COLIN’S BLOG: ACROSS THE COUNTER

Refurbished Estate pipes – Not yet

Instead, some good news from Savinelli.

This blog was supposed to be in February / March 2024, highlighting the current range of refurbished estate pipes.

Besides the work piling up (not enough hours in the day), preparation just took too long.

Photography and editing images was easy – relatively a little time was required.

Descriptions weren’t too bad, except that the pipes are all so good that I needed the Thesaurus so I didn’t repeat the same words for every beautiful finish and fine quality.

Pricing – now that was different. Colin could just look at a pipe and know what it could be sold for. I majored in Maths and Chemistry, it isn’t in me to guess. So each pipe had to be investigated for history and for current prices (new and refurbished) to establish a retail price.

Mind you I did enjoy it. I found many interesting new facts, and some fiction, on the way.

70% of the work is done, and hopefully you won’t have to wait much longer.

Amongst the pipes are names like Dunhill, Stanwell, Lorenzo, Charatan, Marca, Big Ben, a couple of Meerschaums (Tanganyikan and Turkish), and Savinelli.

It’s new Savinelli pipes I want to talk about today.

Almost two years ago I wrote of our long and fruitful association (since 1969).

I mentioned the

Skill – every pipe in a given shape number is exactly the same shape. You can rely on it.

Quality – they offer pipes up to the highest quality. I have just ordered a Giubileo Oro (Golden Jubilee) which will retail for around R17000.00

Since the quality can only be determined after drying and curing the briar, it follows that every briar ebauchon is treated in the same way, and offers the same cool dry smoke. However, only 0.1% of their total production is suitable for the exceptional Giubileo Oro series, which requires perfect raw material and outstanding grain.  The Punto Oro comes from only 1.2% of the total production.

Finishing becomes more intense as the pipes move up though the price ranges. The Punto Oro pipe or the Giubileo Oro pipe will undergo many processes before it is ready to be offered to the fortunate person.

Have a look at pictures of the price progression from Savinelli we posted in a 2001 blog. (Ignore the prices.)

Collections ~ Limited Editions
Each year a unique model is designed by one of the top pipemakers in the Savinelli factory and produced from well-cured, flawless briar in limited quantities according to the number of fine quality bowls available in the special shape and size. I didn’t even try to resist the 2024 model – striking shape and arresting finishes, you just have to look twice.
Innovation – Just think of the Dry System – the perfect dry smoking pipe, in several qualities.

Imagination – Pipes shaped and finished in honour of great artists (Leonardo, Botticelli), great writers (Otello), great occasions (Venezia). And other pipes in honour of natural beauties, Onda (waves, with wavy brass and silver bands), Oceano (dappled blue mouthpiece).

Almost as an afterthought I wrote in the blog:

We didn’t mention their promotions at the various Trade Fairs, almost always in the form of special prices on certain ranges of pipes.

This has enabled us to offer pipes to the South African market at prices substantially below normal – and we frequently offer further special discounts so that the South African pipe smokers can enjoy very good quality Savinelli pipes without breaking the bank.

The downside: pipes can’t be repeated at these prices.

In fact this is probably one of the more important attributes as far as we, and all South African Pipesmokers, are concerned: It offers the opportunity to buy a new (unsmoked) quality pipe at a reasonable price (for us).

And that is what we are offering.

Limited quantities, so these offers are valid until the stock is finished.

The Collection 2024 Limited Edition

What more can I say – the pictures speak for themselves- just look at the beautiful BirdsEye grain on the smooth pipe, and the almost Ring Grain on the sandblasted pipe confirmed by the straight grain on the inside of the bowl.

Our long association with Savinelli has been very fruitful for us, and for the South African pipe smokers.

Gillian Wesley                                                                                      

No.541. 25 July 2024

PS If you can’t visit a Wesley’s Bricks and Mortar, remember that if you’re not completely happy with your Internet choice, you can always return it for a full refund.

Note:

By law, no South African citizen, living in South Africa can buy a tobacco product via the internet or postal system.  In fact, you may not receive a tobacco product through the post.

In addition we may not receive payment through the internet for tobacco products.

We may only supply tobacco products within the trade – not to private individuals. The fine is substantial

Contact us for help in getting tobacco to your area. Visit The Library to read archived blogs from “Across the Counter”.