largely indefensible claims of product superiority. Tart up a car with a bunch of crap that will break down and people will flock to buy it. Stick a desirable stamp on a pipe and some yutz with bucks will shell out beaucoup piles of it to obtain that symbol of status. Branding, baby. That's where it's at.
Same thing holds true with unicorn blends. People are constantly whining and pining about Esoterica this or Esoterica that, or some other hard to find blend, like it must be SOOOOO much better than what they're smoking because it's SOOOOO hard to find and SOOOOOO many people are whining and pining over it. Ultimately all this is about perception, which is personal and subjective and is extremely valuable bullshit, making a lot of money for those successfully peddling it.
When I started pipe smoking I decided to buy the unicorn blends at their MSRP. No point buying a $200 8oz bag of Stonehaven when I can buy a truckload of Quiet Nights with the same amount.
Chris :puffpipe:
Chris :puffpipe:
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