Savinelli Champagne 626, Smooth Bent Apple Estate Briar Pipe, 9mm [SOLD OUT]

Description

It is probably fair to say that Savinelli is Italy’s most famous pipe brand. Founded in Milan in 1876 by Achille Savinelli, the brand has continuously produced high quality pipes for nearly 150 years. Though various Savinelli lines have come and gone over the years, the brand has always been notable for putting out classically styled pipes with a distinctly Italian twist.

As far as I can tell, Savinelli has not made the ‘Champagne’ series for well over a decade. Whenever I come across such pipes, I’m often struck by the question of why it is that they were discontinued. I have some thoughts as to this one’s demise, but I must say in advance, that I imagine the reason Savinelli doesn’t make the Champagne anymore is not because the pipes are bad – quite the opposite, in fact. For one thing, the pipes are all a light natural stain, which ostensibly requires the briar to be well grained. This one has superb, tight, straight grain patterns around nearly all of its bowl, and a sea of bird’s-eye grain underneath. The Champagne’s stems were also – like this one – made of ebonite, which Savinelli today reserves for its special edition high-grades, such as the Punto Oro, Guibileo d’Oro, and Autograph series. Perhaps the Champagne was put aside to allow these other series to stand out better among the make’s many models. One can only guess.

The condition is very good. The inner rim has been darkened over time, and there is a little residual oxidation on the ebonite stem, but these imperfections do very little to detract from what a beautiful pipe it is overall.

On a last note, the pipe is chambered for 9mm filters, such as Savinelli’s own Balsa filters, but I would imagine it would also accommodate an adapter, if the next owner prefers to smoke it without one.

Details:

Length: 5.5″

Bowl Width: 19.2mm

Bowl Depth: 1.45″

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g