Vauen pipe, same shape different price, what gives?

[bentbulldog]

Hey all,

I had ordered a Vauen pipe from cupojoes on Monday because it was the ONLY one available on the net ( http://www.vauen.de/photo/detail/en/Giant_G_019/111.1240.4.10.html )

I looked at smokingpipes.com and saw that they just added a Vauen 3019 ( http://www.vauen.de/photo/detail/en/Giant_3019/111.1252.4.10.html )

but it actually costs $80 less :shock:

I did notice that the one I ordered has a dot on the stem, and is a different color with a semi gloss finish.

Could someone please tell me whats the difference between these two pipes and is it noticeable/justified?

 

[Cigar2you]

the difference in price generally comes down to grading and finish. Some say that the white dot vauen are a higher grade thus bringing more money and then on the other hand I hear that different dots indicate what market they were originally designed to sell in. Either way they are both beautiful pipes

 

[SPUD 15]

Looking at the pages you provided the dot signifies straight grain. MIKE

 

[Sasquatch]

There was a time, although I don't know about it anymore, but there was a time that the hand made one-off Vauens got a white dot in Germany (lost a suit from Dunhill for export). But this seems not to be the case. I think here it looks like the extra money goes into a better piece of wood and a more time consuming finish.