Design Berlin Rugen Orange 9mm Bent Billiard 85040A

• Overall Length: 125mm
• Overall Height: 73mm
• Bowl Height: 46mm
• Bowl Diameter: 35mm
• Bore: 19mm
• Weight: 41g
• Filter: 9mm

Design Berlin Rügen Orange 9mm Bent Billiard 85040A There's something rather appealing about a pipe with a bit of colour to it. Not every briar needs to be dressed in walnut brown or black, and the Germans have certainly taken that philosophy to heart with the Design Berlin Rügen Orange 85040A.

This is a handsome Bent Billiard, finished in a rich orange-red stain that reminds me of polished cherrywood. The colour varies across the briar, with darker grain running through the bowl and shank, giving it a lively, almost marbled appearance.

The bowl has the familiar upright proportions of a traditional Billiard, although its sides taper gently towards the rim. Beneath it sits a nicely rounded heel, flowing into a sweeping shank that rises towards the mouthpiece.

The black curved stem follows that line beautifully, finishing in a comfortable-looking fishtail. A narrow silver-coloured ring separates the briar from the mouthpiece, while the little gold DB emblem provides a smart finishing touch.

Design Berlin began life in the German capital, although its pipes are now manufactured in Schweina, Thuringia. The Rügen collection takes its name from Germany's largest island, situated in the Baltic Sea.

The 85040A is designed to accommodate 9mm filters, an arrangement long favoured by German pipe manufacturers.

What I particularly like about this example is the way the orange-red finish brings out the natural character of the briar. There's some lovely darker figuring around the lower bowl, and the polished surface catches the light rather nicely. It's a traditional shape given a considerably more colourful appearance, and one that would certainly stand out among the usual brown briars.